My very smart wife, Carmen, noticing my restlessness, gave me an assignment: “Go photograph a still life using light from a window.”
While she worked in her office, I rummaged around the kitchen looking for items, chastising myself. “I should be working,” I thought. “I should be writing. I should be making calls and sending emails.” Not helpful.
And then, to make matters worse, my mind’s eye filled with images of sumptuous displays of fruits and flowers and old paintings of books, pipes, skulls and musical instruments. This is another pattern of anxiety for me, erupting as it does for many people, the comparison game going off as I get started on something new — not at all useful, but typical. “Who am I to photograph a still life using light from a window?”
Pretty soon, however, just pulling things together, arranging and rearranging them, I began to find what I wanted and snapped away in the flow.
I was playing in a way reminiscent of childhood, that state of absorption and pure engagement, pure metaphor. I wasn’t watching myself at all.
Because photographs of patterns can be boring to the eye I consciously twisted the objects and added one that clearly broke the pattern.
Whether or not this is a “good” photograph isn’t the point. The project, my lovely wife’s “assignment,” broke the restlessness.
It put the mirror back where it belonged.
Examining the print, I found I had photographed exactly the way I had been feeling: a lime among tomatoes. What could I do but laugh?
And when I showed it to Carmen, she said, “I think I’m going to give you more assignments.”
Bring them on, my darling. Bring them on.
RSS and email subscription, monthly Unfolding Leadership newsletter, search and other functions may be found at the “Further Information” tab at the bottom of this page.
Pinterest users, you can pin pictures from this weblog via this Board.
This is a great sentence capturing a moment of creative flow and immersion, Dan: “I was playing in a way reminiscent of childhood, that state of absorption and pure engagement, pure metaphor. I wasn’t watching myself at all.” You were feeling wonder, appreciating the moment, and creating something new … a good way to recharge.
Dear Maria~
Isn’t it great that such moments of play act to do that for us? I think the tendency, at least for me, is too often to try to grind through the restless period, to work harder, than to open to a more convivial flow…
Thanks for stopping by, Maria!
All the best
~Dan
What a lovely vulnerable story Dan! I love the photograph is well. Kudos to your wife for inspiring the assignment! : )
As for feeling like a lime among tomatoes at times…ahhhh, you too!?
: )
Many thanks, Samantha. Maybe everyone at one time or another. Feelings of difference, however, have been a special plague for me and also a gift.
All the best
Dan
“A lime among tomatoes” — that’s a classic Dan. I know I’ll be using that one — since that’s how I feel most of the time! Many thanks — Vincenza
Many best wishes to you, Vincenza. It’s great to know this post resonated with you!
~Dan
Wow! This assignment has so many dimensions to it. From our internal language to our past learned “misbehaviors” to even our underlying motivators. Thanks Dan. I know I am projecting about myself. I will now sit down with Sandy and ask for an assignment. Byron
Dear Byron~
Knowing Sandy, it will be a good one! Thanks for commenting, my friend.
~Dan