Creating presence
“I decided three things really quickly. I decided that I wasn’t going to tell a story to myself about it being good or bad…I decided that I would let it connect me to people instead of isolate me. And I decided that every time I was afraid, I would try to become more curious….those three principles have guided me through…the woods of this.”
Amanda Quaid, in conversation with Pádraig ō Tuama (Poetry Unbound)
I had almost finished an earlier version of this post when I listened to this episode of Poetry Unbound and decided it needed re-doing! To some extent, I could listen to Pádraig ō Tuama read anything because his accent is so divine. But this one is really special. He was interviewing Amanda Quaid about her recent book, No Obvious Distress. It is an award winning memoir in poems. Amanda Quaid had never written poetry before, and started because she was looking for an art form that allowed her to be with uncertainty in a beautiful way, and in the moment in a beautiful way. Grant yourself a wonderful blessing and listen to it. I was profoundly moved and have talked of little else since! Amanda describes so powerfully how creativity helps us engage with really tough things.
Her thoughts resonated with another book I read recently by Peter Korn called Why We Make Things and Why it Matters . (And BTW thank you Cate!!! Oh the joy of IRL workshops where students make great book recommendations!) When Peter Korn created (hand crafted chairs) it helped him stop being distracted by wanting and be alive to the present moment.
He suggests that the good life is not some Shangri La waiting to be stumbled upon. One constructed it from the materials at hand. He says that, whether we call ourselves artists or makers or craftspeople or WHATEVER, that the point is we are an object-making species. And that in the making of objects, we can practice those things that make life rich and fulfilling.
This totally unrelated photo shows some of my latest object making and forays into sitting with uncertainty (which working with complementary colours always is!) These were inspired by some traditional Tibetan textiles we have here at home.
Amanda Quaid creates poems. Peter Korn creates furniture. My bloke is creating music on a bamboo flute. We might create meals, or a bouquet, or a yoga flow. Staying present in each day is an act of creating. Seeing the decision inherent in each moment is creating. The podcast and the book both reinforced how creating should be central in our lives, not an add on. Part of a spiritual practice or, as Amanda Quaid says, a way of engaging with all of live, even serious illness.
I treated myself to an online workshop with an artist I admire so much, Fabi Pérez, and I am slowly but happily working through it. I can already see how I can use some of the techniques in new ways. Highly recommended!
I learn so much about teaching by being a student.
As well as podcasts, I am loving Vika and Linda’s Where Do You Come From album. That’s How I Pray gives me goosebumps every time! And I am vicariously REALLY getting into Indian flute music!! As someone with very little musical aptitude, I am in awe of people (let’s call him Mal) who can pick up an instrument and in a matter of days sounds amazing! Happy making!!