lazy sunday · 2006-06-13 21:12
Two days ago I jumped out of a plane. Again.
Wait, let’s go back a little. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve blown a bottle, learnt to knit, screenprinted my first tshirt, and jumped out of a plane.
It was serendipity that they happened in such quick succession, but it shows two things: a fundamental need to get away from computers, and also what happens when you start saying yes, rather than no.
Ben Hammersley’s talk at Reboot ended up being about Saying Yes. Now, I’d said yes to all of the activities before Ben’s wonderful presentation, but his topic confirmed what I’d been thinking about a lot. I’d also read The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which was a quick and very forgettable read, but one notion stuck out, a one word mantra – participate.
It’s easy to stop participating. Easy to watch TV, lie on the sofa. Easy not to cook, not to write a post for this weblog. But I have realised that too much of this makes me depressed, which in turn also makes it hard to participate. So Ben’s crazy idea of saying yes to things (anything) makes a lot of sense.
I have a lot of time for craftspeople – and I include sportspeople like skydivers in that. I’ve also slightly envied their devotion and dedication to one thing. I used to think that if I tried enough things, I’d find one that I fell in love with and would sustain me for the rest of my life. However, I don’t think I’m wired that way. The thing that I seem to love is being a neophiliac. I need new things, new experiences. A quick question – you have the choice of going to your favourite restaurant, or a new restaurant that you’ve heard good things about. Which do you choose? A hard decision for me, but it would always be the latter. I try to go to one new place a week. A happy day is when I’ve walked down a street where I’ve not been before.
So will I continue all the things I’ve tried in the last few weeks? Unlikely. I’m definitely going to finish my headphone cozy, but I think it’s unlikely I’ll attempt a sweater. I do love skydiving, but I’m not interested in the technicalities of the sport (plus the personal focus that you need to pack your own chute and pull your own ripcord). Screenprinting and glassblowing, however, are worth exploring further, I think.
comments
This borders on being an ad, but I’ll take my chances. In September, in Copenhagen, there will be a conference that’s made for experience junkies. It’s euroGEL, check it out (and if you decide to come, tell Mark I sent you ;).
heh,
i was messing with the car today and counting all (7!) the bikes i will be attempting to rebuild this summer (might end up with less). as i came back in the house, i was beaming and showed my hands to my wife: ‘i love grease!’ i said.
yup. that’s my expression of handwork.
tchau,
charlie
ps and here’s to ‘yes’