Unnecessary things are like USB ports.
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They are reminders, mementos, inspirational pointers that allow you and I to time travel… mental triggers of vacations past, adventures forward and unlived dreams. Unnecessary things are the seeds of a wild imagination and they make life worthwhile.
Todd Henry talks about Unnecessary Creating in a recent Accidental Creative Podcast. After listening, I realized that if all of my time is spent doing necessary things, utilitarian, or on purpose, I am missing something. (I highly recommend that you listen to the podcast and sign up for it.)
We waste our lives by grasping only what is necessary.
Here’s the rub: We all live by plan, by schedule and by routine. We have to and it helps us to function better. I eat the same breakfast and drink the same coffee every day. I have my vitamins in a plastic case that reminds me to take my egg shaped grassy-fish tasting pills. I feel more organic after eating the things and they keep me regular. regular is good, but sometimes it can become a trap to avoid risk, the unknown or the uncomfortable. Unnecessary creating can be a way to Un-trap ourselves.
It used to be that as a culture, we attended church/mosque/synagogue and that gave us a weekly routine of unnecessary time. Our minds would wander and our Spirits could soar. We connected with belief, love and maybe even wonder. But in our connected, intelligent and scientific world, have we abandoned a routine that only the Unnecessary can give us?
- When we create unnecessarily, we dedicate time and space for being creative in whatever way that means to us. Why? Dedicated time for unnecessary creating frees us. It allows a safe container where we can risk, believe in our creativity, experiment or explore interests not satiated by our daily work. Unnecessary time gives room for our Spiritual life, our Crayon Whisperer to emerge.
- Hold on to something unnecessary: I keep unnecessary things in my home, my bedroom and my office because they remind me to go off grid once in a while. They are launching points. So rather than de-clutter, maybe your unnecessary creativity begins by holding on to tangible items that remind you to go off grid?
- Daydreaming is another way to carve out some unnecessary time. Children daydream more than adults, so that must be a good thing!
James Altucher writes about how children laugh 300 times a day, but adults laugh only 5 times a day. Maybe children laugh so much because they have so much unnecessary time?
What about you? How do you hold onto the unnecessary?
- Please leave a comment, because comments are well, unnecessary… comments take time. They are breaks from our routine that make us reflect. Thinking is always good thing.
Keep it real.
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Originally posted on smswaby. Reprinted with permission.
Feature photo credit: avrene/Flickr. All other photos courtesy of the author.
A thousand times yes to this post. I just burst out smiling with the verification that this provided:
“Hold on to something unnecessary: I keep unnecessary things in my home, my bedroom and my office because they remind me to go off grid once in a while. They are launching points. So rather than de-clutter, maybe your unnecessary creativity begins by holding on to tangible items that remind you to go off grid?”.
Life affirming work as usual. This is so up my street you should be my next door neighbor.
Louise, Thank you! Glad you like it. If you would like a few of my unnecessary things, I can share them with you. Some call them Nics… others call them Nacs… or Nic Nacs. Portals are everwhere. My camera is one that I treasure. Keep writing, keep living!
Sharing is contagious.
Keep it Real.