Permission to pretend.
It is a fact, unfortunately, we cannot have what we want at any given time with the click of the fingers for some things. It would be nice to have that Genie in the bottle on standby, but I’m sure yours like mine is on a busy carpet ride to somewhere for a very important assignment.
So some time ago, in fact, a decade ago back in Melbourne, it came to my attention that I was feeling miserable. Just sad about nothing really. So unusual to be honest. Even your positive sunflowers can get down from time to time.
Life’s like a movie,
Write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending. Jim Henson
My life hadn’t changed. I couldn’t detect anything really wrong with said usual routine and activities. Then one morning on this few week fog, I decided to go to Brunetti in Carlton to have a Short Black (espresso) and pretend I was in Italy. It was such a random idea at the time when I think back, but I think I just wanted to quickly eject out of my current considered monotonous routine.
God forbid, things had gotten stale!
So I sat down in my imagined ‘Little Italy’ and ordered my first espresso coffee since my last Italy holiday abroad (where I had tried for the first time), and started the most wonderful coffee love affair to date. And just like that everyday from there on espresso became my daily best friend.
One espresso please :)
And magic can be found in a little cup.
Have I managed to revisit Italy again, no, but pretending did drag me out of that funky feeling that was momentarily clouding my life.
This example of imaginative play can be considered for other pursuits of joy filled bliss. Really craving the energy of a live concert and no one visits your home town or country, then buy that DVD or search YouTube. Craving Mexico but don’t have the time or funds currently, then host a Mexican themed party for your friends. Want a pet but can’t have one, then assign yourself Aunty/ Uncle duties to a friend’s beloved animal.
These days I am still thinking about the Amalfi Coast, Italy, and whilst I am no longer in Melbourne, our local town has an amazing Italian restaurant/ bar, Delizioso, so I’ve found my Little Italy yet again! In fact, this place has saved me a few times with the best Italian food and a cocktail bar to boot!
Sometimes all you need is a change of scenery and a little ambience.
The creative imagining that empowers our spirit has not only changed my funky moments, but I have seen help countless friends. For instance, my neighbour down the road lost his wife to Cancer some time ago. She was apparently quite the musician and was known to organise jams with her close knit friends. My neighbour asked if he could hold a jam in my Ghost House (old open barn house) to invite her musical friends and hold a soiree. Sure, why not!
That night 25+ people turned up with up teen guitars, base, banjos, bongos, and percussion. I could see my neighbour was in his element. I am quite sure this was his moment to relive those happy times with his past wife and honour her musical legacy.
A remembrance to revitalise the spirit, in turn, revisiting community in strength and connection.
This is a great time to celebrate community and our local places: cafes, barn houses, restaurants, parks e.t.c.. Even if you are alone in a cafe dreaming like me of the Amalfi Coast or maybe your partner now gone, you never know who you will strike up a conversation with and the community that is waiting to be discovered.
What will you be making up this weekend, revisiting, remembering because you may just discover something fresh and new.
Today’s good mood is sponsored proudly by coffee.
