One Apple A Day #648 - space to wander
"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." —Antoine de Saint-Exupery
I love aphorisms. They carry so much meaning and power in just a few words.
This one from Antoine de Saint-Exupery is probably my favourite one.
I have a tendency to fill up my life. To fall into the collecting mindset.
Once it was with things.
I remember a period in my life when I was going around with my wallet full of old receipts and bills. It was so thick I couldn't carry it in my pocket. Obviously, for no reason at all. Some of them were so old that they were faded entirely away.
And it was the same with all sorts of stuff.
Until I throw everything away and I started living with just what I need.
What a liberation it has been.
But the collecting mindset is still there. Not as strong as before, but sometimes it shows up. In this case, with ideas and projects. Something less visible but that can quickly fill up life.
This morning I couldn't find an idea for my writing. The clock was ticking, and I was ready to give up this morning apple. I have so many things to do that I can spend too much time seeking an idea.
I started reading some quotes seeking inspiration.
Then this one by Antoine de Saint-Exupery called me, from the bottom of an email I sent. And I realise that I've been filling up my life with ideas an projects and there is little space left to wander there where ideas grow.
Maybe it's time to pay more attention to what I say yes to.
Awakening creativity is a subtraction process.