I built a desk!
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu
Back in November, scrolling through Facebook marketplace, I found this old typeset printer drawer for sale for $20. I was curious- I wasn’t sure what I’d use it for, but I liked that it had potential to be turned into something new and useful. I kept it stored for the next four months until I decided I would turn it into a desk. To prep the wood, I stained it and bought a piece of plywood to lay underneath. I got some table legs and a piece of glass to put on top. I filled the little cubbies of the drawer with pictures from magazines: a girl in the woods, prayer hand, a halo above ancient rock formations, paintings of the coast, birch bark from my walk in the woods. Places I have felt safe to be myself.
Using the typeset drawer from the 1800’s as the base reminds me of the ways news and information used to be shared. Imagine setting out letters to print newspapers and books- letter by letter, line by line, page by page. Information was so intentional because printmaking took time- it was an art form.
Over the past year I’ve come to realize the importance of putting a filter on the information we receive. I think this recognition has been building for a while- but this year felt like a turning point in my ability to do so. As a sociable introvert, I know how easy it is to get lost in the “virtual reality” that is Instagram and Facebook and get stuck there. Having a place that you feel safe to learn and reflect, without distraction, is a gift. Having the opportunity to build myself this desk as a signifier for this space feels like a turning point for me in being able to feel comfortable in the ways that I learn best. The sense of wisdom I get from being a student makes me feel whole and complete. When comparing this to social media (since that is what social media seems to be good at), that is everything.
