Growing up as a kid in Lake Tahoe, I often complained to my parents about the tediousness of going to the beach each day of summer. They laughed and foresaw that someday, I would rue those words.
As I have grow from child to adult, I've experienced the normal quickening of time. As an elder millennial though, I've also seen a society transform around me from one with the option for connectivity to one that's chronically connected. As the slow days of childhood have passed, it seems that the slowness around adults has all but vanished too.
With technological gains that made life more efficient with everything on one device, it has become increasingly more difficult for us to separate ourselves from technology.
Similarly, even though employers have been able to get so much more out of a work day with technological advances, workplaces have only increased the workload and demands made on workers. We're expected to be reachable anywhere and anytime, a far cry from our ancestors seasonal agrarian work requirements that began at dawn with the rooster's call.
When I think about why this moment in time is perfect for letter writing, I'm struck by how deeply our souls long for the peace that comes from leisure. It's important that we carve out this space in our lives to reconnect with ourselves and others. How much I would love to go back to those spacious beach days of my childhood!
At my favorite hometown beach, Round Hill Pines in 1990 |
A few years later still at Round Hill Pines |
A Duke in a Garden
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This intricately detailed seal showcases a pastoral scene of Sir Arthur Wellesley, the famous British military commander, enjoying a leisurely moment in a serene garden. He sits next to a majestic horse, which is being attended to by a groom. Surrounding them are several classical sculptures, all of which contribute to the ambiance of luxury and refinement. In the distance, a stunning temple can be seen, adding to the overall majesty of the scene. Sir Arthur Wellesley, also known as the Duke of Wellington, was a prominent British statesman and military leader who played a pivotal role in the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. He was born in Ireland in 1769 and went on to serve in various military campaigns across Europe, gaining a reputation as a skilled strategist and leader. In addition to his military accomplishments, Wellington also served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1828 to 1830. Today, he is remembered as one of Britain's greatest military heroes and is celebrated for his role in shaping the modern world. Despite his numerous accomplishments to choose from, the artist of this seal chose to place Wellington in a grand garden. I love thinking about how even some of the most important figures in history were still humans and had unremarkable moments for pure enjoyment. This is my largest, and one of my most detailed seals. What tiny details can you spot? |
The Lake Isle of Innisfree by W.B. Yeats
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee;
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.
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To a week of leisure even amidst the busyness,
Kay