I believe it was the poet Robert Creeley who wrote that people don't understand that he is working very hard when he sits and silently stares out a window for a very long time.
I loved this post. But the so-called distractions are the salt of life (that's how you'd say it in Italian). Without necessarily being writers, as humans we need more of these distractions. This is the sort of stuff that peppers our days and something I give thanks for in my journal. Moments of beauty that I also try to capture with my phone camera. Then I look at my Google photos and have a delightful feed of distractions that enrich my life.
How fascinating.. I am going to do that, starting with your post... I was distracted by the title. I was writing a post on my blog and I suddenly saw the notification and couldnt resist reading it. Lovely idea to list them :)
Dec 19, 2022·edited Dec 19, 2022Liked by Rob Walker
Hey there! I'm new to Substack and just happen to be one of the 148 writers that recommend you, because I love the ideas behind the Art of Noticing. That is an amazing number of writers btw, so congrats!
I hadn't seen the Missing Words thing before and it made me think of the differences between languages. I was born in South America and moved to Australia when I was 9 and was surprised to learn that some spanish words had no direct translation in English.
Given how much language impacts perception, this has always fascinated me. It occurred to me that the differences in languages would be a nice playground of exploration for words missing from English (or any other language) dictionaries!
I "found" you today as a guest opinion writer for the NYTimes, "Clutter is Good For You." Your essay brought tears to my eyes as it justified, or at the very least recognized, a part of who I am. As I wander around my apartment, looking at or handling "objects of remembrance," I am connected to a private history - a tapestry that has brought me to that point in my kitchen, or my living space, filling me sometimes with sadness, at others times bringing a smile. They inspire poetry, or at times a memory or a poem I have written inspires a search on Ebay to recreate one of the lost treasures that ground me to another place. These objects not only connect linear history, but were and perhaps still are an important part of my emotional foundation, the importance of such concrete symbols perhaps a totem to a time where warmth and emotional supports were wanting. Thank you.
Watching the leaves this fall in a new neighborhood was particularly entertaining. so loved that thinking there might be words to describe all the ways that leaves fall. Don't the Alaska natives have different words for all the ways the snow falls. Made me think of that. Thanks always for the inspiration!!
Thanks Rob. For me, the night sky and the sea are awesome. It's just that some people use the word to describe things or events that for me do not inspire awe.
Good ideas as always Rob. I have one quibble about the word "awe". Many people seem to use it casually as in "Your backyard is awesome." Awe for me is related to the numinous and something beyond human comprehension. I don't going around calling people out for it but it needs to be used a little more sparingly and within context. Happy Holidays!
The Poetry of Distractions
I believe it was the poet Robert Creeley who wrote that people don't understand that he is working very hard when he sits and silently stares out a window for a very long time.
I loved this post. But the so-called distractions are the salt of life (that's how you'd say it in Italian). Without necessarily being writers, as humans we need more of these distractions. This is the sort of stuff that peppers our days and something I give thanks for in my journal. Moments of beauty that I also try to capture with my phone camera. Then I look at my Google photos and have a delightful feed of distractions that enrich my life.
I really like 'unleaving', in Keats' poem, for what they do in the fall.
Thank you so much! And happy holidaze to y'all ;) Stay warm!
How fascinating.. I am going to do that, starting with your post... I was distracted by the title. I was writing a post on my blog and I suddenly saw the notification and couldnt resist reading it. Lovely idea to list them :)
Hey there! I'm new to Substack and just happen to be one of the 148 writers that recommend you, because I love the ideas behind the Art of Noticing. That is an amazing number of writers btw, so congrats!
I hadn't seen the Missing Words thing before and it made me think of the differences between languages. I was born in South America and moved to Australia when I was 9 and was surprised to learn that some spanish words had no direct translation in English.
Given how much language impacts perception, this has always fascinated me. It occurred to me that the differences in languages would be a nice playground of exploration for words missing from English (or any other language) dictionaries!
Book Lover = Bibliophile
Library Lover =
I "found" you today as a guest opinion writer for the NYTimes, "Clutter is Good For You." Your essay brought tears to my eyes as it justified, or at the very least recognized, a part of who I am. As I wander around my apartment, looking at or handling "objects of remembrance," I am connected to a private history - a tapestry that has brought me to that point in my kitchen, or my living space, filling me sometimes with sadness, at others times bringing a smile. They inspire poetry, or at times a memory or a poem I have written inspires a search on Ebay to recreate one of the lost treasures that ground me to another place. These objects not only connect linear history, but were and perhaps still are an important part of my emotional foundation, the importance of such concrete symbols perhaps a totem to a time where warmth and emotional supports were wanting. Thank you.
Haha thanks for mention the Rob! Alas, the 2023 WEIRD TRASH CALENDAR is SOLD OUT!
Also, congrats on the 25k subscribers. That is amazing and awesome!
My Post 2.0
Sorry the first one got messed up.
I think writers are writers when they are not writing. I think leaves are leaves when they are not leaving.
Big storm here last night, a ton of wind and rain, brought down piles of leaves. I would describe that as: Leaving on a Midnight Rain.
Love it.
And love what you do, Rob.
Seasons greetings, and all that implies to you and yours.
Watching the leaves this fall in a new neighborhood was particularly entertaining. so loved that thinking there might be words to describe all the ways that leaves fall. Don't the Alaska natives have different words for all the ways the snow falls. Made me think of that. Thanks always for the inspiration!!
Thanks Rob. For me, the night sky and the sea are awesome. It's just that some people use the word to describe things or events that for me do not inspire awe.
Oops, Gerard Manley Hopkins...
a Haiku of noticing this morning:
The fingernail moon
Sliver of hope in the sky
Backlit by the dawn
Good ideas as always Rob. I have one quibble about the word "awe". Many people seem to use it casually as in "Your backyard is awesome." Awe for me is related to the numinous and something beyond human comprehension. I don't going around calling people out for it but it needs to be used a little more sparingly and within context. Happy Holidays!