When there is no narrative in everyday life I try to make one. It is like with cooking. You open the fridge, see what’s inside and you cook something with what you have. And you eat and you are satisfied, more or less. And I do the same, I think, with life. I open the fridge and choose the things I like most, or the things that haven’t rotten yet, and I make something, a narrative, a story to tell myself. Not necessarily a written story. Just a story, about me and where I am going. It doesn’t even have to have an ending. It might be open, but there is some continuity, at least one I understand. Without this in my head, I would be lost.
July 12th, 2006 at 7:45 pm
I know what you mean, my friend. I really do. I know I am really really content when I don’t need to.
I hope that road trip comes soon…have you amde some plans yet?
July 12th, 2006 at 8:14 pm
we discussed it today over ice-cream. i am going to do some research tomorrow. it is funny that i have so much work to do now that i so badly need to go away.
xxxxx
July 12th, 2006 at 8:41 pm
That is always the way, Chloe. When you have time to take a trip, you can’t afford to. When you can afford to, you are too busy to take the time.
I don’t make a narrative of my daily life… I daydream. It is really a bad habit, because I am wishing my life away, instead of doing something to improve my life.
July 12th, 2006 at 10:50 pm
I loke the new look and feel!
July 13th, 2006 at 12:22 am
This is lovely logic. You just make the best of what you have and satisfy yourself. Beautiful !
July 13th, 2006 at 4:07 am
Good stuff Chloe, you’re right. I’m reading a book about my hero Joe Strummer at the moment and he had a very relaxed philosphy about taking what’s in front of you and real, and not searching too hard for the unobtainable.
July 13th, 2006 at 6:42 am
According to narrative psychology we all do that: we have to tell stories about who we are and the things that happen to us, to make it at least a little coherent.
But I understand that you mean that in another way: that you make do with what you have and that’s good.
Like Blackcrag I dream my life away (very well said) - as if I’m constantly imagining what I could get in my fridge lol
July 13th, 2006 at 9:05 am
crag
aren’t dreams narratives? they are.
greg
welcome back greg, thank you
true blue
you have to use the tools you have
ben
if Strummer is your hero, you have to talk to my friend Joe. He must be the biggest Strummer/Clash collector-fan in Greece. He has a site too:
http://www.geocities.com/mythograff/cl_main.htm
in greek unfortunately.
When he comes back from London i am going to tell him to check your site.
Devil
i don’t mean it in another way, i mean it exactly like you said. I don’t make do with what i have, but i use these things to make life coherent.
July 13th, 2006 at 9:40 am
When nothing happens, you make up a story, with a beginning and events..the end of the story marks the day after. The day that’s coming, the future day which will come at some point, but not now. Now, it is just the story. Our life.
July 13th, 2006 at 9:52 am
I see!
July 13th, 2006 at 11:46 am
Wow!! I liked this post!!
July 13th, 2006 at 11:57 am
That is very good advice! Something I really need to work on. I feel myself spinning in my shoes right now. Like I am just staring at the bulb in the refrigerator…lol. Hopefully I will be able to get focused soon.
Maybe I need a road trip.
Hugs,
Connie
July 13th, 2006 at 12:27 pm
so what happens when you go to your metaphorical fridge and there is nothing to make? or the combination doesn’t appeal to you? do you still have a story to yourself?
July 13th, 2006 at 2:05 pm
The building my old office was tucked up pretty close to another office tower, with just a narrow courtyard between them. The office across the way was in my direct line of sight. My office mate and I would dream up ridiculous dialogues for the poor saps in the office opposite.
It was a man and woman, and they had a lot of boxes in their shared office. So, in our daily soap opera, these folks were exporting marazipan pigs between short, surreal strategy sessions on seducing Bono as a team.
Hell, beats working.
July 13th, 2006 at 2:30 pm
I do that all the time, only usually it involves future plans, dreams, hopes and desires. Nothing like fantisizing or anything, just, “projecting.” It keeps me motivated and optimistic when times are low. ^_^
July 13th, 2006 at 3:22 pm
I do this sometimes, but sometimes also find myself compelled to upset the continuity…to tear the story up into little pieces and see if they look different from a different angle…like the magnetic poetry ON the fridge, instead of what’s in the fridge. I think blogging helps to figure the story out.
July 13th, 2006 at 4:09 pm
Unless we search for it, or strive for it, the obtainable does indeed become unobtainable. Nothing is ever given on a plate.
Live life as a road movie I say!
July 13th, 2006 at 8:26 pm
I like what you’re saying but I cannot use that anology due to the awful things I do to the stuff in my fridge. If I was to take the same unskilled approach to my life there would be chaos. Although there kind of is already
July 13th, 2006 at 11:10 pm
Great post, and I loooove your new header.
Take care, Meow xx
July 13th, 2006 at 11:10 pm
Handsomeloser: LOL!
Chloe: One of the most carefree rushes I get is making an absolutely crazy, zany salad or omelet out of the best in my fridge. Sometimes it’s a success, sometimes not, but it’s always fun to see how it has turned out and I always learn something. I guess another metaphor for life. Hope you have a WONDERFUL weekend ahead… xoS
July 14th, 2006 at 1:24 am
This is an excellent metaphor!
July 14th, 2006 at 2:27 am
Ooh, where are you going? (I was eavesdropping on you and Cathy!)
I like pictures of gates and doors. I can’t take good photos of them so when someone else does, I can stare at it for a long time. And I think, what’s beyond that?
July 14th, 2006 at 7:10 am
you have some great pictures of food on your page. it always makes me hungry!
thank you for your kind words. i hope you enjoyed my stories.
tom x
July 14th, 2006 at 7:31 am
Your new look is very pretty.
July 14th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
I have a very bad habit of daydreaming, and in doing so make up stories about the people around me.
I think it’s the direct result of my little bubble world. I seem to have lost my direction at the moment, but I love the philosophy of life like cooking. I just need to clean out my fridge and go grocery shopping…!
July 14th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
I am trying to make a life
with what i have…
but it is missing what i long
for the most…
it’s that magic ingredient that
brings all others to life…
smiles….
July 14th, 2006 at 1:19 pm
is this kind of like, if life gives you lemons, make lemonade? lol.
July 19th, 2006 at 4:31 am
In your head as with your fridge, there is a shelf for everything.
July 19th, 2006 at 6:07 am
I need narrative.