Andrew

What is a ritual, practice, or routine in your life that is important for your psychological wellbeing and/or fulfillment? Why?

Laurel

I think of two words, “friendship” and “movement.” When I incorporate these two things into my life regularly, I feel good. And I mean movement in the most obvious but also broadest of terms. Physical movement, like exercise, is essential. But also I find friendship to have a life-giving movement in general, a warm back-and-forth and exploration. My favorite friendships involve trips — movement to and around other places — which often builds my friendships further. My favorite thoughts or feelings come while I’m in motion literally or in conversation with a friend.

My favorite thoughts or feelings come while I’m in motion literally or in conversation with a friend.

Andrew

What is a human-made creation that brings out the best in you? Why?

Laurel

This probably sounds meta, but I love learning what people I’m inspired by are inspired by. It’s an endless exploration. And it’s humbling to realize how many things we rely on everyday — practically, emotionally, and spiritually — were created by other humans.

“Everything around me was someone's lifework,” says technologist Gordon Brander. As you become an adult, you realize incredible things around you — parks, libraries, railways — didn’t just appear. Rather, they were built by people who, through gradual persistence over whole lifetimes, somehow willed them into being. “Freedom is not earned or won, it is built,” writes artist Evelyn Bi, describing the back and forth between appreciating and creating. She continues, “There will always be a strong emotional response when we encounter something that touches the core of who we are, but it’s important to remember that we’re only able to find ourselves in these objects’ reflections because they exist.”

The artist Paul Chan said the medium of the book teaches us “how to live.” And relatedly, the poet Francis Ponge says that he prefers “the company of Bach, Mozart, and Rameau to a blade of grass.” He says he prefers objects made by man — whether it be a poem, a musical score, a painting — to an object with no purpose (one without an author). Only authored things could “save man from his distress” and “teach him how to live.”

Some of my favorite manmade creations are by my family and friends. For example, for over twenty years, my aunt made a “family calendar.” To do this, she asked all our family for photos, drawings, clippings, etc. and then composed everything into a calendar for the next year. All of our mailing addresses would be on the back of the calendar so we could stay in touch. This was before social media, so in some ways, the family calendar was like my social media that connected me to my extended family. As a kid I thought this was simply a cool project my aunt did, but now that time has passed, I realize how revolutionary this bespoke creation was in nurturing family love and connection — and for over twenty years!

The album I listen to the most is probably Brian Eno’s “Music for Airports” from 1978. I love that Brian intended it to be as interesting as it is boring. I put it on whenever I need to relax and focus. My favorite works of art are often environments, cultivating a certain useful mood and point of view.

And it’s humbling to realize how many things we rely on everyday — practically, emotionally, and spiritually — were created by other humans.

Andrew

When do you cherish the slow or hard way of doing something? Why?

Laurel

I think inefficiency is a key part of learning. When I’m learning something, the slow or hard way is always informative.

When it comes to technology, programming, and automation, I enjoy this principle called “manual until it hurts” from Indieweb. It’s the notion that you shouldn’t default to automation, but only automate a process until you’ve done it manually so many times that you truly feel the need for automation.

Andrew

What is something you appreciate or long for from the past? Why?

Laurel

I miss a time when I felt less porous. For instance, it’s almost too easy to text someone and too easy to respond to a text. I miss more intentional forms of communication and certain nutritious formats in step with the natural pace of life and seasonal changes.