Even though things could be easy, or at least, easier, I often do things the hard way. I grew up with admonitions like never put off till tomorrow what you might do today, there’s no such thing as a shortcut and anything worth having is worth working for or waiting for. I can’t accurately pinpoint where or how these ideas were imprinted upon me. Likely some combination of Sunday School lessons and the indoctrination that came with being a “good little girl.”
I’ve managed to shake off a lot of that way of thinking. At least, the part where “good” is the goal. The focus on being good led me to be more concerned with how I looked than how I actually lived. Not a pretty picture.
But still, I love the quilt that took me hundreds of hours to hand stitch over the one that I can buy at Target for $50. I adore the custom handmade solid maple bookshelf in our den that was a big splurge. I mostly cook at home rather than takeaway. The question is — how do we stay active in world where the structure is built to make us passive?
I honestly can’t remember the last time I saw another person carrying a camera. I don’t mean analog versus digital. I mean a camera that wasn’t part of a mobile phone. I do not mean to imply that you cannot be actively involved in creative work with a smart phone camera. Of course, you can. But the structure of the smart phone camera is designed to make taking photographs quick and easy and simple. And there is nothing easy about lugging around a Single Lens Reflex or Medium Format camera. There is nothing quick about manual focus or exposure setting. Nothing simple about packing, carrying, setting up a tripod. But all of that effort is exhilarating.
Things made by hand, with effort, are labors of love. And I think we humans like things hard. On some deep level, we understand and feel that hard work is good for us. It makes us whole. Helps us appreciate the joys and withstand the sorrows.