I can’t walk by a box hedge without dreaming of how to create a parterre like those in the Rousham Gardens somewhere in our yard. As the context of our lives shifts so does the idea of the possible form of our gardens.
Your essay though made me think of the context of making art and the form it takes when I consider trying to make it fit a market. What if I just didn’t consider market fit? What if I made art to fit the context of my life alone? Would that make my art “better”, so much so that a market I can’t conceive emerges? I wonder. Your comment in July that writing few essays per year would be an ideal, but you can’t imagine anyone funding that project runs similar lines. Van Gogh sold one painting in his lifetime. One. And yet what he created now resonates with so many people, and that a market emerged for his work is undeniable. He just didn’t see it happen. I want to explore the personal context for art and what success (or the perfect solution) to making it looks like given what your essay makes me think about “form fits context”. Thanks.
Very nice. Thank you. I thought I was the only weirdo who thought about these things so much. I used to be in a high control spiritual group. The leader used to make decisions for me. When I left him, I was in my forties and it was awkward because I didn’t know how to make my own decisions. It took a few years for me to feel comfortable making decisions without him. In that process, I ended up becoming very interested in this topic. Your article is very helpful! Thank you!
You truly deserve this success as a writer. You have something unique in the way you pull together different ideas and influences. Very beautiful. I’m learning.
I loved this and am now eagerly awaiting the next part. We’ve lived in the same place for 27 years now and have ever so slowly reshaped the environment around our old farmhouse in a way reminiscent of your form fits context approach … except for the back “yard” (maybe we should send you guys some photos, perhaps you’ll see it). It remains a puzzle to us, but this approach of yours may open something up (once I get Sara to read it too). PS: loved the line “not yet fully funded” in your closing call to action! Who the hell is?
Beautiful visuals in this writing. Sharing a message through a powerfully relatable story makes this so rich.
I think the learning needs to continue past understanding a problem. You need to also spend time learning about the options you have for solutions. We can get secondarily bogged down in wondering if there is always a better solution than we are aware of, and often there is. We must decide how much time is allowed to finding the best solution and make the best of the flawed information about solutions that we have.
“If the answer is right, who cares if the question is wrong?” - The Dodecahedron (from The Phantom Tollbooth). The sentiment captures so much thinking.
This is a deep insight disguised as an everyday observation about shopping or gardening.
How do quantum computers solve problems? How do quantum elements in plants solve optimization problems in photosynthesis? It is about maintaining coherence so that all solutions can be explored and the right one left standing at decoherence.
I think the mental state of openness to context you suggest is a version of this -- staying open to all possibilities until an attractor draws us to the solution. Your piece inspires me to write more about this.
This brilliant essay could not have come at a better time for me, as I grapple with which direction to focus on in my life going forward. Truly enjoyed reading this.
I can’t walk by a box hedge without dreaming of how to create a parterre like those in the Rousham Gardens somewhere in our yard. As the context of our lives shifts so does the idea of the possible form of our gardens.
Your essay though made me think of the context of making art and the form it takes when I consider trying to make it fit a market. What if I just didn’t consider market fit? What if I made art to fit the context of my life alone? Would that make my art “better”, so much so that a market I can’t conceive emerges? I wonder. Your comment in July that writing few essays per year would be an ideal, but you can’t imagine anyone funding that project runs similar lines. Van Gogh sold one painting in his lifetime. One. And yet what he created now resonates with so many people, and that a market emerged for his work is undeniable. He just didn’t see it happen. I want to explore the personal context for art and what success (or the perfect solution) to making it looks like given what your essay makes me think about “form fits context”. Thanks.
Very nice. Thank you. I thought I was the only weirdo who thought about these things so much. I used to be in a high control spiritual group. The leader used to make decisions for me. When I left him, I was in my forties and it was awkward because I didn’t know how to make my own decisions. It took a few years for me to feel comfortable making decisions without him. In that process, I ended up becoming very interested in this topic. Your article is very helpful! Thank you!
You truly deserve this success as a writer. You have something unique in the way you pull together different ideas and influences. Very beautiful. I’m learning.
I loved this and am now eagerly awaiting the next part. We’ve lived in the same place for 27 years now and have ever so slowly reshaped the environment around our old farmhouse in a way reminiscent of your form fits context approach … except for the back “yard” (maybe we should send you guys some photos, perhaps you’ll see it). It remains a puzzle to us, but this approach of yours may open something up (once I get Sara to read it too). PS: loved the line “not yet fully funded” in your closing call to action! Who the hell is?
Beautiful visuals in this writing. Sharing a message through a powerfully relatable story makes this so rich.
I think the learning needs to continue past understanding a problem. You need to also spend time learning about the options you have for solutions. We can get secondarily bogged down in wondering if there is always a better solution than we are aware of, and often there is. We must decide how much time is allowed to finding the best solution and make the best of the flawed information about solutions that we have.
“If the answer is right, who cares if the question is wrong?” - The Dodecahedron (from The Phantom Tollbooth). The sentiment captures so much thinking.
This is a deep insight disguised as an everyday observation about shopping or gardening.
How do quantum computers solve problems? How do quantum elements in plants solve optimization problems in photosynthesis? It is about maintaining coherence so that all solutions can be explored and the right one left standing at decoherence.
I think the mental state of openness to context you suggest is a version of this -- staying open to all possibilities until an attractor draws us to the solution. Your piece inspires me to write more about this.
This brilliant essay could not have come at a better time for me, as I grapple with which direction to focus on in my life going forward. Truly enjoyed reading this.
Looking forward to hearing how you apply this approach to writing. Great essay.
I love the metaphor you used about the Sudoku - it really opened up my eyes. Thanks for this, life changing really.
Excellent essay as always Henrik. Looking forward to the next one!
Such a good piece!