Postcard 012 - The Warmth of People
In a number of previous posts/essays/newsletters that are public, I've mentioned how much I attribute the best things in my life to being in good orbits — that is, around wonderful people. One of the places where I've thought a lot about this lately is my home, which I've been slow to furnish (as I wrote about in Night Lights).
I'm working with a close friend of mine to design the space, and one of the comments I made to her was that I want the space to be minimal, almost monastic, because I want the space to be filled by the warmth of people, not things. That said, one of the joys in the space now, and something I hope continues, is that many of the things I do have are connected to people I love and care about. They are gifts from others, art my friends have made, treasures from shared time together, and so on — not just a thing to be in the house.
The photo here is of two such things, one designed by a close friend and the other gifted to me by a close friend. I took this photo amidst a part of my summer travels, lounging next to a pool, truly being grateful for the situation at hand. I had just finished lunch with a new friend and was talking about wonderful people we knew in common. I returned to this towel, seeing these laid out, physical reminders of the great people in my life.
Today, the sunglasses hang by my front door, a reminder as I leave to be a great friend (or a kind person) to whomever I'm off to encounter.