Arranging pleasure

In the rush to become an adult we learn that play is a waste of time. We learn to sit, to study, then to work. The wandering mind is stilled and the quest for joy replaced by the slow tick-tock of days. We leave behind our childish ways. Men are better at carrying their childhood passions into adult hood and hobbies that grow from building model railways, or lego space ships are more acceptable in adult hood. For women the toys they nurtured become real life people to care for and there’s a larger letting go of childhood, there’s a stigma attached to the time wasting required to play, explore and discover. It becomes so that play is not part of the world of a serious adult.

And so if ‘play’ presents challenges you can switch it for the word ‘arrange’. It can be very pleasurable to arrange your life. Taking time to arrange your creative space, time to sort and arrange your art materials. Take time to arrange some time so that you can rekindle a project that has been lingering. Arrange time to go to a gallery, film or theatre that can ignite your soul.

At this time of year I like to bring nature indoors and make an arrangement. It connects me to the season and allows nature to cross the threshold of the closed windows and doors. Arranging my space helps me romanticise my life, taking the time to clear space so that I can feel more myself in it and value the nest I have created.

Clearing, arranging, processing, putting away all make way for what is next, all allow flow to enter the equation. Arranging time sets boundaries for projects and gives you a framework to honour yourself.

There is purpose in arranging where play can feel indulgent, arranging creates a dynamic of momentum, a gentle pulse forwards. What will you arrange?