Today we pause with Anna, a facialist based in Dubai. Her presence is gentle but grounding — like warm light on a quiet morning.

She doesn’t fill space. She holds it. With touch, attention, and the kind of grace that asks for nothing but leaves an imprint.

This story is a glimpse into the quiet rituals that shape her days — and the deep, slow attention she offers herself and the world around her.

1. What does a slow morning look like for you?
A long family breakfast. Taking time to lay out the nice plates, pour herbal tea into fine porcelain, and ease into the day. These mornings feel almost sacred — like the whole world agrees to slow down with you.

2. Do you have a personal ritual of stillness — something that’s just yours?
Stillness often feels like a luxury, but there’s one moment I protect — my evening self-care. In the quiet of the bedroom, as I apply cream to my skin, I thank myself: for getting through the day, for staying soft. It’s not just skincare — it’s a meeting with myself.

3. Do you ever feel the world pause?
Yes — when my children fall asleep. Their breathing becomes slow and warm, syncing with mine. Everything else disappears. Just inhale, exhale. In that moment, I feel: I’m here. I’m alive. That’s enough.

4. Is there an object you feel deeply connected to?
When my eldest daughter was born, I had a ring made for her — delicate, with Persian turquoise and diamonds. It’s a love-charged talisman. I wear it on special days, and she notices it, not knowing that one day it’ll be hers. It holds tenderness, strength, and a quiet lineage of women.

5. Which textures or materials speak to you most?
Wood. Its warmth, texture, and aliveness — as if it still holds sunlight. Touching it soothes me, brings me back into myself.

6. What item in your home tells your story best?
My collection of vintage teacups. Each one feels like a little story, a small celebration. I picked them instinctively, and only later saw that they reflect my love for everyday beauty and quiet rituals.

7. What helps you slow down?
Awareness. The moment I catch myself rushing, I stop and breathe. I gently take myself by the hand and say, “It’s okay. We’re not late for anything.”

8. Where are you when you feel fully present?
In the kitchen — when the sunlight stripes the table and the air smells like apples or fresh bread. Or on a walk: my youngest asleep on my chest, my eldest collecting pebbles and asking endless questions. In those moments, I’m completely in my body — and in life.

9. How do you come back to yourself when the world feels too loud?
I have a little ritual. I draw the curtains, change into soft clothes, wash off the day. And always, I brush my hair and tie it back. These small gestures carry all the magic of coming home — to myself.

10. What’s one moment you’d want to remember as your Ensō — complete, yet alive?
The moment I held my child for the first time. Everything had already happened, and everything was just beginning.

Thank you, Anna, for sharing your stillness.
Pause Stories isn’t about answers. It’s about presence.