Creating Space

Sometimes you can hear a phrase many times, and speak that phrase over many years, and yet not realise the fullness of it. But there comes a moment when the words of that phrase reach out to demand your attention in a new way. And you see it in a different light. It happened to me this week, and the phrase which was leaping about and waving its arms to attract my notice was ‘creating space’.

Actually, it was only waving one arm. The ‘space’ bit of the phrase I’m familiar with. That’s the bit I’ve always focused on. Creating SPACE. It was the ‘creating’ bit that had to grab me by the scruff of the neck and slap me about the face.

Our recent house move has left our little cottage stacked to the ceiling with towers of boxes. Boxes upon boxes upon boxes. Everywhere you turn, boxes (actually, you can’t turn…...for the boxes). After a while, you just get used to edging around them. They sort of become a fixture; an accepted inconvenience. And there always seems to be something far more interesting to do than to unpack boring boxes. Like making stuff. Far more creative. Making chocolates, making music, writing this blog, making a mess!

But then, for some reason, the ‘creating’ word leapt out at me and it was as if I was hearing the phrase for the first time. Only this time, instead of being about ‘creating SPACE’, it was about ‘CREATING space’. Of course! Space has to be created. Any artist will tell you about negative space and how important it is to a composition. It applies to painting, to music, to interior design and to countless other artistic disciplines. And defining that negative space is very much an act of creativity. Creating space is intrinsically creative. As opposed to dull and boring.

So, I’m turning back to my boxes with a renewed vigour. I’m planning to be extremely creative over the next few weeks; and, at the end of that time, I hope to have precisely…..nothing to show for my efforts. Nothing but space.

Comments

[christina]

I hope you were successful with your unpacking! I moved somewhat recently myself, and it's amazing how quickly you start to look at the stacked boxes as part of your interior landscape, almost like furniture, and ignore what they are - something you need to deal with! I suppose the same can be said about many things in life :-)

[danielle]

Yay! I think you are up for the challenge-- full and ready with the creativity. There's no doubt you will soon turn around to see just how much *space* you have Created! And it will be beautiful!

[jacqueline]

This is such a wonderful post and a reminder for me. :) Thank you so much for sharing and i look forward to your creative weeks! Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you!

[MarySunshine]

i have no doubt that under your creative command, the negative spaces you are left with will be positively lovely indeed. Thanks for the daily renewal of esprit de vivre dear one. I enabled my computer phobic mother to see your blog and she waxed rhapsodic about your entries: the gloved hand reaching for berries, the box of artisan chocolates gifted to the mailman, the ode to cleaning supplies, the mesmerizing glimpse into a world less traveled by inviting us into your world. Thanks for sharing your passion, your vision, your love of place and people Helen.

[Jenna/The Word Cellar]

This hits me as being rather profound. I tend toward clutter and am always fighting to keep things cleared and beautiful. I like the idea of thinking about it as creating space, instead of struggling to reduce clutter.