I like things to line up nicely.
Clean lines, evenly spaced, ideally in pairs or sets of three where there is a logical pattern.
If I see something that doesn't line up, I can't sit still without fixing it.
Funny thing about this habit of mine though; it only applies to certain things in my life.
Like the stuff on my walls.
I can deal with a messy closet (as long as I can close the door so I don't have to see it).
Or an unmade bed, or even a sink full of dishes for a night.
But the stuff on the walls...that's a different story. It has to be symmetrical.
So it bothers me when I wake up in the morning and see the set of canvases hanging on my wall at all different angles.
They shift while I'm sleeping. At least a couple of times a week.
Some mornings I wake up and see it and I wonder if there's a spirit in my home that is toying with me.
It's also entirely possible that the little nails I used aren't holding it up properly, but a benevolent spirit who's purposely annoying me is a much more fun story to tell.
Finding symmetry is hard in this chaotic life we live. Even when it comes to our wall hangings I guess.
So much is asymmetrical these days.
As we get older, things stop lining up so nicely. Life shakes us up and skews our world at all sorts of odd angles.
But I'm beginning to think that asymmetry isn't always bad.
Sometimes those angles add character to our lives. The nuance and different viewpoints add depth and meaning.
They can make us look at life in a different way. Maybe even see a whole new way of living.
Now this doesn't mean I'm going to leave my wall hangings off-kilter like that when it happens.
I fixed them right after I took the picture. Back to evenly spaced and clean, sharp lines.
That habit isn't going to go away anytime soon.
Maybe I'll pick up a new one though.
Where I'll pause and appreciate the odd angles and uneven spaces between the pictures.
And be grateful for this asymmetrical life we live.
But only for a minute...
Visit my author page on Amazon
Or find my book at Barnes and Noble
And at our local Oconomowoc Bookstore - Books & Company
Comments