Within the great interweb ideas are bound to cross, overlap and repeat, I take comfort in this, albeit narcissistically, when the ideas overlap with those I have great admiration for. It’s a small confirmation that the things I believe in and enjoy are happening elsewhere in the world.
Last week I'd started something of an ABCs for finding community in my local environment, but gave up on it after a couple tough letters. I love the creative community the web has to offer, but finding it in person, sans screen, is more difficult.
A few days later, I visited Keri Smith's Wish Jar Journal, where she had recently announced her newest (soon-to-be-released) journal called How To Be An Explorer of the World. Then, just this morning, I had a moment to catch up on my You Grow Girl reading, where Gayla Trail blogged about her tour around Columbus, Ohio. Three different experiences, at 3 separate moments, that intertwined gracefully and fluidly.
Despite the tough letters missing from my ABCs, these three ideas were quite similar. The binding element (the egg in the recipe, so to speak) between Keri’s conceptual exploration, Gayla’s physical expedition, and my DOA rough-draft is the basic idea of Reconnecting to our space and place, by following in the footsteps of children's curiosity.
The beauty of Keri Smith's work is that the she invites a participatory audience, while giving permission to break through boundaries and inhibitions. Truthfully, we all need that sometimes, a simple statement of affirmation: It's okay to bend down and notice the life below your feet. You don't have to watch your back all the time. Gayla had the chance to tour a few school yards that have tangible nature intertwined with the playground equipment. Yes, gasp! Nature in the school yard, with rocks and flowers and insects galore! Mind boggling, I know, but it's a great example of catering to the inquisitiveness of human nature, despite the dangers of a jagged edged stone or a small pool of rainwater. Read her account to see how the space evoked personal memories as well as her own inclinations to rediscover.
Then there’s that hairy blog post that never fully formed. A few letters from
my alphabet:
{A}rticulate: Look within, and find out what you're looking for. People have different ideas of community. Whatever your desire, pinpoint it first.
{C}urious and curiouser: Curiosity is innate. Dig deep and remember it.
{D}edicate your time: Know that connections take time and nurturing.
{N}ot everybody is nice. I say that because other people can seem judgmental, just don't let that discourage you. It'll make the people who are nice that much more important in your discoveries.
{W}ave to your neighbors. And maybe even smile. Connect to people, as well as plants.
We were each articulating, in our own ways, that enjoying your surroundings is important. The magic of your surroundings is just as easy as opening your eyes a little wider. The world is not a scary place, despite what fairy tales and the evening news may lead us to believe. There are no wolves in the woods (at least around here), and an evening walk does not lure violent predators into your neighborhood. Yes, there are extremely unfortunate and very bad things, but those things should not prohibit us from experiencing the Science Museum that is the world around us.
Nature is provocative. Learning sparks creativity. Interaction leads to curiosity. Above all, getting down and looking at the world from a bug's eye view, you'll find out things you never knew about yourself. . .or that you knew when you were 5 but forgot later on.
Find the curiosity you had in your childhood, and embrace the ever-loving crap out of it.
Things to do to begin exploration: Step away from the computer, go into the great outdoors.
Make up your own
ABCs.
Today go find 5 examples of good design in nature. Draw them.
Lift up the biggest leaf you can
find, see what’s under nature’s skirt.
Then come back here and share your experiences in the comments section, I can’t wait to hear about what you find.
Resources and Inspiration:
1. How
To Be An Explorer of the World: Available for preorder through Amazon.
2. Pics are from my garden—two little
melons I found when looking under leaves. What a delicious surprise!
3. Diana
Brennan, who uses her camera much as a scientist uses a magnifying glass or
microscope. Her work celebrates secret gardens and the most miniscule of
natural surprises. Even her figurative work captures elegant moments
interacting with nature.
Renee Garner has a passion to make things grow, although her brownish
thumb wants her to believe otherwise. When mud pies aren't on the
menu, you can find her doodling the days away at Wolfie and the Sneak.
