As we wind down the year and enter the holidays, I’m reminded of a lovely word: yukkuri.

Yukkuri is a Japanese for “slowly” or "leisurely.” The concept encourages people to find harmony and peace in their daily routines, urging them to savor each experience and moment rather than rushing through them.

For example, the Japanese embue this in sado (tea drinking) and ikebana (flower arranging). It’s a gentle invitation to step back from life and to embrace each moment with intention and tranquility.

Very fitting! Hope all of us can enjoy a little ゆっくり (yukkuri) before the end of the year — a period without haste.