(Truth in advertising: this is a reworked vintage post. I was 10 minutes from deadline and, well, there it is.)
Henry David Thoreau said, "Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves." For today, perhaps many days, that is part of my story. Disquieting news arrived from more than one direction and, even though I feel I've found my way through part of it, bits of me have wandered off.
When lost, panic is pointless. What serves us is a version of treading water, staying in place, yet not idle. And companions, as they might be called, such as flat tin boxes of watercolors or polychromos (is it not a graceful word?) pencils. As I became lost while going about my life in my own home, I, in the only true preparedness I can claim, had emergency supplies on hand, including, in no particular order: a blank envelope, a pencil, a very fine-line waterproof pen, scissors, a glue stick, a sheet of white card stock, a Prismacolor Sunburst Yellow pencil, something red, glitter, color photocopies, paper for drawing, a good eraser, a rainbow ink pad, alphabet stamps. Bottled water and dark chocolate are also recommended to keep one company for the duration.
If there is a trick to what Thoreau described, it is to be lost long enough for awareness to sidle over and sit down, let us get caught up in its story and realize that lost is not who we thought it to be.
4 comments:
You are supplied with so many gifts.
Kass - I am grateful every moment, or as frequently as I can be, for all of them. xo
Dear Marylinn, thank you. I wonder... have you read Rebecca Solnit's 'A Field Guide To Getting Lost'? My copy is well-thumbed from multiple readings, and much of it is underlined! One more companion to add to the 'emergency supplies at hand'. Much love xo
Claire - I just checked, the book is still on my Amazon wish list. I may retrieve it soon. I'm sure I learned of it on Brain Pickings. Most of what I see there goes on one or another Amazon list so I don't forget. Even though I take notes about everything, I can't always find them easily. Yes, many items necessary for the Emergency Kits. I feel that way about, among others, Barry Lopez and Thomas Moore's "The Re-enchantment of Everyday Life." I think I might add Oliver Sacks. We need, more than ever, those who can see beyond. Much love. xo
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