Bauman, Zygmunt: Liquid Times: Living in an Age of Uncertainty.
«But time meanwhile is flying, flying beyond recall» Virgil, The Georgics, Book III, 284
Stepien, Agnieska and Barnó, Lorenzo. Eficiencia y productividad en arquitectura. Fundación Arquia. 2019, Madrid, page 9
2 minutos
July’s behind us. More than half the year’s gone by. We’re at the mid-way point, right in the middle of summertime (at least in this part of the hemisphere). So now’s a good time to pause and take time out to reflect.
In a present day and age where everything is speed and immediacy1, this is the delicious moment when you make decisions about what you want (or need) to do or think.
“Doing things is a great challenge, although many of us make do with just talking about the things we’re going to do. Almost doing them isn’t tiring. And after all, there’s always someone who’ll think you did do them in the end.” Xoan Tallón
For this process of self-interrogation I’ve kept well away from the instructions of the ineffable George Perec, but I’ve copied his observation space. So I’m at a safe remove from the pressures of time and the making of lists or charting of journeys into the depths of time, hoping I haven’t missed any opportunities.
The choice was easy, somewhere remote … but near the sea. It’s no secret that silently contemplating a calm sea with a slight breeze is relaxing. A space far away from day to day responsibilities, a space of your own.
How often can we enjoy somewhere like that? Do we always have it?
Actually enjoying taking mental stock of things seems difficult, you might even say impossible. Good weather, a good place… although the choosing of that place could well provide material for a whole series of its own. What place would you choose, dear reader, to do this little exercise in?
At first it seems the simplest thing in the world, but I’ve a feeling a place like that won’t be easy to find…. or maybe it will. But be careful:
Let’s start winding this analysis up. We all want fun at the beach, and in summer everyone feels like a good rest, so organise your time well, because:
“We all tend to want more time for ourselves and for our things, but the truth is that the day only has 24 hours and it’s a question of how to make the best use of them”3.
Bauman, Zygmunt: Liquid Times: Living in an Age of Uncertainty.
«But time meanwhile is flying, flying beyond recall» Virgil, The Georgics, Book III, 284
Stepien, Agnieska and Barnó, Lorenzo. Eficiencia y productividad en arquitectura. Fundación Arquia. 2019, Madrid, page 9
