182

 Everyday practices

Keeping the celery we got fresh for longer in a glass jar with water. The jar was originally home to pasta sauce. We use this celery for pasta and in salads. It's one of my favourite vegetables. 

Today I repaired a small rip inside a pocket of my partner's jacket. I used white thread because it was the only one available in our local supermarket, and also in my view it looks beautiful. Though no one will see that the pocket was repaired, I would have used the same thread if the rip was in a more obvious place. I think it's important to normalise repairing things. When I was young, many more people used to repair their own clothing and that of their family members. These days, too often, people appear to simply throw items of clothing away when there is a small imperfection. Some of my things have small rips in them, but I continue to wear them. I do not think such imperfection look ugly. They are part of that object's story.

181

 Writing the book

Since I relocated to Denmark, away from the manager and her harassment, I felt creative and could write again. It is interesting how one person who is in a position of power can affect one's mental health so much and so negatively. The manager was not supportive of my book project. She said at the university I am affiliated with it is only papers that count. Papers in FT50 journals. This approach to science is toxic. Most fresh, creative, beautiful ideas are discussed outside those journals. And in my view, it is only a book that can give you freedom to write freely, to constellate theories, philosophy, examples, reflections, insights into the process. I prefer books. Writing this book is therapeutic and feels important. It is a space where all my ideas, thoughts, contemplations on my area of expertise are coming together. In the book, I talk a lot about the process of writing it. I don't want it to be detached from my lived experiences. 

I work on the floor. In Finland I lived without furniture for many months. In Denmark my partner and I will have some pieces of furniture, but they take a long time to arrive. We did not want any fast furniture objects in our home. Instead we went for something we will keep for the rest of our lives. So we sit on the floor and write. I don't find it uncomfortable. In fact it feels humbling and freeing. 

Most of our life at home is floor-based currently. Our wardrobe is on the floor too, so is our bed. Because we live with very few items, our home doesn't feel cluttered. It still looks calm and feels peaceful to us.