Oh this is great, giving ourself unplanned time...why is it such a discomfort? The other day I was on a hike with no time frame for return, although clouds were building and maybe it would rain. There was a spot on a gravel bar in the creek I hiked to. The spot was beckoning me to come and get a new perspective. Carfeully I stepped from rock to rock, only slightly soaking one foot. The view there was different. I marveled how just 20 feet to the right could change things so much.
As I crossed the creek to return, suddenly I felt like I was in a new world. That moment changed me, filling me with the wonder of the moment, just as you describe Jane.
I think it's something we are trained into- to fill every space means that we are making good use of it. To leave spaciousness can surely only mean there is something there to fill!
I love those last two lines, Jean. What better thing is there in life than that? xx
I'm loving this conversation, thank you, I'm catching myself more often when I'm caught up in the scrolling, redirecting myself to something more useful, making choices about what I don't want to watch, like the news. I'm grateful that my life allows for loads of time outside, that my walks, with my dog, to feed the horses twice a day, "forces" me, allows me to notice the beautiful, wonderful nature around us, to splash through the puddles and slop through the mud 🤣 joys of winter in Auckland. ❤️
I so agree, Sue. Even going to the supermarket, when I get home I feel grateful to live in a place where there is green and beauty to get amongst. And even then, the tech manages to find us! I constantly have to pull myself up! Thank you for these thoughts, I so appreciate them xx
This is a really helpful reminder, Jane. I have felt particularly fragmented lately(moving house, one child choosing a college, two others continuing with theirs and new jobs, partner living in another state for work). Paying attention to, and also putting myself in a position to receive, the spaces of stillness that lead to rest, creativity, what else? are so important for doing my work and generally staying sane. Thank you!
I feel you, it can feel like we are living out a paradox at times. On the one hand- exactly like you describe- I know that the situations that pull me into feeling anxious and fragmented require me to spend more time in my "creative brain" than ever, and yet it's so easy to get seduced by the other that I have to keep reminding myself that practicing "my art" is not a luxury or "something on the side". It's actually a life saving act that makes everything else possible, sustainable and connects me back to what's important. Sending you solidarity- we are all in this together! xx
I love the line: “Please, take yourself off… in pursuit of something beautiful.” Honestly, I’d laminate that as a doctor’s note & stick it to my forehead. Thank you for saying what so many of us feel but struggle to articulate — the invisible tax of attention. And splintered! Yes. That word landed hard. I’ve just finished my next essay for Wednesday, & it arrived there too, full-bodied, insistent. Indeed. Loved this & the visual poetry.
Thank you so much, Kim! There are so many things I need to stick to my forehead- or maybe the back of my hand so I read them continuously 😅 And full bodied, insistent essays is just what the world needs ❤️
Jane, I vote for the back of the hand—more elegant than the forehead & infinitely easier to sneak a glance at mid-conversation. Also, if you ever make a line of temporary tattoos with your reminders, I’ll take a full set. As for essays: yes, to keeping them full-bodied & unapologetic. The world’s already too full of the skim-milk kind.
Oh this is great, giving ourself unplanned time...why is it such a discomfort? The other day I was on a hike with no time frame for return, although clouds were building and maybe it would rain. There was a spot on a gravel bar in the creek I hiked to. The spot was beckoning me to come and get a new perspective. Carfeully I stepped from rock to rock, only slightly soaking one foot. The view there was different. I marveled how just 20 feet to the right could change things so much.
As I crossed the creek to return, suddenly I felt like I was in a new world. That moment changed me, filling me with the wonder of the moment, just as you describe Jane.
I think it's something we are trained into- to fill every space means that we are making good use of it. To leave spaciousness can surely only mean there is something there to fill!
I love those last two lines, Jean. What better thing is there in life than that? xx
I'm loving this conversation, thank you, I'm catching myself more often when I'm caught up in the scrolling, redirecting myself to something more useful, making choices about what I don't want to watch, like the news. I'm grateful that my life allows for loads of time outside, that my walks, with my dog, to feed the horses twice a day, "forces" me, allows me to notice the beautiful, wonderful nature around us, to splash through the puddles and slop through the mud 🤣 joys of winter in Auckland. ❤️
I so agree, Sue. Even going to the supermarket, when I get home I feel grateful to live in a place where there is green and beauty to get amongst. And even then, the tech manages to find us! I constantly have to pull myself up! Thank you for these thoughts, I so appreciate them xx
You are so inspiring... and so brill. Thank you.
You are so lovely- thank you for reading Caroline xx
This is a really helpful reminder, Jane. I have felt particularly fragmented lately(moving house, one child choosing a college, two others continuing with theirs and new jobs, partner living in another state for work). Paying attention to, and also putting myself in a position to receive, the spaces of stillness that lead to rest, creativity, what else? are so important for doing my work and generally staying sane. Thank you!
I feel you, it can feel like we are living out a paradox at times. On the one hand- exactly like you describe- I know that the situations that pull me into feeling anxious and fragmented require me to spend more time in my "creative brain" than ever, and yet it's so easy to get seduced by the other that I have to keep reminding myself that practicing "my art" is not a luxury or "something on the side". It's actually a life saving act that makes everything else possible, sustainable and connects me back to what's important. Sending you solidarity- we are all in this together! xx
Yes! I appreciate that, Jane. And the solidarity:).
You are mind-bendingly creative.
Thank you so much my lovely friend xx
I love the line: “Please, take yourself off… in pursuit of something beautiful.” Honestly, I’d laminate that as a doctor’s note & stick it to my forehead. Thank you for saying what so many of us feel but struggle to articulate — the invisible tax of attention. And splintered! Yes. That word landed hard. I’ve just finished my next essay for Wednesday, & it arrived there too, full-bodied, insistent. Indeed. Loved this & the visual poetry.
Thank you so much, Kim! There are so many things I need to stick to my forehead- or maybe the back of my hand so I read them continuously 😅 And full bodied, insistent essays is just what the world needs ❤️
Jane, I vote for the back of the hand—more elegant than the forehead & infinitely easier to sneak a glance at mid-conversation. Also, if you ever make a line of temporary tattoos with your reminders, I’ll take a full set. As for essays: yes, to keeping them full-bodied & unapologetic. The world’s already too full of the skim-milk kind.
So glad to be reading alongside you. 🖤
Jane, you are a gift. Thank You!
Thank you, Jane, you have made my day. I'm so appreciative of you reading xx