Moss

Peter Mayle said it best when he said, his "definition of the good life is not the massive and unrepeatable extravagance but a gradual accumulation of habits, friends and possessions—the moss we gather around us—that provide regular sustained enjoyment” (from a very old GQ magazine p. 200). I love the metaphor of moss growing, cushioning and embracing us. Moss is alive, it needs tending. Many people often talk about how their isn't enough time; but the confine of time ensures that we set priorities. In the article, Peter Mayle offers some of his personal rituals that enhance his everyday- from drinking coffee from a cafe au lait bowl, which requires two hands (so no multi tasking...) to a good shave kit- old fashioned and slow. Find time to slow down and enjoy the moment because those moments set the tone for each day and have the power to make a good life. So make sure tending your moss is a priority- because without time and attention your moss might dry up...

Culture

I recently had the pleasure of seeing "The Nose" at the MET where William Kentridge's direction and set design was a fantastic gesamtwerk (or complete work- I prefer the German girth). More then an opera, it was a transportation, an experience in which the music, visuals and energy were working together as a unique and full vision that seldom comes to fruition.
I started thinking of my love of the work by Margaret and Charles Rennie Mackintosh- the Scottish duo that were pioneers in the arts and crafts movement. They designed each element- from wall treatments to furniture to textiles- to work together exquisitely.



I love when all of the senses are satisfied, when an artist really has a complete vision in which every detail is thought through. All the details add up to the whole which is far greater then just the sum of its parts. Culture is not unlike this phenomenon. Culture, as Wade Davis describes in The Wayfinders, is "language, religion, social and economic organization, decorative arts, stories, myths, ritual practices and beliefs, and a host of other adaptive traits and characteristics…. Culture embraces both the actions of a people and the quality of their aspirations, the nature of metaphors that propel their lives" (page 33).

Culture is the ultimate complete work. It extends in all directions, encompasses all senses and evolves with time and people- changing and yet remaining the same. Artistic expression of this culture in all avenues; fine arts, music, architecture, design and fashion, help shape the evolution of our culture and make us more aware of its force in our lives. Engage with culture, it is a dynamic tool for the good life.

Intuition

Following my post the other day, I was contacted by Dr. Michael Pucucci through this blog! what great fortune! Interestingly, as I continued reading I read a great quote about synchronicity, he describes it being a "wink from the universe that tells me I'm on the right track" (page 23). So I invite everyone and anyone to take a chance, put yourself out there, in cyber space or on the street and see what happens. Follow your instincts because as Malcolm Gladwell echos in Blink your gut impressions are extremely valuable and often correct. Trust yourself, take a risk that feels good- you never know where it will take you, but without it you might not get anywhere.

ritual?

I had the pleasure of meeting and seeing Dr Wade Davis speak nearly two weeks ago. His lecture literally opened up my sense of the world. He is an anthropologist/ ethnobotanist with a wealth of experiences and stories all told with a poetic elegance to be envied. His lecture was exciting and energizing, I want to do something with his knowledge. He said (roughly quoting) "Cultures are the answer to the question of what it is to be human." Beautiful words. And so appropriate for amassing a toolkit for good living... what and how can we learn from other cultures about human needs and how to fulfill them? I am beginning a journey to find out. First direction of interest is the role of ritual in various cultures. I am hoping to glean some tools that i can then appropriate for my western/contemporary needs.

I have started reading...
Ritual as Resource energy as vibrant Living by Michael Picucci
Myths to Live By by Joseph Campbell

Comfort?

Saw this article in the New York Times, " A Bed Where Comfort is Not the Point" by John Tagliabue
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/world/europe/25stockholm.html
The article suggests that the discomfort actually creates more comfort- an interesting concept. I have been thinking, quite a bit actually, about contrast as a means to create awareness- but does contrast actually lead to more comfort? It leads to a greater connection to an experience by engaging more of you. Like the lyrics from the Modest Mouse song "if there is no beauty without pain then I'd rather never see beauty again"- it seems that contrast is what makes one thing so great- when you compare it to something not so great. For example a good book seems good following a mediocre book but seems lame after a fantastic one. Life unfortunately sets us up for this predicament regularly... things are going well- then the restlessness sets in- then you want it to be better. Say you succeed its better- with time that becomes the norm and you seek more... The "bad things" that happen to us, check us, remind us that we are fortunate. So how can we make our life better without having that set high, and probably false, expectations?

Getting Started...

This blog is a collection of thoughts, articles and products that seek to improve our quality of life. Quality of life is typically measured on a scale from 1-10, as an evaluation; I am looking for ways to improve both the perception and the actual quality of life through design.