“Things in the margins, including humans who wander there, are often on the brink of becoming something else, or someone else.”
Barbara Hurd
We genuinely believe that inspiration can be found everywhere and if you are of the mindset to tap into it, your life probably feels more fulfilling.
Take our inner city weeds, as an example. Overlooked and unconsidered, these seedling weeds found across most large cities are a curious source of inspiration. Through their natural resilience, and silent though they are, they've become unlikely but daily metaphors for courage, determination and fastidiousness to us.
Credit: Hiro Location: Hackney Wick, London
Credit: Yasumi Location: Hackney Wick, London
Just how do they manage to grow and even blossom from gaps in old brick walls, cracks in pavements or from impossible heights and angles on buildings? It takes guts to brave the cracks of a big city.
Credit: Hiro Location: Canonbury, London
Credit: Yasumi Location: Highgate, London
Could it be that we are naturally, innately inclined to notice the beauty in nature? We are after all, a natural part of the Earth, too. And when we stop and allow ourselves to absorb the awesomeness of this concept, we are able to reconnect with creation. Perhaps that is why it seems universally human to appreciate a beautiful landscape, sunrise, sunset, ocean vista etc.
Yet, could it also be that our social conditioning has begun to lead us into thinking of ourselves as outside of nature to a degree? Hence terminology such as 'man vs nature' or 'nature taking back'.
We have become creators and built vast cities where we welcome nature, but rather strictly upon our own, more manicured terms.
In our gardens, we define which plants are ornamental and which are weeds and we destroy what is unsightly to us. But in general, and quite universally, weeds are seen as eyesores, nuisances that are often removed and discarded. When they are left to their own fate, they are ignored. Yet, they too can be a source of inspiration to us.