When 2023 started, I made myself a promise. This would be the year I would finally get into anime. Of course, I had already taken my first steps with series like A punch there Mob Psycho 100, but the time had come for me to become the web that I was meant to be. There was only one hurdle in my path to becoming a certified fan: I’m a serial multitasker and my partner likes to watch anime with subtitles instead of dubbing them.
It may surprise you, but I am very active. I work multiple jobs and take advantage of any time of the day for maximum relaxation and productivity. I can never sit on the couch and watch TV. No, I take this opportunity to catch up on new series by playing FoyerI revise choreographies or create playlists for my group fitness classes during the week.
I’m not saying it’s the best way to live your life; That’s how my brain works and I let myself go. So imagine the internal battle I faced every time my poor partner asked me if I wanted to watch anime.
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If we see anything else, I can make appointments. I could review the training that I will give tomorrow.
My inner monologue was always contradictory, so I was always in denial. I needed that time to do things to ease my mental load, and he understood that.
But 2023 has arrived, and I am a woman of my word. I couldn’t disappoint the anime queen in me. I had to come to terms with the fact that when we watch anime, we watch anime. I can’t knit, I can’t google, I can’t play games, I can’t respond to loose threads. Instead, I have to devote my full attention to this one thing, and in doing so, the anime gave me a gift in disguise. Anime taught me the art of mindfulness.
As you may have gathered from above, I live life at 10x speed (literally love cardio). I always think ahead and thrive when my days are busy, so I rarely stop to rest, although it is one of the most important things we can pass on to our clients in a fitness environment. I talk a lot about recovery and living in the moment, but just thinking about yoga or meditation brings tears to my eyes. I can’t imagine anything worse.
This is followed by 20 minutes of light animation in the form of blue lock, Spy x Family, My darling dressing there Birdie Wing: A Golfer’s Story. I fell in love with these shows and how wonderful they were, so anime quickly became the only thing I want to watch.
I’m lucky enough to work from home, so on my lunch breaks I get out of the office to watch cartoons. No need to check my notifications, no worries about my next meeting, no stress about knowing my moves for evening class. Just me and my private sanctuary of luscious and absurd anime, providing undivided attention.
This revelation may seem silly, but it changed my life. Every moment of the day should not be consumed in efficiency and productivity. Sometimes it’s nice to disconnect from everything else and focus all your attention on esper kids, illegal golf, and cosplay creations. It’s a lesson in mindfulness that I’m grateful to have learned, because it opened me up to an endless world of amazing anime series. But more importantly, it reminded me that inner joy can be found in the weirdest places, even in anime, and stopping to enjoy those moments is a worthy way to pass the time.