I have a tendency when I loose contact with a friend, or fall behind on some activity, to feel my return must compensate my hiatus and be particularly grand. I can't just jot a postcard to that friend, I must write an epic letter in a hand-stitched envelope: If my work is overdue it must be magnificent to justify this delay. But because the epic letter takes so long, or doesn't fulfill expectations, I never quite finish it, and so delay contact even further, which in turn requires something even more splendid. I get lost in my own expectations and insecurities and forget the the real point is just to reach out and say, "Hello, I'm thinking of you"; that it is better to actually send a shop-bought card, than not-get-round to sending the beautiful handmade one; that it is better to finish a job satisfactorily, than never finish a masterpiece.
Not everything has to be explained, or justified, or compensated.
Hello.
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There's a wonderful new project called "The School Of Life" that resides in Marchmont Street near Russell Square, London. It is a place to discuss and think and meet and talk. With the aim, as they put it, of "offering intelligent instruction on how to lead a fulfilled life". There are themed evening courses with titles like "Love" "Family" or "Work" designed by leading thinkers. Their services include personalised reading lists, dinners with a conversation menu and holidays (eg. a weekend at the Seaside with Martin Parr). And all so beautifully designed. At present it's out of my price range, but if I could I would. Or rather when I can, I will.
It reminds me of an idea I had many years ago to have a class in school called "Lessons in Life"; a reaction to feeling that so little of formal education prepares one for real life. It would include everything from darning a sock, filling out a tax return, role playing family disputes, changing a plug, changing a nappy, how to confront fear, reading train timetables, meditation, how to protest and making porridge.
Just wondering what you might add to these Lessons in Life?
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4 comments:
how to write love letters
I LOVE this!!!!
I will be in UK in July- let's take a class!
love letters. great idea. and while you're at it, how to kiss.
Meet there for coffee in July, ok?
I´ld like to learn to be relaxed and smiling, not be so shy and selfconcious. (There are two sides of me one of them is like this... but the other one, when I meet folks that seem interresting that I´ld love getting to know I can become terribly shy and unconfortable(!)
BTW - HELLO dear Alix! I understand very well what you are talking about here. And the piles of things you want to do well grow.
What happened to your camera and your pictures?
In no particular order:
how to tell a cling-stone peach from a non-cling-stone;
how to talk in a breathy, nonchalent yet fascinating way to a person you are attracted to;
how to answer all the 'but Mum, why is...' questions with honesty and integrity;
how to skip stones on the water;
how to meet death bravely, looking it straight in the eye;
how to make a brilliant cup of tea.
That was fun, glad you're back
xxN
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