This is Of Common Clay, a love-letter-like documentation in pursuit of grounding myself to the common clay we walk on and are made of.
Iām sitting on the idea that time collapses in on itself. It rounds out at the corners and reminds you that it doesnāt stop whenever you feel like it. Iāve never really been a fan of the saying that everyone has the same 24 hours in a day because it fails to take into account the privileges associated with having the time to pursue self-actualising interests or sneak in a couple more hours of sleep.Ā
Itās easy to fall into the cycle of feeling like everyoneās already won the rat race when youāve only still begun to tie your shoelaces. Story after story, youāll see a different person caught up in some activity you wish you couldāve done if not for the other commitments in your life, that driverās license you havenāt quite worked out (a self-call-out), or the fact that youāre a classic, second-guessing self-saboteur. Invest too much time into what others are saying or doing, and youāll forget to invest time in yourself. Iām no stranger to that.
You are, what you think
So quench your thirst, swallow good thought
And it will come to light in your life.In Your Own Sweet Time - Zaska, Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Karen Cowley
Thereās a lulling aspect to the repetition of words in this song that echoes my worries, but it reminds me that Iām still in control of how I perceive my pace. I talked about this with a friend and was reminded that what we see of peopleās āget your shit togetherā act is akin to what we see of icebergs: the real power, the real struggle lies underneath. Unfortunately, we latch onto the sight of efforts less than we do with results. Itās obviously not as glamorous to watch people worry about the bills they have to pay instead of the fancy things theyāve done. Instagram culture, as we know it. Pretty rich coming from a future marketing student! However, itās not all about packing that punch.
Iām still in the process of figuring out how I navigate through my days, especially given the newfound freedom that high school never granted. I donāt always get to follow a strict routine the way I was more or less able to back then. Others thrive in time-blocking, filling out their Notion, and a general sense of consistency. Thatās completely fine too, and maybe Iāll pick that back up again eventually. However, I took this week to enjoy with friends and loved ones a bit more. I went to a DJ Boring concert, had a couple sleepovers, cooked good food, watched Lightyear (ass-tier) and Midsommar (disturbing God-tier), tried a new Vietnamese brunch place with family, and stressed with my coworkers as we listened to the Elvis Presley promo man at my workplace hired to sing for 5 hours straight. Next week, Iāll probably just be grinding uni work or picking up a couple more shifts because of the school holidays. Improvising life at its finest!
Thereās a trick to most of what Iāve noticed with people who aim higher or feel lighter in general, though it isnāt quite foolproof. Surround yourself with influencesāwhether that be the media you consume or peopleāthat educate you, make you feel safe, or (clichĆ© but) simply remind you to be kind.
This is not difficult or radical
This is fundamental. This is pivotal.
This is the most important:Be kind, be gentle
Be mild, be simple
Be patient, be peaceful
But above all else, be kind
Working towards warmth in your life and mine,
Kristen <3
Periodt. āŗļø
Allow yourself grace as you continue this journey in self-discovery.
#loveyoulongtime
funny story, i encountered your website thru airtasker. once i visited your profile and read some of your works, i was suddenly inspired to write again! although i haven't written in such a long time. thank you for inspiring me from afar.
xx, yasse