物には魂が宿る (Mono ni wa tamashii ga yadoru - things have souls)

The attached picture shows a 55-year old Hinamatsuri set (set out to celebrate Girls' Day, coming up on March 3rd - come back in a few weeks for more details about that festival) I received from a dear friend. This set went from Japan to Belgium and finally made it to the US just a few weeks ago.

As I unpacked and carefully cleaned it, I remembered this saying about objects carrying the essence and memories of their past. I thought how lovely that is and I wanted to share that with you. I feel this saying invites to have a more meaningful relationship with our possessions and the world around us.

Just like my Hinamatsuri set, every passed down object holds a story, a memory, or a connection to someone who once cherished it. Recognizing the "soul" within these objects reminds us of the transient nature of life and the importance of honoring our past.

When I see this set I am reminded of my friend, the first time we met back in 1997 in rural Japan, and the many subsequent fun and adventures we had together. I feel like in a world often driven by consumerism, this way of thinking encourages us to slow down, reflect, and cherish the essence of things.

Do you believe objects can have souls? Do you have a favorite possession that brings back memories?