Short Stories.

I waited a long time for this season of life, where every day did not have to be compressed.

Long story, short.

I am careful to make space so that the stories have room to unfold. My schedule is often wide open and this means I say no a lot. There has been an adjustment, much like the loosening of a spring, making breathing easier and acceptance possible.

The sieves used to prepare the soil for the garden. The vintage clothing hanging in the window of Folking. The dock at Hick’s Landing on a chilly end-of-winter morning. Almost spring magnolia blooms at Grelen Nursery. The mural on the side of the botanical apothecary.

These are the short stories of my week. On film.

As I embrace the challenges of film photography, I find this simple phrase helpful. Slowly but surely. In fact, I am looking for space everywhere in my life. It’s taken a conscious effort, but I no longer seek to fill the days with non-stop activity. And what a difference it makes in my creativity. I liken this to a kind of re-wiring of my nervous system, restoring healthy and efficient patterns.

I learn so much from the Just One Thing newsletter from Dr. Rick Hanson. This week’s practice was called Empty the Cup. Worth reading and considering.

Here’s an excerpt:
“Put some space between finishing one thing and starting another. For example, after sending one email, take a breath before replying to another one; when the dishes are done, pause for a break; in a conversation, let the ending of one topic reverberate for a moment before launching another one; take real time for lunch.”

Finishing rolls of film. Waiting for film to be processed and negatives to be scanned. I’m antsy for something to make.