Riva Tez on soap
People no longer understand ambiance or aesthetics because they’re too distracted by the macro. We have lost the ability to notice details. Once you become a walker, you realize how much people are missing out on life. On walks, you see how perfect light can be. You see how many shades of blue exist between different flowers and skies. You notice the Grandmother who tends to her flowers. You feel her love as she caresses them. You realize that we can’t automate everything.
A friend complained to me that his girlfriend had dragged him to a Parisian perfume store to pick out hand soap, as if it were a frivolous purchase. I thought she sounded marvelous. These are your hands! I told him. Your hands are your primary tools! They are what hold your pen and your sword! You wash your hands every day with soap. It should be the soap of kings, made of the finest ingredients, naturally fragrant with a scent that means something to you. Every time you wash your hands, take a moment to notice and feel the experience on your skin. People often overlook the significance of these small details. Joy starts with noticing details. Joy begins with realizing that even the most seemingly mundane and repetitive actions can be pleasurable. Once you’ve realized that, you can never be depressed.