Idea No. 72 White Space

Vashon Island

This time of year, life begins to resemble British Fleet Street tabloids, screaming at us from every square inch. SEE THIS SHOW. PARTY HERE. AND HERE. AND HERE. DON’T WAIT. JOIN THE CROWDS. LISTEN. MAKE HER HAPPY. GO. BUY. COME. BUY. EAT. BUY. BUY. God forbid there should be any room to breathe between those periods.

“In art as in life, white space is the ultimate luxury… 

It signifies that you have plenty of room to spare.”

I give you those words from Stephen Heller and Veronique Vienne 
(from their roundup of '100 ideas that changed the world of graphic design') as a gift for the holiday season.

But let's tweak the words just a little, to bring them back around to what's most important:

In LIFE, as in art, white space is the ultimate luxury.

In graphic design, Heller and Vienne remind us, white space provides a respite for the eye. "It is used to subvert ‘spectacle’ - to undermine the sustained assault of commercial messages.”

This is the time of year, more than any other, when we need a respite for the eye and all the other parts of ourselves. It's a perfect time to ask, “Who is the President of ME?” Let's take back a little power by treating ourselves to the ultimate luxury. Let’s put some white space into the administration. Let’s subvert the assault.

May we all find the power that lies within us to design a season of calm, for ourselves and for those we love. Let us invite white space into our holiday mental tableau, and give ourselves a little psychic respite.

Here are ten “white space” opportunities I can think of. 
Feel free to add more...

Designate one day of the week for commuting to and from work in total silence.

Choose just one party (or two, if essential) from all the invitations, and send a gracious and honest regret to the others.

Get a full night’s sleep.

Pull over to the side of the road and LOOK at that sunset, for at least fifteen minutes.

Set the alarm for ten minutes earlier and use that extra ten minutes to just sit quietly, with no stimulation of any kind.

Sit down with the greeting cards that arrive each day, with a cup of tea or glass of wine (and no radio or TV blaring in the background), and dedicate the time solely to those cards, really pondering the spirit conveyed by each sender.

Go for a walk, especially when it’s not raining. Repeat as often as possible, and if walking with buddies, pledge at least half of the walk to be conducted in silence.

Stretch. (Your body, not your budget.)

Limit alcohol intake, and hydrate like an athlete.

Welcome the chance not to take the slights of the season personally - remembering it isn’t always about us.

... and maybe just one more for good measure 
       (and the ultimate gift to yourself) ...

Enjoy every meal for the rest of the year without the presence of a cellphone or screen of any kind.

WISHING YOU A CALM HOLIDAY SEASON...

Rebecca

and with that, here's my Holiday Greeting to you,
in the form of a little video.

       A sneak peek at a video 
       about my shop, 
       just completed for 
       my upcoming website.
       
       click this:  The President of ME 

(Tip: Watch in Full Screen to cut out the extraneous clutter of the Vimeo site.)

DO NOT watch it during a meal (see # 11 above...)