"Change is the only thing worth living for. Never sit your life out at a desk. Ulcers and heart condition follow." ~ Bruce Chatwin
Recently I've been feeling restless and wrestling with an inner conflict - the desire for both stability on one hand and change, adventure and excitement on the other. I want to cultivate a simple life but I also frequently get caught up with the desire for things and places.
I think we are all collectors in one way or another and perhaps the tension I'm describing lies in whether one chooses to focus on collecting things or collecting experiences.
I've gone through various periods of consciously collecting things. I've had a thing for bottles and jars for as long as I can remember. Back in my uni days I collected different editions of Keats' poetry, weird handbags and glass rings. Lately, though the objects of my desire have been more homely in nature; retro cups, spoons, tableware and tea caddies with the odd plant and bowl thrown in for good measure.
I think it is important to surround yourself with beautiful things but I also battle with a desire for minimalism and a sense of freedom from possession. I probably need to re-read Chatwin's Anatomy of Restlessness, a wonderful book on this subject, which I wholeheartedly recommend if you haven't encountered it.
I think one solution to this often frustrating impasse betwixt stability and change might be to seek out fresh vistas where-ever you happen to be. Instead of collecting more things, collect some unique moments. Eat in a different room of the house. Take another path to work. Try new foods or new restaurants. Rearrange the living room. Wear something unexpected. Or, if you can, plan a trip - something we are in the midst of doing! Or watch Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations. That show makes me desperately want to visit and eat in just about every city on the planet, a collection of delicious moments if ever there was one.
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9 comments:
great post and sooo relevant for me at the moment
Great to hear from you tonight Georgia. Thoughtful words as always...finding the balance you speak of is tricky. Your posts always make me think and provide a little inspiration :)
Yes! I hear you. It's difficult to interpret what the universe has in mind for you when you're straining hard to listen to its signals, isn't it?
This is such an insightful entry, and something I feel all the time, much to my annoyance! I tend to take the "plan a trip" route most often, even if it's somewhere in town that's new to me. It does the trick!
love this.
one way to simplify, the one i learned by default, is to move home every 2 years...not that i'd recommend one do it, but it's amazing how fast lugging stuff around from house-to-house becomes. 20 years of doing that made me...cautious of purchasing things. hmm.
anyway, i so love this idea. beautifully expressed, g. x
Thank you everyone for your so very thoughtful comments, it's reassuring to know I'm not alone in thinking through these ideas at the moment.
The quote at the beginning of your post is all I've been thinking about lately...sitting out my life at a desk is BORING! I need a change...a big holiday I think.
Inspiring.
I am intrigued by this book you mention.
Now I am going to close the laptop, get out of this chair, and move away from the table. Thank you.
Dearest, I'm in love with so many of your words here. I think it is a much more common battle than one would think. When we live in a world where "wants" are plastered in front of us everyday, it requires a strong sense of self and willpower to resist it. I find not reading or exposing myself to many of those triggers really helps. Also, I think if you're collecting beautiful things that you can use then it serves two purposes which is far more rewarding than collecting something that sits in a box unseen. I know you will find your ideal balance, wherever that may lie. I would say my two biggest collections are taking photos and experiences - food, travel, smells, walks etc. Sometimes I'd like to get rid of more kitchen stuff but then the experience of having people over to dinner is something worth keeping them for. And cooking for a loved one. Can't wait to hear what you plan for the London et al trip! x
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