My body took me on a crash course in this when I developed M.E./CFS and at first stopped me doing almost everything, even moving an arm was excruciating or hearing a sound. A symptom of this condition is post exertion malaise, so any physical or mental or emotional effort costs in fatigue following it. This is a very brutal way to learn about becoming aware of your use of activities versus their use of you.
I wanted to leave this comment to echo your account about flow, vitality, freedom from time and free time Jeanette, as an experience of altered time which most of us ( will ) likely face at some time in our lives , yet tend to often perceive only in negative terms. DISability , chronic ILLness . In fact the rediscovery of interdependence with others, the forced self- responsibility for an effortful versus restful inventory, and the resilience and courage gained in accepting and inviting both painful and joyful choices to necessitate daily living has been incredibly rewarding.
Throwing pots puts me in flow. It stimulates both sides of my brain, scratching the itch for control on the wheel then trusting the alchemy of the kiln. Fire and earth. Form and faith. It’s the purest form of being I’ve found - there’s only life before I found clay and life after - and every pot I throw feels like prayer. Fucking awesome!
It’s ironic to me that photography, such a time-bound medium, is the thing that gives me the most opportunities to feel a state of flow and to ‘lose’ myself in the moment. The camera is a kind of Time Machine, I suppose. Thanks for your thoughts.
I hate the way we use the clocks in an attempt to control and manipulate time and feel a usually short, but very intense, sense of displacement each time it happens.
Time itself, as a concept, or in its lived reality is fascinating and often finds its way into my poetry whether or not I intended it.
If anyone is interested, the link below is to an example of a crack in personal time prompted by the clocks going back:
Your posts resonate deeply with me Jeanette. This one particularly. Thank you. I work in early years education and write often about allowing children the space/ time to get into flow state but, I struggle to carve out space/ time for myself. Your words are a timely reminder.
Your words are such a tonic on a Monday morning. Thank you 🙏
Yes I was just thinking the same thing! (She said, putting her phone away!)…thank you Jeanette. Xx
Our current human behaviour expressed and summarised in this post so eloquently. Really enjoying your posts Jeanette since I joined. Thank you.
My body took me on a crash course in this when I developed M.E./CFS and at first stopped me doing almost everything, even moving an arm was excruciating or hearing a sound. A symptom of this condition is post exertion malaise, so any physical or mental or emotional effort costs in fatigue following it. This is a very brutal way to learn about becoming aware of your use of activities versus their use of you.
I wanted to leave this comment to echo your account about flow, vitality, freedom from time and free time Jeanette, as an experience of altered time which most of us ( will ) likely face at some time in our lives , yet tend to often perceive only in negative terms. DISability , chronic ILLness . In fact the rediscovery of interdependence with others, the forced self- responsibility for an effortful versus restful inventory, and the resilience and courage gained in accepting and inviting both painful and joyful choices to necessitate daily living has been incredibly rewarding.
Throwing pots puts me in flow. It stimulates both sides of my brain, scratching the itch for control on the wheel then trusting the alchemy of the kiln. Fire and earth. Form and faith. It’s the purest form of being I’ve found - there’s only life before I found clay and life after - and every pot I throw feels like prayer. Fucking awesome!
It’s ironic to me that photography, such a time-bound medium, is the thing that gives me the most opportunities to feel a state of flow and to ‘lose’ myself in the moment. The camera is a kind of Time Machine, I suppose. Thanks for your thoughts.
Yes, literally a lens to focus our attention.
you're probably my favourite author on Substack ugh this made me cry
Love this, very timely (!) as I contemplate the week ahead with few commitments...
Your words have captured how I feel as I struggle to accept retirement in a world that seems to have no ‘time’ to waste.
Thank you for reminding me how important being is. Not doing. I am boldly practising the lost art of pottering.
This post really resonates with me.
I hate the way we use the clocks in an attempt to control and manipulate time and feel a usually short, but very intense, sense of displacement each time it happens.
Time itself, as a concept, or in its lived reality is fascinating and often finds its way into my poetry whether or not I intended it.
If anyone is interested, the link below is to an example of a crack in personal time prompted by the clocks going back:
https://open.substack.com/pub/bridgetpratt/p/baby-youre-out-of-time?r=1v0ed8&utm_medium=ios
I was just writing about how painting, for me, takes me out of clock time. Great read!
Thanks for the reminder. I love to hang out and watch the sheep eat. I don't do enough of it lately as the world turns too fast towards dystopia.
I haven't felt the press of time well for 'some time'
We breeze past the past like a train not quite right, right on time
Have you noticed what the poets pose in prose are trying to show
For those that truly care they never needed those poets
To point out that Paradise has always been here righ before us
T J. Mitchell
Your posts resonate deeply with me Jeanette. This one particularly. Thank you. I work in early years education and write often about allowing children the space/ time to get into flow state but, I struggle to carve out space/ time for myself. Your words are a timely reminder.
This is so refreshing - I just want to be able to take some time to potter not attend back to back zoom meetings all day and then collapse
This is a letter to keep and read again, and again. Thank you.