Play more: a play date

I realized today that I need to “work” less and play more. I take myself too seriously; I sit down at my desk and think: “Okay, now I need to make my livelihood and my career and my mark in history,” and then it all seems so futile I can’t do a thing. Then, when I’m physically unable to work, like when I’m drifting off to sleep or sitting in the car or lying in savasana, my mind teems with ideas and inspiration and confidence. I conclude that I must relax more when I’m sitting at my desk ready to work, and so, I will stop thinking of this as Serious Work and start just playing.

To that end, I spent half the day today out by myself. I went to yoga (reluctantly, prodded by Erik, who reminded me to maintain my commitments), then had lunch at a Thai restaurant next to Yoga Kula, where I wrote my morning pages. Afterward I visited a delightful antiques shop called Mixed Pickles, where I pondered vintage jewelry and pretended not to see gorgeous vintage coats, and then I walked through a lovely-smelling florist shop. I returned home by way of Solano Avenue in Albany, where I gaped at the most amazing Japanese antiques shop ever, full of wonderful chests and cabinets with tiny little drawers and doors (if Narnia had come through a small drawer instead of a big wardrobe, the furniture in Hana Antiques would open the way to hundreds of Narnias!), and entered and promptly fled far too many clothing boutiques full of dreadful liberal-Bohemian-middle-aged-lady costumery: soft velvet hats, shirtjackets in muted tones, coats of vague ethnic heritage, floral dresses, shimmery scarves and bead necklaces. It was a nice artist date; I saw lots of different things, old and new, smelled lots of flowers, tried on some clothes, and walked in the sunshine.

When I got home, an email from Eurie directed me to a create-your-own-font free site, so I then proceeded to ruin my eyes and head and hands making three fonts. They’re posted on my other blog, along with some fonts I made a long time ago. This was so much fun, I am considering making a new font every day and posting it on my site for download. If I have time and remember to do it, I think I will. Font-making is pure play for me, and as I say, that’s something I need to cultivate.