Hey hey! It's a new year with WAYWAY!

We’re a month into this new year and with all the expectation of the coming year, there is plenty of heaviness at the start. I think the pressure of revamping personal routines and habits feels a bit off this year with all that is happening in our world. I felt this burden of resolutions myself and instead opted to practice noticing what was really beautiful about this last year. There were habits and qualities that I saw take root that weren’t half bad! I’m thinking of ways to build on these things, and watch the ways in which this new year can offer new opportunities for growth. As thoughtful as this sounds I’m constantly battling the urge to run a little faster! Do more! Think Bigger! But I know that this sometimes fuels the rat race that leaves us exhausted and leads to overwhelm. I wish we could remind each other to go easy on ourselves and find time for rest and care. The answer is not BIGGER is BETTER, it’s usually slower is sweeter. Being intentional and careful with our time and our routines is what I’m excited about adopting this new year. How can I take what’s working and diligently hone these skills or habits and take the rest when I need it?! I also want to be able to teach my kids how to rest. I hate to hear myself rushing them to do their chores and their homework. How will they learn how to listen to their inner quietness and creativity? We have to be part of the resistance to this part of our culture. This way we can show up for each other and our communities with intentionality and energy.

Recently I’ve been spending some time cleaning out the clothes that don’t fit or that we haven’t worn for whatever reason and was struck by a similar impulse– OUT WITH THE OLD IN WITH THE NEW! There are so many things that might have a hole or a stain and go in the toss pile. But what if we thought about our material things like we do our habits? What if we took the time to thoughtfully repair/revamp the things that still have life in them? Our culture relies on disposability. We are quick to throw things out without a thought about the impact that this makes on our environment. If we could all carve out a little more time to rework the things that just need a little love, how much could that shift our attitudes about the things we consume?? We could get creative! Overdye pieces that are stained, plan a tie dye party! Practice some artful mending in the Japanese form of Sashiko– mending in colorful patterns, taking small tears and creating a decorative moment out of them! Plan a clothing swap party with friends who have kids of different ages– bring what you don’t need, take what you do! All of these ideas change our relationship to the things themselves, and recognize the life that objects take on in our lives. It’s tempting to throw things out and just buy the cheap replacement, but the impact it takes on our environment is much like the impact the new year resolution approach has on our spirit– it depletes and exhausts. The slowness and intentionality is an opportunity for reflection, creativity, and care. Little moments add up to real perspective shifts that impact how we live our own lives in community with one another and with the earth. Thanks for being a part of this community and I hope you take some inspiration with you into the new year, to care for your people and your environment wherever that may be.

<3, Liz

At WAYWAY we’re thinking about the earth and our relationship to it- the textiles that we use are gentler on the earth and require less resources to process. When we slow down and consider what we consume and how it affects our ecosystem, we soften and understand that we are all interconnected and our survival depends on the survival of the earth. When we pay attention to our impact- on the earth and on others– we can draw closer to one another in community.