I just sat down with a cup of hot tea to read your post this week and it immediately calmed my mind. The idea of "undoing" that you mention towards the beginning particularly resonated with me, as I'm finding myself adding and adding (tasks, things to do, people to talk to, stuff to write) and despite the fact that I'm in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, I'm stealing away from myself the space to simply sit quietly and take it all in and just observe. So I started thinking today about how to simplify, how to "undo". I did go to the park today and just wrote down what I observed and that was lovely. I want to do more of that!
Thank you for the kind words, Karla! I am currently testing this gesture of 'just observing' on my walks around the neighborhood and the London LOOP, and it seems to work every single time: it helps me notice more nuance, which is a good thing for the writing (and for the mood as well!). I am really curious to get a glimpse of what you observed in the park -- any peculiar plants or birds around? Any distinct scent in the air?
Thanks for asking! I'm actually writing my first novel and it all takes place in Mexico. So my observations were very much about the daily life here as inspiration and "research" for my book. A few things I observed and wrote down:
*The sounds of bells chiming from the neighborhood church
*People gathered for mass at the church, but sitting outside on stools and upside down pails because of an overcrowded church
*Families dropping off their elementary-age kids at school and then bringing the younger kids to the park to drink atole and eat tamales
*The woman on the street selling used clothes
*The police van stopping by the park and letting the "team" out of the van and onto their assignments for the day around town
My notes went on and on - so many sensory experiences and sights to note down. I'm going to try to do this at least twice a week so I don't miss the small moments. Those are the ones I want to remember the most!
I love the flower photos (not surprising) — my husband and I were doing the same thing when we moved here, always taking photos without any real point. So we decided to set up the camera in the house looking at our favorite view, taking the same photo of every day so at the end of the year, we could rewatch the seasons as they changed, noticing the micro-differences between days. It's not terribly original in its conceit or in its purpose, but we enjoyed it.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, Kelton! I must say, I did enjoy taking the flower photos, all of them, for it was part of the process of reconnecting with nature and minute changes in the environment, as was perhaps your 1-photo a day project. Probably any new environment has this kind of magic, offering different light conditions, new shapes, flora and fauna, and documenting those differences is part of our sensemaking. I now wand to to know what is beyond that phase, and how I can find growth and enjoyment in it.
It might be a cliché, but not without reason, that "a picture speaks a thousand words" and so your detailed documenting in pictures of the view from your window is just as expressive and descriptive of shangrilogs as the words you write about it :) Another tool in your toolbox to show your spectators all about this place that holds your heart !
As the last words of this post slipped past my eyes I realised that my world has now been enriched by this idea that you have planted in my mind with your beautiful words. The way you write alone inspires flowing feelings of peace ! It's true time has behave strangely in the past two years, or well at least we have behaved strangely towards it, which has caused us to notice it more than before, and we should pay attention to that, I'm glad you drew my attention to this, I as your grateful reader will most certainly keep this in mind from now on and joyfully play the game with you ! I may not have majestic mountains or a bustling city outside my window, but I have a beautiful tree or two to gaze at and lovely bird song to listen to (when I'm lucky enough that the annoying suburbian noises remain silent) in fact I could even make it a point to observe these annoying suburban noises and turn them into a special memory, why not. I know being mindful is not a new concept you've invented but the special way your words sang it to life this morning was very inspiring and I intend to remember this feeling ! Thank you Nora !!
Thank _you_ Gaëlle! I don't think dramatic landscapes are necessary to appreciate our surroundings, or derive a sense of being present from our experience--in a way we create beauty by observing it, finding it, no matter where we are. These past years I really had to learn to just _be_ wherever I am, and not wish to be somewhere else. It is a conscious decision every day to go find whatever treasure there is, right down to the stupid kind of treasure like the neighbor's cat putting on a show for some snacks. But now you made me very curious of the birdsong around you!!
I just sat down with a cup of hot tea to read your post this week and it immediately calmed my mind. The idea of "undoing" that you mention towards the beginning particularly resonated with me, as I'm finding myself adding and adding (tasks, things to do, people to talk to, stuff to write) and despite the fact that I'm in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, I'm stealing away from myself the space to simply sit quietly and take it all in and just observe. So I started thinking today about how to simplify, how to "undo". I did go to the park today and just wrote down what I observed and that was lovely. I want to do more of that!
Thank you for the kind words, Karla! I am currently testing this gesture of 'just observing' on my walks around the neighborhood and the London LOOP, and it seems to work every single time: it helps me notice more nuance, which is a good thing for the writing (and for the mood as well!). I am really curious to get a glimpse of what you observed in the park -- any peculiar plants or birds around? Any distinct scent in the air?
Thanks for asking! I'm actually writing my first novel and it all takes place in Mexico. So my observations were very much about the daily life here as inspiration and "research" for my book. A few things I observed and wrote down:
*The sounds of bells chiming from the neighborhood church
*People gathered for mass at the church, but sitting outside on stools and upside down pails because of an overcrowded church
*Families dropping off their elementary-age kids at school and then bringing the younger kids to the park to drink atole and eat tamales
*The woman on the street selling used clothes
*The police van stopping by the park and letting the "team" out of the van and onto their assignments for the day around town
My notes went on and on - so many sensory experiences and sights to note down. I'm going to try to do this at least twice a week so I don't miss the small moments. Those are the ones I want to remember the most!
I love the flower photos (not surprising) — my husband and I were doing the same thing when we moved here, always taking photos without any real point. So we decided to set up the camera in the house looking at our favorite view, taking the same photo of every day so at the end of the year, we could rewatch the seasons as they changed, noticing the micro-differences between days. It's not terribly original in its conceit or in its purpose, but we enjoyed it.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, Kelton! I must say, I did enjoy taking the flower photos, all of them, for it was part of the process of reconnecting with nature and minute changes in the environment, as was perhaps your 1-photo a day project. Probably any new environment has this kind of magic, offering different light conditions, new shapes, flora and fauna, and documenting those differences is part of our sensemaking. I now wand to to know what is beyond that phase, and how I can find growth and enjoyment in it.
It might be a cliché, but not without reason, that "a picture speaks a thousand words" and so your detailed documenting in pictures of the view from your window is just as expressive and descriptive of shangrilogs as the words you write about it :) Another tool in your toolbox to show your spectators all about this place that holds your heart !
As the last words of this post slipped past my eyes I realised that my world has now been enriched by this idea that you have planted in my mind with your beautiful words. The way you write alone inspires flowing feelings of peace ! It's true time has behave strangely in the past two years, or well at least we have behaved strangely towards it, which has caused us to notice it more than before, and we should pay attention to that, I'm glad you drew my attention to this, I as your grateful reader will most certainly keep this in mind from now on and joyfully play the game with you ! I may not have majestic mountains or a bustling city outside my window, but I have a beautiful tree or two to gaze at and lovely bird song to listen to (when I'm lucky enough that the annoying suburbian noises remain silent) in fact I could even make it a point to observe these annoying suburban noises and turn them into a special memory, why not. I know being mindful is not a new concept you've invented but the special way your words sang it to life this morning was very inspiring and I intend to remember this feeling ! Thank you Nora !!
Thank _you_ Gaëlle! I don't think dramatic landscapes are necessary to appreciate our surroundings, or derive a sense of being present from our experience--in a way we create beauty by observing it, finding it, no matter where we are. These past years I really had to learn to just _be_ wherever I am, and not wish to be somewhere else. It is a conscious decision every day to go find whatever treasure there is, right down to the stupid kind of treasure like the neighbor's cat putting on a show for some snacks. But now you made me very curious of the birdsong around you!!
Ah, well here you go, I created this post for you: https://gaellegosselin.substack.com/p/suburban-garden-sounds?r=k9tt7