Thoughts from a sock drawer
Reflections of the need for clarity, minimalism and calm...
2024: A new year with a new mantra… and a sudden need for a clear-out. Every January, usually right at the start, I always have a clear-out. It normally begins with my wardrobe, then the kitchen, the living room, and so on. Today, I cleared out my sock drawer.
As I rearranged my socks and tights, I noticed I was getting rid of the bright coloured, patterned socks, leaving behind, safely tucked in the drawer, my beige, grey, white and black socks. Although, this may not seem a big revelation, I realised that, since moving into our new home and giving birth to my son, I have had the need to create a calm, clean, (for some) bland, minimalist environment… and it has done wonders.
The ‘Grey’ Effect
My mind is a scatty one, filled to the brim with words, people, phrases, to-do lists, hopes, fears, regrets and triumphs. I see them all, everyday, in bursts of colour. I am a person who loves the energy and vivid nature of bright colours, they harness creativity and make fantasy worlds come alive, hence why I have made my classroom as colourful as humanly possible.
However, with this dazzling display, feelings of being overwhelmed, chaos and disorganisation can ensue. Therefore, I have made my home, my sanctuary, my place to escape, a grey one.
For some, grey is the colour of sadness, depression and boredom. For me, I see it as a blank canvas, one that is cooling but has the capacity to give warmth and serenity. As I sit here on my grey sofa, the soft grey carpet beneath my toes, surrounded by ‘white chiffon’ walls, I am in total peace. This is something I never achieved in my old house, and, upon reflection, is that because my living room was teal? When writing in the office, was I distracted by the mustard yellow wall? Yes… every room had a different bold colour.
My bedroom is grey, my son’s nursery is grey, the spare room is grey, the bathroom is grey and the office will be grey too.
A part of me (the creative) is screaming out for colour, but I know that this is not conducive for me. I need minimalism, calm and clarity, which is achievable when I am surrounded by my blank canvas. As I sit here and write to you, I realise that my productivity, sense of calm and overall happiness has genuinely been enhanced since creating a space that works for me. And I invite you to create a space that works for you.
A Wall for Worlds
But, just as a little nod to the creative, she got her own space too. In the reading area of the living room (and the place in which I usually write), there, directly in front of the creative, is a lapis lazuli wall. A blue that is calming, but has the potential to transport the creative to magical worlds that she has birthed. But the grey carpet will always help keep her grounded and bring her back to reality when she is ready.
