Thanks very much, Sam for your thoughtful piece. It reminded me about an exhibit I saw in a museum in Reykjavik. The sailing boat had a canvas bag attached to the side of the boat. 'Ylir: a mechanism for 'pouring oil on troubled waters' widely used in the 19th century. Fish oil trickled out to form a slick on the sea, which calmed the waves to some extent.'
Oh I love that! I just love it when you discover the colourful original background for some phrase we use without thinking. Must have smelt a bit though! Here in Orkney the traditional 'cruisie' lamp was fueled by fish oil with a wick made from the spongey pith from the soft rushes that grow on damp ground.
Wow how incredible who would have thought of that?? Must have attracted the sea birds and all other creatures. When people do long ocean swims don't they cover themselves with oil wonder if it is for buoyancy??
This is timely (and aren't lifeboats, the whole concept of them, splendid). I have been feeling very heavy of late, stuck wallowing in the doldrums, or on the rocks. I'm certainly in need of more lightness and space to clear my mind.
Buoyancy, yes. To keep our lives afloat we need it. I like your remarks about needing quiet space, a time to contemplate and be grateful for what we have.
Wow, thank you for this…on so many levels. I live with a neurological disorder where my brain misinterprets solid ground for liquid, we often describe it as “constantly living on a boat” and our relationship to gravity is challenged. After years of wrestling with it I’ve finally made peace with allowing the sensations to be part of me, and I’d liken that to what you express as “inbuilt buoyancy”—the ability to focus on breath, pleasure, senses, all the lightness of being amidst the storm. And this keeps me from going completely under with symptoms. I love having this visual now. Thank you!
Oh my goodness Kimberly, what a challenge you live with every day. I'm humbled. How much we take for granted. I loved @Josie George's recent essay on living with chronic illness. I found it incredibly moving. Perhaps you've read it? https://bimblings.substack.com/p/all-in
Love this - gravity and buoyancy! On Tuesday I was lucky enough to get a tour of the RNLI boat at Longhope, its Tamar class and the wheelhouse felt like a spaceship!
It was very impressive & great to speak to someone who's been on the crew for almost 10 years - he's trying to recruit me but I'm not sure I'm able to commit at the moment.
What a fantastic metaphor. We've been fairly buoyant lately, with fun outings on or in (swim) the water, but our innkeeping life keeps us grounded. I'm pretty sure my 9 foot skiff isn't self-righting! But thanks to you I now understand what makes her tippy.
This is a super piece made me stop and consider how I have taken on gravity.Telling myself to be sensible, practicable and serious, down to earth - But it feels like a heavy cloak on my shoulders - should I fling it off, let it fall gracefully to the ground, or just slip out from under. More buoyancy, more bounce , more breeziness. topped with a touch of effervescence
A wonderful reminder that everything needs to be in balance. I enjoyed your talk today for Art UK. I’m sure it will bring you lots of lovely new subscribers and hopefully encourage more artists and makers to dip their toes in the water on Substack. I’ve certainly never regretted it, and I remember something you said last year, about needing to have a reason to write regularly.
Thanks Michela - I saw your name on the list! Yes, having a focus and a rhythm, a reason to overcome our inertia and just write is so helpful isn't it! Glad to hear you enjoyed the session :-)
needed this today - busyness was such a huge part of my life and now I have more space and time to feel it is this that I find trickiest (gravity valued more than buoyancy in my professions)- fabulous analogy - learning from the RNLI has been on my mind for a while. Thanks
What a delightful and informative essay today. That you incorporated personal life lessons into your essay was also life affirming. Yes, feeling grounded from our choices of locales, interactions with others, and our own work activities rings true to your keen mind and warm heart. I particularly liked that you also addressed the challenges from such choices. Feeling constrained, bored at times, and longing for other locales and new adventures. I find your awareness and sharing of both the gains, and losses, of developing a physical ”place” along with a sense of community, a call to thought and soul. I’m so grateful for your creating and being. 🙏🏽
Samantha, this was such a heartening and enlightening essay to read and photos and pictures to savor. I've spent a lifetime with this mad hyper analytical mind of mine, constantly looking for connections between disparate things, yet never did I think of the bouyancy/gravity connection to our lives and resiliency. Utterly brilliant!
Thanks very much, Sam for your thoughtful piece. It reminded me about an exhibit I saw in a museum in Reykjavik. The sailing boat had a canvas bag attached to the side of the boat. 'Ylir: a mechanism for 'pouring oil on troubled waters' widely used in the 19th century. Fish oil trickled out to form a slick on the sea, which calmed the waves to some extent.'
Oh I love that! I just love it when you discover the colourful original background for some phrase we use without thinking. Must have smelt a bit though! Here in Orkney the traditional 'cruisie' lamp was fueled by fish oil with a wick made from the spongey pith from the soft rushes that grow on damp ground.
Wow how incredible who would have thought of that?? Must have attracted the sea birds and all other creatures. When people do long ocean swims don't they cover themselves with oil wonder if it is for buoyancy??
I think it's mainly for warmth, but perhaps a bit of buoyancy too, like a wetsuit...
This is timely (and aren't lifeboats, the whole concept of them, splendid). I have been feeling very heavy of late, stuck wallowing in the doldrums, or on the rocks. I'm certainly in need of more lightness and space to clear my mind.
Big love to the RNLI! What incredible work they do. And yes to more space, lightness, quiet. Even a little pocket of air helps us stay afloat.
Buoyancy, yes. To keep our lives afloat we need it. I like your remarks about needing quiet space, a time to contemplate and be grateful for what we have.
Like keeping air in a balloon...we need a bit of space to breathe, no?
Wow, thank you for this…on so many levels. I live with a neurological disorder where my brain misinterprets solid ground for liquid, we often describe it as “constantly living on a boat” and our relationship to gravity is challenged. After years of wrestling with it I’ve finally made peace with allowing the sensations to be part of me, and I’d liken that to what you express as “inbuilt buoyancy”—the ability to focus on breath, pleasure, senses, all the lightness of being amidst the storm. And this keeps me from going completely under with symptoms. I love having this visual now. Thank you!
Oh my goodness Kimberly, what a challenge you live with every day. I'm humbled. How much we take for granted. I loved @Josie George's recent essay on living with chronic illness. I found it incredibly moving. Perhaps you've read it? https://bimblings.substack.com/p/all-in
I haven’t! Excited to check it out. Thank you. 🙏
I haven’t! Excited to check it out. 🙏
Love this - gravity and buoyancy! On Tuesday I was lucky enough to get a tour of the RNLI boat at Longhope, its Tamar class and the wheelhouse felt like a spaceship!
Oh wow lucky you! The Longhope lifeboat has quite a history...
It was very impressive & great to speak to someone who's been on the crew for almost 10 years - he's trying to recruit me but I'm not sure I'm able to commit at the moment.
What a fantastic metaphor. We've been fairly buoyant lately, with fun outings on or in (swim) the water, but our innkeeping life keeps us grounded. I'm pretty sure my 9 foot skiff isn't self-righting! But thanks to you I now understand what makes her tippy.
You don't want a tippy skiff! But fun on or in the water is a perfect way to maintain buoyancy whatever life throws at you :-D
This is a super piece made me stop and consider how I have taken on gravity.Telling myself to be sensible, practicable and serious, down to earth - But it feels like a heavy cloak on my shoulders - should I fling it off, let it fall gracefully to the ground, or just slip out from under. More buoyancy, more bounce , more breeziness. topped with a touch of effervescence
I love this, yes! Here's to more effervescence!
A wonderful reminder that everything needs to be in balance. I enjoyed your talk today for Art UK. I’m sure it will bring you lots of lovely new subscribers and hopefully encourage more artists and makers to dip their toes in the water on Substack. I’ve certainly never regretted it, and I remember something you said last year, about needing to have a reason to write regularly.
Thanks Michela - I saw your name on the list! Yes, having a focus and a rhythm, a reason to overcome our inertia and just write is so helpful isn't it! Glad to hear you enjoyed the session :-)
For a couple of years I wrote a blog called 3musesmerge. In a way it parallels my own “lifeboat” strategy.
Urania is grounded and analytical.
Thalia is heart and enthusiasm.
Calliope is the bridge between them.
Thank you for this thoughtful metaphor about what is possible in our own lives.
Beautiful, we need all three muses, yes!
needed this today - busyness was such a huge part of my life and now I have more space and time to feel it is this that I find trickiest (gravity valued more than buoyancy in my professions)- fabulous analogy - learning from the RNLI has been on my mind for a while. Thanks
Yes, for me it was lockdown made me anchor myself in gravity. I now realise I also need buoyancy - more fun! And more rest...
Good morning Samantha,
What a delightful and informative essay today. That you incorporated personal life lessons into your essay was also life affirming. Yes, feeling grounded from our choices of locales, interactions with others, and our own work activities rings true to your keen mind and warm heart. I particularly liked that you also addressed the challenges from such choices. Feeling constrained, bored at times, and longing for other locales and new adventures. I find your awareness and sharing of both the gains, and losses, of developing a physical ”place” along with a sense of community, a call to thought and soul. I’m so grateful for your creating and being. 🙏🏽
Thanks so much Gary, for your appreciation!
Samantha, this was such a heartening and enlightening essay to read and photos and pictures to savor. I've spent a lifetime with this mad hyper analytical mind of mine, constantly looking for connections between disparate things, yet never did I think of the bouyancy/gravity connection to our lives and resiliency. Utterly brilliant!
Glad you enjoyed it Michael! I love a good metaphor :-)
What is RNLI ??
Royal National Lifeboat Institution