Toolkit, Part 2

Out in the world

Dear Reader,

Last September, just days before setting out on a long trip, and because I have trouble leaving home, I wrote about what I take with me to make the journey easier.

…It’s quiet in the house. The only sounds I can hear are my shallow inhales and the occasional clink of crayons against the sides of the tin box. The air is thick with their oily wax smell. I carefully pick out the colors I want. Gray. Cadet blue. Cerulean. Indigo. Lavender. When I hesitate, ten pairs of eyes watch me from within the clutter of photo frames on my desk and I imagine I can feel our combined relief when I add Carnation Pink, Melon, and Prussian Green to the pile I’ve already selected. I tie the crayons together with an old ribbon, and place them alongside the three Gelly Roll pens (red, black, and blue), a new, large dot grid journal, a small pair of scissors, a glue stick, and a pack of Post It assorted flags. I put them all into a large colorfully-embroidered cloth pouch, zip it up, and feel an immediate sense of relief. The cloth pouch and its contents are both life jacket and superhero suit, and a log cabin hidden between tall trees.

…Because I can become anxious, I’ve learned to ask myself what can make the change/journey even a little better and to make preparing for it a required wellness habit. When I was younger, I used to take a couple of novels everywhere with me. Once I had the books in my bag, I felt somewhat more prepared. But, strangely, as I’ve gotten older, and in spite of smartphones, tablets, and other digital devices capable of creating entire worlds to escape into, I’ve started taking old-school hands-on stuff: crayons, color pens and pencils, a notebook to write in, one that can also double as a scrapbook, scissors, tape, etc. I think these work to both physically anchor me in the present and create some kind of necessary safe space that I can inhabit even if it’s only for short bursts of time.

- Toolkit, Ten Thousand Journeys

These objects- dot grid journals, crayons in shades of both melancholy and happiness, and stationery supplies- are perfect for creating a sense of home wherever I am.

Perhaps it’s a sign that I’m getting better at leaving home, because I’ve recently started thinking about some of my favorite things to encounter out there in the world. Places, objects, and colors that provide entry points into some mystery, or offer a moment of perspective, reassurance, comfort, beauty, or outright joy. A list of favorite things. Like bookstores. Libraries. Old houses. Older trees. Lakes, rivers, and the ocean. Tall rooms with large crystal chandeliers. Teacups with a generous lip. The colors grey and pink laid side by side. Large windows. Candlelight. The colors indigo and vermilion. Cartons full of old magazines. Overblown roses. Orange and lemon orchards. Ferns. The green of the inside of a dark forest. Large museums. Old murals and gilt paintings of Southern India. Stone sculptures warmed by the sun. The words imbue, scry, and constellate. And, also, iridescence. Unexpected lily ponds. Navy blue.

I shared some of these favorite things on Notes and the list continues to grow. What would you add to the list? What are your favorite things? Let’s not leave anything out.

Best,

Priya

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