Simplicity is a special place

Everyone has their own special space. You know, that little flowery field you ran through in the summer holidays when you were 12. That mountain you climbed in New Zealand. That cave you found in your kayak.

They are all different places. Every one unique to their thinker.

Except they all have one thing in common – you’re there on your own. It’s your space.

Now think back to some of the best times of your life. When you felt happy, content and like the world was waiting for you to discover it, and take your place.

For me there are two distinct periods. The first was VI Form college. As a musician, it meant I was working hard and making the most of performing. My teachers had encouraged me to play classical music, jazz, blues and rock. I was endlessly going to rehearsals with different people, exploring different ideas, and different skills. The highlight being a concert where I had performed in every group appearing, and shaking hands with the drummer at the end of the final piece who had just achieved the same fete of 2 hours of non-stop performing.

Then there would have to be the first year of uni. Discovering new things. Finding freedom (oh God it’s turning into a cliche). The cut-outs of Scarey Spice and Sporty Spice in our communal kitchen with daily quotes in speech bubbles fr fellow students to see, ranging from Billy Bragg lyrics to Nick Cave quotes (ah, saved it from cliche).

Here’s the thing. In both of those situations I was being independent. Yes, I was playing in an ensemble, or had my flatmate Joel to help decide the daily quotes. But I was independent in the sense that there was no one else to mess it up for me. I wasn’t relying on a third party. I wasn’t delegating. I didn’t need permission to do things.

Are you thinking of your special place? I bet you’re independent whilst you’re there. I bet there’s no one else there to mess it up for you or critique… says a lot about what’s wrong with life, doesn’t it?


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