Thursday, January 3, 2013

Space

SPACE.
That's my word.
This year it's all about space.

Space: planets, stars, moons, asteroids, the whole shebang. So huge and encompassing and mysterious. It keeps me in my proper perspective. I'm just such a small part of this whole project.

Space: between breaths, between tasks, between thoughts. Relish the rhythm of things.

Space: between people. Measuring distance and closeness and respecting the spaces between.

Space: room. Space to grow, space to learn, space to achieve, space to fail, space to try again. For myself and for others.

Space: between perception and reality. Respect it, accept it, don't fight it, try to understand it, bridge it only when necessary.

Space: physical space. The space I occupy as a human - the organism of me. What is my habitat? Is it useful? Is it beautiful? Does it work for me.

Space: emptiness. Embrace emptiness, loneliness, hollowness. Love it as part of the whole of experience. Don't try to fill the spaces that can't be filled, certainly not for other people. Also the emptiness of waiting and of inaction when no productive action is called for.

Space: head space. Less spacing out, letting things go on autopilot. More mindfulness, more deliberate thought and choices in words, in actions, in inaction, in silence.

Space: ineffable space. This one is hard to explain in words. It has to do with the space I occupy in the perception of others. It has to do with knowing what to believe, what to reject, what to aspire to and what to laugh off and ignore. It has to do with that limbo space where the reality of things lies, knowing that what I see, what you see, are entirely subjective and that the thing of it lives somewhere in the middle.

Space: for myself. Not selfish-get-away-from-me space but the kind of space where regeneration takes place before I get to the get-off-me-right-now point.

Space: these signals I send off into space. The writing needs to continue, it needs to be pushed into something, it needs to be made to sweat and strain and become more mature.

I have allowed myself the space of a year to focus on these spatial concepts, to put some things into motion, to guide my decisions and my thoughts. This is not a New Year's resolution in the traditional sense, I just choose this fresh calendar year in the cold of winter to germinate some seeds that I have gathered in my pockets and tend them and watch them grow and see what they become.

Let's watch this space together, shall we?

18 comments:

  1. Yes ... oh yes.. I do believe this is a very good word for this year. ..

    Just came back from the "space" needle ... good way to begin, maybe? (:

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    1. I have an obsession with space needles. I shall have to post about it sometime.

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  2. Love your words. May I share them with my readers? On Sundays I do a post about what has inspired or moved me through the week. Your post will tie in nicely,if you are willing. :)

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    1. Hello Tamara! Thank you for joining us here! You are welcome to share if you'd like. I'd be honored to be included.

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    2. the link to my Sunday Thoughts!

      http://faithandsubstance.blogspot.com/2013/01/sunday-thoughts-on-resolutions.html

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    3. Thank you for the shout-out, Tamara!

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  3. Great post. I need more space in my life too. I think I will adopt your word if you get tired of it.

    best,
    MOV

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    1. Space is very big and I will share it with you.
      Thanks for stopping by, MOV. I am a little bit giddy and afraid you'll see the dust bunnies in the corners. It's like having visiting royalty or something.

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  4. I love this. I may have to print it out and read it often. Thank you!

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    1. Bless you, Judy. You are so constant and such a cheerleader.

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    2. And, agreed, that Judy! Such a cheerleader and a constant presence - :)

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  5. Damn! You are good, TL! I was amazed at what you did with Tree last year and now Space? I like the way your mind works. The one part of this that really jumped out for me was embracing space as emptiness. I liked the notion of the space as emptiness of waiting and of inaction - nothing productive is necessary. I like it. DOn't know if I can do it.
    Yes, let's watch this space together. Let's see what 2013 brings to us.

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  6. I have no doubt that you will find your space, increase your space, enrich your space. All of it.

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  7. "I just choose this fresh calendar year in the cold of winter to germinate some seeds that I have gathered in my pockets and tend them and watch them grow and see what they become."
    I was already loving this post, even before I reached you garden metaphor. LOL Beautiful ending, though. Best wishes in your germination and growth. I think all kinds of wonderful things happen in the cold of winter.

    These ideas about space are fascinating, especially the effort it takes to maintain space. (nature abhorring vacuums, etc) I hope you do continue to write and fill your space with your thoughts and feelings... for our benefit. And I need the reminder to allow others their space sometimes.

    Great word!! Happy New Year Periphery!! xoxo

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  8. Space is an excellent word. Looking forward to seeing what progress you make with it. :)

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  9. I think of my personal space as a bubble. Did you know bubbles in Washington are much larger than bubbles elsewhere? I almost freaked out the first time I stood in line at an H.E.B. in Texas.

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Thanks for reading and taking the time to say hello!