1.11.2012

On Being Bold...



film still from Beginners and Goethe quote both via Spartan Journal


Lourdes Sanchez watercolor print via Let it Be...

For all practical purposes January embodies mellow (as least for me). We cruise along, calendar largely open, days mostly quiet, diligently putting things back in order after the mass festivity that is December. I wholeheartedly embrace the mellow, wallow in it even.

But here's the thing, I've been feeling some restlessness brewing of late.

I woke up this morning itching to do something bold... I immediately pondered the feasibility of loading my family in the car and embarking on a random trip right that very second (for the record: not feasible at all).

I am itching to stay up late (I'm not a night person), I'm oddly drawn to hot pink (!), I want to splatter paint a wall à la Jackson Pollock...

I read this "resolution" by the ladies at Banquet:

"eat thick greek yoghurt and tagines and grilled fish and izakaya and oriechette and nice wine and lots of mint and paella cooked over hot coals in the backyard and pear gelato and thin green beans and home made granola and porchetta sandwiches and cavalo nero any which way."

and instantly thought, "I want to eat that too"... And I don't even know what the heck cavalo nero is.

Yesterday I pinned a photo of a chic girl wearing a black turtleneck and burnt orange pants. There are a slew of reasons why this was an odd move on my part including (but not limited to) a general disdain for turtlenecks (on me), a staunch opposition to colored pants (again, on me) and a steadfast refusal to ever wear black and orange together for fear of looking like a giant, walking Halloween decoration. And yet I can't get that outfit out of my head.

I'm craving some wacky, itching for a shake-up, dreaming of going big...

Does this ever happen to you?

25 comments:

Chelsea said...

Yes, it does. I can't wait to see where this itch takes you...I say go for the orange and black, and then be sure to share. xo

Anonymous said...

absolutely - thankfully, though, the itch is taking the form of closet, bookshelf, and wall editing.

Lucia said...

sing it, sister. sing it loud. maybe we should stage a flash dance somewhere? wanna?

torrie said...

yes. it's happening this month for me as well.

cavalo nero? I want some ;).

so cliche, but we really. do. only. live. once.

(bold is sometimes necessary)

torrie said...

p.s. i was up very late last night ("bold" for me) and randomly decided to record "Tori & Dean" (which i have never before seen or had the desire to watch)... bold?? or BORED?? not sure. maybe both. =)

Joslyn said...

lucia
yes, i kind of do wanna~!

TX Girl said...

I'm with you. I've actually had the movie Beginners on my mind. I adored his mother. I'm boring and conservative and care much too much about what others think, but watching that movie left me inspired. It made me want to be more bold and less safe. So if that means wearing colors that I wouldn't normally put together (my colors are black and navy) or eating foods that I have never heard of and can hardly pronounce.. so be it.

Cassie said...

I've been feeling the same way, especially after reading the top five regrets of the dying. I want to be happy NOW and not regret letting opportunities for joy slip by. And to also create a fearless role model for my son.

To wildly dance with my friends like the tutu-wearing old woman in the Bill Cunningham documentary, you know?

Read this if you haven't:
http://exposingthetruth.info/top-five-regrets-of-the-dying/

karey m. said...

all. the. time.

i feel paralyzed when i can't dream or do big. it absolutely suffocates me. so you can imagine how i've been languishing in suburbia...

big ahead, for sure. for all of us, yes? yes. xo

Anonymous said...

yes, i'm feeling the same way! the boyfriend and i have been talking about having a secret wedding... but i could never keep that secret!! p.s. i'm sure you looked it up but cavolo nero is kale... delish ;)

Krista said...

i am SO drawn to florescent pink right now (in art making//anything visual)

2012 is going to be epic, i can tell.

kikiazure said...

Yup feeling it as well! I have years of dropping off and picking up kids from school and trying to figure out what to do outside of the monotony!

Fern and Feather said...

YES! this is so good... my husband and I say that every once and a while is is necessary to 'fly your freak flag' ... we all want to!

PS. isn't the Beginners just the best! so good.

katie//salt+pine said...

Yes. Most definitely. I can always tell when I'm feeling that way by the "WTF?" look on my husband's face when I tell him what's on my mind... :)

Sara said...

I loved that scene from Beginners. Besides the movie being great, that mom was the best.

Cassie, I read your link of Top 5 regrets of the dying. Thanks for sharing, it really puts life in perspective and a great reminder of what's truly important in the world.

Simply Mel {Reverie} said...

oh this post speaks volumes...and alexis also nailed it with 'fly your freak flag'. such a damn good feeling!

la la Lovely said...

Oh I love this post in every way. I'm right there with you. Wanting to do something big and out of the ordinary. Maybe a flash dance at ALT everyone. Ha. If anyone. Old pull off the orange pant outfit, it's you! xo

Anonymous said...

i think pinterest is the answer to all the problems of the world. ha!

this is awesome, joslyn. if you stage a flash dance PLEASE POST PHOTOS.

xo joanna

Joslyn said...

oh you ladies are so amazing...so right on!

cassie -- i just read the top five regrets of the dying. it's just what i needed right now. thank you.

jessica -- i LOVE a secret wedding. my lips are sealed! and yes, i googled it and figured out it was kale (but with a way sexier name) ;-)

joanna -- i think pinterest might just solve world hunger. my love for it knows no bounds. it's like "pinterest as therapy"...


hooray for freak flags!

Michelle said...

Yes! Every day I think "lets pack it all in and live in a tent in Africa!" or "Lets buy a huge old mansion in the middle of nowhere and start an artist's commune!" Or...like today..."Lets sit around and watch Downton Abbey and nurse your cold instead of heading to the studio early! REVOLUTIONARY!" Here I sit, in my kitchen, contemplating breakfast (well second breakfast, I already had several handfuls of caramel popcorn...) I can't wait to see what crazy awesome things you do :)

welliewalks said...

totally happening right now- at this time in my life. the problem is that i can't figure out what the big, whacky thing is that i'm supposed to do!

Megan Taylor said...

I love that "any which way" part of the resolution...so freeing! xo

Suite Henry said...

Awesome!

Very inspiring!
Now I want fuschia pants.

Suite Henry said...

All I've been itching to do is find an old house somewhere in the woods and live with my husband and baby bun in quiet.

Is that bold?
It would be for me - I'm such a city-dweller.

Uncle Beefy said...

Joslyn! Child, lord have mercy, YES! I've been bitten by this very same bug! It hit me at the end of 2011 and it is infiltrating. HARD! And, it's driving my overly complex brain into overdrive while simultaneously feeling brief moments of "Ahhhh!"

A lot of this has come from seeing my mother begin to battle with memory loss and realizing that, wow, I won't have her forever. Needless to say, it's now making me look at how precious this time we have is and figuring out how to make it as rich and authentic as it can be. (I'll be reading that link, Cassie!)

Anyway, clearly based upon these comments, you are not alone. And, happen to be in some mighty fine company to boot!

And, Suite Henry, you bet that'd be bold. And, heavenly as well!

Go get your bold on, Ladies! :)

p.s. - Hope we get to see one another at Alt, Joslyn!