Marumarum is a publication focused on sending Positive Messages Into Negative Spaces.
Every week we share brief articles on a variety of topics aiming to shed light on a new aspect of life. Additionally, there are longer articles on projects or concentrated ideas on a monthly basis.
-Parker Dellis at Marum Studios
[005] Our Forgotten Pace of Life
Our relationship with time is a tricky one. We either view time as an external force that imposes strict deadlines that we must live within [a scarcity mindset] or we view it as a continuous, constant, tool that’s here for us to access [an abundance mindset]. If it were up to us, we would live slower-paced lives that would allow more opportunities to rest and connect with others. However, there is a “Pace of Life” set by social norms and technology that overrides our desired speed and pace of life.
Across all people groups and individuals, there is no universal pace of life that we must abide by. Instead, the pace of life is often dictated by current life circumstances, the speed of our work, and our ability to rest. With no correct way to relate to time or understand our pace of life, we might find ourselves scrambled, running short on time, and exhausted. And how easy is it for us to roll over and accept someone else's pace of life or concept of time? Our primary response to our exhaustion and the noisy cadence of our lives should be to explore what true rest and reflection might look like for us.
“The Pace of Life” is a common phrase defined as “the speed at which changes and events occur.” This pacing of life directly works with our emotions to respond to situations that we experience. It then becomes our job to gauge what pace our life is asking of us and how we analyze and respond to that pace in a healthy way [see practical tips below]. Another aspect of life that is directly linked to the pace of our lives is technology. Rapid advancements of technology have caused generations of people to only understand the fast pace speed of life, and fall into the trap of letting us believe that fast progress equals success. With the majority of social touch points in society becoming technology-facing, we have become less people-oriented which has made us forget something that we need in our life. In our ever-changing pace and distractions from things like technology, we have forgotten how to rest within our ever-changing pace of life.
Rest has become a difficult relationship for us to balance because we have redefined what true rest means. True rest, in the purest form, is encapsulated through spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional health. It’s the ultimate reminder. No matter how hard we try to be in control of our lives, whether we rest or not, life continues. So in our rest, we must learn to trust that life will remain in contact without our constant care and attention. Without rest as a natural reminder, we erode into a formless beach; subject to constant thrashing and flooding from the ocean waves of life. With rest we can be reminded of what’s truly important. And if anything, rest makes us feel human [which is someway is why we stay busy as we don’t want to feel human]. As we feel our bodies breaking we know we need to be repaired. We know we need true rest, not “work breaks” or whatever else we label as rest that doesn’t nourish us. True rest does vary depending on the person but it is often characterized by slow movements, observation, comfort, warmth, and a general sense of stillness.
Rest can be our constant in the ever-changing sea of life. At times, practicing rest will feel counterintuitive. It might even feel pain as it will go against what we desire to either be working non-stop or find ways to escape our human experiences. With an understanding of our relationship to time and what pace in life we currently need, we are able to tend to ourselves in a variety of situations. There is no wrong or right way to rest. There is no right or wrong way to pace our lives. But ignoring ourselves and others is a problem and definitely an urgent one. The good news? A little bit of true rest and understanding goes a long way in how we view life, our enjoyment of each day, and our hope for the future.
Practical ways to find rest:
Solitude: Finding solitude often is a quiet and isolated practice that allows us to reflect on the happenings in our lives. Solitude might involve sitting, listening intently, a stroll outside, deep breathing, or intentional isolation.
Play: A balance of work and play is essential to life. In play, we are rejuvenated by reminding ourselves of our childhood. We regain excitement, bliss, joy, and a peaceful mind. A beautiful aspect of play is that what some consider work, others consider play. Be creative about it.
Nature: There are plenty of scientific and wellness reasons to spend time absorbing sunlight and breathing fresh air. Taking a small walk in the morning and evenings can be a natural way to reset our pace of life. Being in nature can calibrate us to reprioritize our daily and long-term values.
Confide: Having opportunities to share our life happenings with a journal or close friend allows us to process and destress. Understanding the various types of relationships in our lives and how we can use them [in a mutually healthy way] leads us to remove the burdens that we carry preventing us from finding rest.
Cornelia Konrads
A German artist born in 1957, Cornelia Konrads creates eye-catching artworks across the globe. Her work combines site-specific materials with concepts of destruction and the disruption of time. Artworks like Konrads force us to stop and observe the spectacle of destruction. The stopping of time invites us to observe and reflect on what’s happening in all of her works. If you are a fan of environmentalist artists like Andy Goldsworthy check out Cornelia Konrad’s work.
Learn more about Cornelia Konrads {here}
Towards Rest
Interested in learning more about rest? Towards Rest by Alabaster is a great breakdown on understanding how to understand rest in our lives and one’s relationship to their faith. Alabaster argues that rest is more than a simple evening rest, and instead is marked by the divine connection one can find in rest. To learn more about the rest read the preview below.
Read the preview {here}
Learn more and read about Alabaster {here}
If You Have Time to Spare
[+] “[✧] Devices for emerging artists” by Francesco Imola on Are.na {here}
[+] Learn about the benefits of Limitations {here}
[+] Watch: Emily Pilloton: Teaching design for change {here}
[+] Free Personal and Commercial Fonts on Use & Modify {here}
Marum Resources:
[+] Are.na
Thanks for reading. I know we are all busy, so I appreciate your time! For further discourse, feel free to comment below or reach out on are.na and Instagram.
“Without rest as a natural reminder, we erode into a formless beach; subject to constant thrashing and flooding from the ocean waves of life.” Love this visual!