My friend Sparky wrote this post about visual discomfort a few weeks ago. In it, he talks about how spacing things too tightly in a design makes us uncomfortable.

I suspect I was drawn to the post because of my publishing background. *smile* Besides, I had already been thinking about stuff and space due to my home and garden channel fix over the holidays. (I’m kind of a home and garden channel addict.) Anyhoo, I watched quite a few episodes of Clean House (one of those shows where they go through someone’s house and throw out all their stuff).

That got me thinking about my personal space (i.e. my home) and how comfortable I am in it.

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Some of us are happy to have everything we own fit into a box or two. We feel clearer and ready to take on what’s next when what we own is in order. When there’s space.

(I’d like to pretend I’m one of these people, but …) Some of us tend to fill every available nook and cranny with … er … stuff. For me, I’m always sure there will be use for those things in the future. But that means giving up space which can lead to discomfort. (We won’t go into what’s involved in trying to find a matching container and lid in my kitchen.)

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Then at this past Saturday’s Songtaneous, we talked about how music works. How it’s about creating tension and release, which is what creates the structure.

And guess what is one of the really effective ways of creating structure in music?

That’s right, space. (Sometimes known as silence.)

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Space in improv is just as important as personal or visual space. Improv discomfort comes when we try to cram too many notes or ideas into one moment. In effort to be brilliant, we just clutter up the place.

Often, one of the easiest ways to improve an improv is to add space.

It’s also the hardest thing (for me) to remember to try.

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I had to remember over the past few weeks, that I need space in my schedule, too. Because I do so many different kinds of work (at so many different places! *smile*), I had to learn to put space and time to transition in between jobs.

And, of course, there’s head space. Making time and space to be creative and thoughtful (or tired and cranky. *wink*)

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But, thanks to Sparky and HGTV, I’ve been working on letting stuff out of my life.

After all, if can I let go of these things I sort of want, I can make room for things I really want.

So I guess a big part of nourish is going to be space. Making space in my home, my head and my music for the things I really want.