Sanem is the creator of La Fabrika. Her exploratory journey to renew her own life with the guidance of her inner voice and the courage to create leads her to La Fabrika. Sanem says that every day kneaded with mud is a different adventure. We are deeply inspired by her courage to push her limits and build a new and mindful life for herself. We met with Sanem in her workshop and asked her some questions about the pandemic, the new year, and about slowing down.
stories no.6
Sanem Aytekin Pagliafora
#slowness
stories no.6
Sanem Aytekin Pagliafora
#slowness
Sanem is the creator of La Fabrika. Her exploratory journey to renew her own life with the guidance of her inner voice and the courage to create leads her to La Fabrika. Sanem says that every day kneaded with mud is a different adventure. We are deeply inspired by her courage to push her limits and build a new and mindful life for herself. We met with Sanem in her workshop and asked her some questions about the pandemic, the new year, and about slowing down.
Q. How did this “compulsory slowing down” affect your spirit, life, and profession during the pandemic? Was it for good or bad, and why?
This pause had positive effects on me, my soul, and my life. We are in a constant rush, constantly catching up. Maybe this situation is a result of living in Istanbul, a big metropolis. Maybe it is an intensity that comes with the multi-faceted roles, which is brought about by having a self-owned business. None of us can find an opportunity to pause in daily life. So, at first, the period when we first went into the lockdown was very good for me. At first, I was thinking, “I will sit at home mindfully, I will think different things for my job, I will spare time for the books I want to read” but I started to struggle after a while because not being able to come to my workshop was very tiring for me. Not being able to go to my workshop and reflect it in the mud after coming up with a new idea at home and not to be able to produce… In this sense, it was very difficult for me to miss the workshop and not be able to return to my job. This was the biggest negative effect. But apart from that, I think it made us all stop and think, ask where we are going and where do we want to go, which is a very positive thing. In this respect, it was very good for me; I was able to find time to confirm that I had chosen the right path.
Q. Can you tell us a little bit about the moment of your daily routine that you feel is very good for you during this period? What moment of the day is this and why is it good for you?
The answer is always the same for me. I can say that each morning that I wake up, spend time at home with the little ones (dogs), open the door of my workshop and touch the mud, shape it, or glazed it.
Q. What is your biggest dream and the most important decision you have made for your life for 2021? For example, would you be willing to sustain this slow life that allows us to reflect on ourselves?
I share the same dream with many people for 2021. A time where the pandemic is over. In addition to the side effects it brings to our lives, I want to imagine a life in which we can hug our loved ones with health without fear. I am not someone who makes big New Year’s resolutions every year, but what I want is to be able to keep La Fabrika still alive and continue to be kneaded with my mud despite all the negativities. Of course, the pandemic has necessarily included this ever-spoken slowdown in our lives. Although we showed reactions at first, I got used to this process a little and I learned to live with it. In fact, I want to be able to really assimilate the teaching “stop, breathe deeply, return to yourself and go on” into my life, which is always mentioned and always talked about, as the secret of living well. Slowing down is a very important thing for people to listen to themselves first. We cannot stop and return to ourselves unless we slow down. We cannot ask ourselves questions. Therefore, from now on, I want to place the slowdown in my life as a meditation where I ask myself at least one question a day and try to answer it.
Q. How did this “compulsory slowing down” affect your spirit, life, and profession during the pandemic? Was it for good or bad, and why?
This pause had positive effects on me, my soul, and my life. We are in a constant rush, constantly catching up. Maybe this situation is a result of living in Istanbul, a big metropolis. Maybe it is an intensity that comes with the multi-faceted roles, which is brought about by having a self-owned business. None of us can find an opportunity to pause in daily life. So, at first, the period when we first went into the lockdown was very good for me. At first, I was thinking, “I will sit at home mindfully, I will think different things for my job, I will spare time for the books I want to read” but I started to struggle after a while because not being able to come to my workshop was very tiring for me. Not being able to go to my workshop and reflect it in the mud after coming up with a new idea at home and not to be able to produce… In this sense, it was very difficult for me to miss the workshop and not be able to return to my job. This was the biggest negative effect. But apart from that, I think it made us all stop and think, ask where we are going and where do we want to go, which is a very positive thing. In this respect, it was very good for me; I was able to find time to confirm that I had chosen the right path.
Q. Can you tell us a little bit about the moment of your daily routine that you feel is very good for you during this period? What moment of the day is this and why is it good for you?
The answer is always the same for me. I can say that each morning that I wake up, spend time at home with the little ones (dogs), open the door of my workshop and touch the mud, shape it, or glazed it.
Q. What is your biggest dream and the most important decision you have made for your life for 2021? For example, would you be willing to sustain this slow life that allows us to reflect on ourselves?
I share the same dream with many people for 2021. A time where the pandemic is over. In addition to the side effects it brings to our lives, I want to imagine a life in which we can hug our loved ones with health without fear. I am not someone who makes big New Year’s resolutions every year, but what I want is to be able to keep La Fabrika still alive and continue to be kneaded with my mud despite all the negativities. Of course, the pandemic has necessarily included this ever-spoken slowdown in our lives. Although we showed reactions at first, I got used to this process a little and I learned to live with it. In fact, I want to be able to really assimilate the teaching “stop, breathe deeply, return to yourself and go on” into my life, which is always mentioned and always talked about, as the secret of living well. Slowing down is a very important thing for people to listen to themselves first. We cannot stop and return to ourselves unless we slow down. We cannot ask ourselves questions. Therefore, from now on, I want to place the slowdown in my life as a meditation where I ask myself at least one question a day and try to answer it.