I really enjoyed reading this. I sometimes forget who I was before the weight of “earning a living” and responsibility crushed me into submission. I used to sew. For fun and briefly for a job. I own two industrial sewing machines and countless books on tailoring and needle craft. Yet a pile of repairs looms up over my head in a rubbermaid tub on the deck of my straight stitch in my studio. Last time I went through the pile I found pants in need of patching that my son had long since outgrown. I’ve let technology and capitalism cloud my view and steal so many years of my life. But damn, it is hard to throw off that yoke. I’ve purchased a blackberry in hopes that its comparatively clunky interface will dissuade me from reaching for it to distract and pacify me when a quiet moment arrives. Unfortunately my service provider doesn’t support blackberries so I need to switch providers. Nothing about taking back your life or taking off the yoke is simple. They design it that way. But I’m reaching the big “F” point. The point where I’m getting frustrated enough to say fu@k it all and just have a flip phone. Nothing like a t9 keyboard to make a phone back into a tool for me instead of a tool for them.
The things I will miss if I do that… easy group chats with distant friends and family. Easy communication with clients and colleagues. Genuinely interesting and thought provoking writing like yours….
But what I would gain! Time, so much precious time. And freedom. And clarity and space for my brain to unfurl and remember who I was before all the pressure and all the little hooks got ahold of my attention, my focus, my self, and then pulled me in every direction. Pulled me down and kept me tethered to a system I didn’t consciously choose. A system designed to steal attention and time. The truly valuable things we all have.
I hear you!! I would love to have a blackberry! A lot of stuff I've read says they no longer work because most service providers only support 4g/5g LTE. have you heard of the wise phone? I'm thinking about switching to that. I've been on a flip phone for a while but if I'm being honest it can feel a little isolating, but i'm stubborn about it :P
My sewing machine skills are not very good quite yet. I get really frustrated with mine. since its a domestic it clogs a lot and it's just so much to get it out, plugged in, make sure the needle is changed. I'm feeling reinvigorated by sewing because I started hand piecing some quilt blocks, and though it is slower, It's easier to be more accurate and try out more complicated blocks I'd never try by machine.
Maybe give slow stitching a shot! The best part is you can do it from your couch. I'm using my machine to put on binding, though.
I also feel submerged in capitalist world view lol that's kinda why I write and try to think my way around it. I hope you pick up a project soon!!
…love/hate/endure that idea that we can name those who have invisible powers on us yet still that won’t release the power…curious also about the power of these names, and mildly amused at the thought that some fast fashion company will inevitably be named rmpl or stltskn…personal asidei loved the three fates, have never heard of clotho, and somewhere deeply in me wants to make more myths and explanations for all the unexplainable magic that existence allows…
LOL shein should rebrand to that yes. only recently read the actual mythology behind the 3 fates, I have the depiction from Disney's hercules as the first image of them. I've been very on the Joseph Campbell train these days, he helps!
I really enjoyed reading this. I sometimes forget who I was before the weight of “earning a living” and responsibility crushed me into submission. I used to sew. For fun and briefly for a job. I own two industrial sewing machines and countless books on tailoring and needle craft. Yet a pile of repairs looms up over my head in a rubbermaid tub on the deck of my straight stitch in my studio. Last time I went through the pile I found pants in need of patching that my son had long since outgrown. I’ve let technology and capitalism cloud my view and steal so many years of my life. But damn, it is hard to throw off that yoke. I’ve purchased a blackberry in hopes that its comparatively clunky interface will dissuade me from reaching for it to distract and pacify me when a quiet moment arrives. Unfortunately my service provider doesn’t support blackberries so I need to switch providers. Nothing about taking back your life or taking off the yoke is simple. They design it that way. But I’m reaching the big “F” point. The point where I’m getting frustrated enough to say fu@k it all and just have a flip phone. Nothing like a t9 keyboard to make a phone back into a tool for me instead of a tool for them.
The things I will miss if I do that… easy group chats with distant friends and family. Easy communication with clients and colleagues. Genuinely interesting and thought provoking writing like yours….
But what I would gain! Time, so much precious time. And freedom. And clarity and space for my brain to unfurl and remember who I was before all the pressure and all the little hooks got ahold of my attention, my focus, my self, and then pulled me in every direction. Pulled me down and kept me tethered to a system I didn’t consciously choose. A system designed to steal attention and time. The truly valuable things we all have.
I just want to be free again.
I hear you!! I would love to have a blackberry! A lot of stuff I've read says they no longer work because most service providers only support 4g/5g LTE. have you heard of the wise phone? I'm thinking about switching to that. I've been on a flip phone for a while but if I'm being honest it can feel a little isolating, but i'm stubborn about it :P
My sewing machine skills are not very good quite yet. I get really frustrated with mine. since its a domestic it clogs a lot and it's just so much to get it out, plugged in, make sure the needle is changed. I'm feeling reinvigorated by sewing because I started hand piecing some quilt blocks, and though it is slower, It's easier to be more accurate and try out more complicated blocks I'd never try by machine.
Maybe give slow stitching a shot! The best part is you can do it from your couch. I'm using my machine to put on binding, though.
I also feel submerged in capitalist world view lol that's kinda why I write and try to think my way around it. I hope you pick up a project soon!!
…love/hate/endure that idea that we can name those who have invisible powers on us yet still that won’t release the power…curious also about the power of these names, and mildly amused at the thought that some fast fashion company will inevitably be named rmpl or stltskn…personal asidei loved the three fates, have never heard of clotho, and somewhere deeply in me wants to make more myths and explanations for all the unexplainable magic that existence allows…
LOL shein should rebrand to that yes. only recently read the actual mythology behind the 3 fates, I have the depiction from Disney's hercules as the first image of them. I've been very on the Joseph Campbell train these days, he helps!