Greetings from the canyon. I returned to the States from Japan in mid-March. I’m more or less functioning, but different parts of my body are quietly (and sometimes loudly) letting me know that juggling two locations that require a 12-hour flight with a 17-hour time difference is a lot both physically and mentally. It’s reminding me that, even with technological advancements, we are land-based animals and our human body's physical capacity is fairly limited.
I think of this in the most humbling and endearing way. Choosing what makes my body feel more aligned with internal wellness is like listening to our ancestors' whispers, who shared the same physical limitations we do today. They show up in small everyday moments, like catching myself truly enjoying wildflowers I picked up from the trail in small vases around the house, lighting a candle on a dining table when we eat meals as a family, intentionally connecting and interacting with our customers when we open the shop on Sundays, and so much more. Ever-evolving technologies are constantly telling us that they can replace all that with something cheaper, more convenient, and faster. But I keep asking myself, “Do I actually want that?”
This trip to Japan was my first time traveling solo and without a fully loaded smartphone. Prior to the trip, I intentionally deleted all social media, web browsers, and work-related apps from my phone - pretty much everything stripped off except a few single-task tools. While traveling, I continued working with BK remotely, exchanged messages with family & friends, and shared updates with our community. But using my phone truly as a tool shifted the fundamental way I experienced "travel". I filled my notebooks (almost went through two accordion TN refills!), spent time simply admiring a cup of coffee in front of me at a cafe in Tokyo, read books on trains, and sank myself into meeting family, friends & BK partners in person. I missed Frido and the kids who stayed behind in the canyon, and simultaneously, I truly enjoyed being with myself, experiencing the world with all my senses.
Shortly after I came home from Japan, we launched the BK Original Notebook Cover “Alchemist” with the deep intention of creating an oasis for each of us to listen more closely to our hearts. Honestly, it doesn’t have to be with Alchemist or any of the notebooks we share at BK… but the time in Japan reaffirmed me that I would love to help build a world where more people simply become comfortable being in the analogue world…, reaching for a pen & paper, a hard copy book, or just simply "being" instead of picking up devices when we feel the urge to fill the moments. Iman's interview, which we shared as a part of our Love for Analogue series, perfectly captures the beauty - in her words, "to find poetry in the present".
Our family is now in the midst of spring break. Our kids, who usually spend the majority of their days at a screen-free, nature-based school, are at home. It has been an interesting and engaging experience to model what screen-free (or screen-less) time would look like in our home by putting away our laptops and other devices in drawers during the day, while flowing and collaborating with Frido and taking turns contributing to BK. Some days I’m with the kids, tinkering around the house while Frido is in BK making mode in the creative garage. On some other days, I get to spend time with BK in the early mornings and after the kids' bedtime. An added bonus has been that my post-travel juggling has eased, and I've had more chances to reconnect with home, garden, and our community.
It’s not perfect, but we try one day at a time.
-wakako
always a metamorphosis in progress...
Topanga // April 5th, 2026
**This story is from the BK Love Letter for April 2026. If you would like to read the entire love letter we sent to our community, including links to featured stories and the new and updated BK artifacts, you can browse it via this link.