Evoking the Past

[ceitfianna]

Today I helped to lead a discussion about affliative objects and as part of the class, we talked about evocative objects. I'd meant to actually pick something this morning since I save things that remind me of so many moments in my life. Anyone who's visited me or even met me knows that my bag is full of things as is my apartment, I carry objects that hook into my life all around me. So as I was thinking, I looked in my purse and found two cards, my Victoria University id card and my Wellington Public Library card. With those two simple objects that are both green, I called up Wellington and Victoria, a place where I felt like I fit and also a place where I failed.

I've mentioned New Zealand here and there at SI, but to actually really focus on that experience in this way was powerful. I realized how much I learned while there that I have with me now in Ann Arbor as I do graduate school round two. One of the things that helped me was knowing how I do better when I do a lot of things and keep trying and stretching, also to trust my instincts. I knew months before I finally gave up on my thesis that it felt uncomfortable but I was so wrapped up in not failing people that I didn't acknowledge it.

This was a hard lesson to learn but its helped so when I've had times in my classes where I don't go well, its easier to say, no, this assignment wasn't easy but I'm getting it. In terms of graduating in August and having to take another class, thanks to being willing to extend that thesis time, I know that's just something that happens. Graduate school is hard but that's what makes it worthwhile.

The library card felt like a good reminder that libraries are places where I'm happy. Wellington Public Library is one of my favorite spaces and it encapsulates all I love about that city, the waterfront, the openness, the cafes and the people.

Wellington is truly a city of my heart and I'll return there again and living there has been helping me find my way to my next future.

Comments

[skygawker.livejournal.com]

I carry things like that too! Right now I still have my ICOCA card (Kansai-region JR train pass) and I've been back in the States for a year and a half.

[ceitfianna]

I can back from New Zealand in February of 2008 and I know I've cleaned out my wallet at least once but those stayed. Things like that just matter and they're useful for things like this.

[silveraspen]

I have a small collection of things like this, as well.

Including a dark green jade koru from Christchurch, NZ. :)

[ceitfianna]

Oh lovely, greenstone jewelery is so wonderful.

One of the first things I thought about was my jewelery for the exercise but oddly I wasn't wearing anything from New Zealand today.

[spooky-lemur.livejournal.com]

I do the same but I don't always carry them with me. In the days when mammoths walked, i.e. my youth, I had this idea of making a divination method using all these treasures and things I picked up but never did anything with it.

Either way, I still have tickets stubs from a lot of concerts, movies with friends, old IDs, interesting pieces of wood and rocks...

[ceitfianna]

I'm really bad about emptying out my purse and wallet so sometimes what I have is saved on purpose and others I really should throw out. That sounds like a really neat idea for divination.

[phyncke.livejournal.com]

This is a nice reminder that I could go to the library and use my library card. Good point. Enjoyed your post.

I collect momentos of places I have been. My favorite right now is this jar of black sand I got in Hawaii...I took the sand off my beach shoes and bought a special jar to put it in. Holds memories for me.

[ceitfianna]

I'm studying to be a librarian so that makes me quite happy. I'm the same way, sometimes its on purpose but not always.

I still have some of my boarding passes from when I flew back and forth from New Zealand.