November 12, 2024

The other side of loss is opportunity

The other day, I had to drastically prune one of my favourite plants in our small back garden. I avoided pruning it for a long time because I enjoyed it so much so it’s been happily (over)growing for almost 10 years and it gives the garden a certain calming feeling.

In a matter of minutes under the heft of a power tool, it went from lush, full, green and beautiful to spindly, grey, and sad. I definitely experienced feelings of loss that day.

But now, just a week or so later, I’ve noticed new growth – a lush, green, bright contrast is emerging on those grey, spindly branches. These are branches that probably haven’t seen light for many years but here they were, responding to and welcoming the change.

We could learn something from that.

Other observations
December 2, 2025

Making a map of dead ends

If we can more easily see the paths we shouldn’t follow, does that make finding the correct one easier?

November 25, 2025

Paying the bills

No matter which way you dice the onion, there’s no escaping the need for money to live. So how might art factor into that?

November 18, 2025

Just feed me

If more choice for a consumer is better, then why do chef’s banquets and ‘just feed me’ options exist in restaurants?

November 11, 2025

The luxury of having no time

Most of us say we need more time but what if the opposite was true? What if less time helped us move forward?

November 4, 2025

A selfish act?

Can the selfish act of making art become an act of generosity? What happens to others who come across the work we make for ourselves?

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