Yesterday when we were making our final stop at Jamsil in Seoul, he decided to take a break and get a coffee. We went to Tongue, a cafe operated by the Korean fashion brand Ader. When I walked in, I let out a loud gasp, surprised by bakery items they’ve creatively displayed around the cafe.
To give a bit more context, this was the last stop after a day spent exploring different hot spots in Seoul. We went to Seongdong-gu to check out the area. We looked at various cafes operated by different brands, from The Golden Goose to Gentle Monster. Each one was unique, with its own whimsical desserts and bakeries displays. By the time we arrived at this last cafe of the day, I was once again amazed by the creativity. I was genuinely in awe and didn’t realise I had gasped out loud until he kind of jokingly said, “Stop overreacting! Quiet down!”
He wasn’t rude or anything. In fact I have gotten used to his antics. I knew he was criticizing me but he was also not criticizing me. That’s just the way he is. Still, his “criticism” made me aware of my reaction. I was a bit embarrassed and felt the need to control myself better. But now that I had more time to think about the incident, I am glad it happened the way it did.
I did reflect and wonder if my reaction to the breads and desserts an act. Was I trying to appear as someone who liked creativity? Was I trying to impress him or the Korea team by showing my appreciation of creativity? I am not 100% sure. There is a possibility that I was being pretentious because I know this is a tendency of mine. But I am quite certain it wasn’t an act because the feeling of awe was strong. I remember standing in front of the display, truly amazed. While I can’t be 100% sure, I am quite confident it wasn’t an act.
I am glad I reacted the way I did. I am glad I was able to respond to beauty. I’ve always wanted to be in awe more often because it’s something I’ve struggled with. I don’t appreciate the small things enough, and I tend to focus on the negatives. I don’t stop to “smell the roses” as often as I should, and I’m frequently overly melancholic. So, there is value for me to seeking out awe.
I’ve also learned that the more I practice finding beauty in small, everyday things, the more I remember the magnificent of existence. These tiny miracles of life remind me how precious it is to exist and experience the world. This practice has helped me find balance, as life is indeed filled with both suffering and beauty.
It’s also a practice that helps convince me the merits of equanimity. It allows me to see that life is a constant flow of both good and bad. No matter what I desire or prefer, good and bad shall always be omnipresent. It’s far better to observe these ups and downs as they come rushing down the stream, appreciating and embracing them as they are, and letting life continue. Resisting reality and yearning for something that doesn’t exist is unproductive. Being more equanimous is objectively a better way to go through existence.
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