I felt it this Saturday, as I sat in the living room drawing for the first time in a long time. I felt the space in between. In between the work and the chores, the negative space, the stopping. I forgot what it felt like to sit, without doing or thinking about what needed to be done next, filling in every space of every moment. To never stop doing.
Jon’s daughter Emma and her husband Jay came for a visit and because they were here, it broke the routine I got into over the past month or so. It’s not like going away and breaking the routine. I stopped doing, in my own home, which reminded me what it was like and how I missed it.
That space is where the unknown happens. Where something other than ourselves is allowed to come in. It’s important, it’s necessary to creativity and a good life.
i had a friend who called that space “the fertile void.” it is open to all sorts of imaginings and creations
Oh I love that Jane. I’m going to write that one down. Thanks.
The first thing I thought of when I saw this sketch is “I’d like to colour it.” Then I thought that you should make an adult colouring book with all your sketches. Colouring books for adults is very calming and good for our stressful lives. Your sketches would be perfect.
I’ve seen them Laura. And I know what you mean about color, it could use some, but that’s the part I like doing least. Wish someone else would dot it. Maybe the coloring book is a good idea.
Wow! This writing really spoke to me. I have been overly busy for the past month or so – good stuff, but just too much. I will have to remember about this “negative space” & the not doing in my own home!! Thanks for such a gentle reminder!! Mary Ann
Maria, you are so right in talking about the space in-between. I can only speak for myself, but running a bed & breakfast in my late seventies (how did that happen?!) is becoming a little more of a challenge physically for me, keeping everything clean, going as it should and I tend not to sit down but am always ‘doing something’. This year during my season I’ve set myself a task of making a very simple quilt, no thinking other than choosing colours, because sitting and hand sewing for me is like a form of meditation. Already, I’m noticing that I am having trouble just sitting…It takes a lot of energy to run a B&B during the season and by the end of the summer my husband tells me I’m running around with my hair on fire. If I sit, I fall asleep, I can’t create because I can’t quiet myself down to concentrate long enough, I’m wound up tighter than a tick’s backside…so, yes, you are right about making and taking time to quiet down in order to be creative. It is important however you do it. I’m glad someone else experiences this too.
SandyP in Canada
What a great expression Sandy, “tighter than a tick’s backside”. I see me in you running around not being able to stop.
So much scope for the imagination and I do like the little tre putting or taking off its boots or just tring one out, those boots do get around. Perhaps your Baba Yaga Left a pair in the forest? Wvv. Wew
Sorry, the iPad messing up as usual…
You know how Jon always says the hardest thing for a Border Collie to do is nothing. This is true for many people too!