I found this picture in my phone gallery the other day. It was taken last spring at the square near my place in Osaka. When I saw it, I remembered the feeling I had when I took it. I was so grateful for being able to be in that square, enjoying the outdoors for a bit before getting back to work. That break did so much for my wellbeing.
I used to go to this square a few days a week after lunch to get some sun on cooler days. I would take a book with me (and sometimes a hot cup of coffee with soy milk), but I usually ended up spending more time watching the big children playing with their friends, the babies and toddlers playing with their moms, the elderly people taking their afternoon walks, and adults stopping there on their bicycles to buy a coffee from the vending machine on the corner and head to a bench to enjoy a break.
I also loved watching those trees change through the seasons. I could see them from my apartment as well.
In Japan, I learned that being able to sit in a neighborhood square by ourselves, with a cup of coffee and our thoughts, watching life happening around us, is something so small and yet so important for our wellbeing and for building a sense of community.
Unfortunately, I don’t feel safe doing that in my neighborhood here in São Paulo. I believe few people do, as the square is always deserted when I pass by. And I miss doing it so much! Sometimes, all I want to do is to step out of my house just for a few minutes. But I don’t want to go far. I want to be able to go to the square at the end of my street wearing my home clothes and my flip-flops. I want to feel safe sitting there and closing my eyes while I’m basking in the warm sun that filters through the leaves of the tree I’d be sitting under. Why does it have to be so hard for us, especially women, to enjoy such a simple moment? I hope people feel safe doing it in other neighborhood in my city and country.
Are there any squares like this near your home? Do you feel safe spending time there? Let me know in the comments section below.
See you in the next article!
Take care,
Eliana Capiotto
Have you read my article about a day trip I took in Okayama? No? You can read it here: https://elianacapiotto.com/exploring-okayama-japan/
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