This month, I’ve been thinking about . . . margin.
True confession: From the get-go this year, I knew that I would explore the concept of margin as part of my “space exploration” process. And so, when the seasonal May upheaval hit my everyday life . . . well, it seemed like the perfect time to bring the concept front-and-center.
What do I mean by margin? Oh, I’m talking about white space (the design concept). You know how uncomfortable and irritating it is to read something when the letters are all crammed on the page without breaks or interruptions? It’s much easier when there is . . . appropriate white space giving your eyes a place to rest, helping your brain know when to pause, allowing you to make sense of the words on the page so you can read them with ease.
Well, life is like that, too. We need . . . margin. The amount of margin, of course, varies by individual. Some of us are more comfortable when the words are all crammed on the page. And some of us need more white space between the paragraphs; we need bigger margins at the edges of our pages.
So. When spring finally arrives here in my corner of the world . . . everything changes for me. Life As I Know It . . . turns upside down for a while. This isn’t a bad thing at all. I look forward to it. I relish it. I mean . . . I’ve been dreaming about getting back into my garden or heading back up north for months by the time spring arrives.
But.
There is an adjustment period!
At first, there are simply too many words too crammed together on my page, y’know?
Every single year, I try to squish everything together on my pages. I get angry and grumpy and frustrated – and feel like a failure – because I can’t fit everything in! All the things in my winter life AND all the things in my summer life! I want them all. But they just can’t all fit on the page, y’know?
This year, I was determined to allow myself . . . margin. To build white space into my days, into this season. To give my eyes a place to rest, to help my brain know when to pause, to allow me to make sense of the words on my page — and to read them with ease.
This allowing was the key. This month – as everything in the garden was exploding, and our place up north was beckoning, I’ve been working extra hard to remember to give myself space . . . to ebb and flow with the season, to breathe, to pause . . . AND to get stuff done (but not All the Stuff). It has meant giving myself more grace in the letting go of other stuff, of other commitments.
It’s not been easy, this building in margin.
But working on it . . . is helping.
“White space is to be regarded as an active element, not a passive background.”
–Jan Tschichold
That makes a lot of sense….and yes May in Michigan has just backed up the truck and dumped all the things that were held in suspension in the weeks leading up to it.
Your post inspired me to look up the word margin. I liked this definition too:
Margin: a limit in condition, capacity, etc., beyond or below which something ceases to exist, be desirable, or be possible:
I’ve been thinking about this too and I love the idea of margin. You so often wrap words around those ponderings in my head.
A wonderful concept Kym. Well put and thank you for this post. I especially like the line…”AND to get stuff done (but not All the Stuff).” “Things” can wait for sure…something I am learning as I age.
I need BIG margins. In fact, sometimes I need a whole blank page!
Interesting post! I’m contemplating the difference between being in the margins and being marginalized. I guess one is active and one is passive?
Because of my day job, I’m well aware of the need for margins and white space and a general balance of design. I never thought about applying it as a metaphor for life and what we do in it, though, so thanks for opening up my thoughts about that! I understand the desire to want to do All The Things out in the garden after a long winter, but I think what you’ve found is something all of us have experienced — there is such a thing as too much of a good thing! The key is finding the balance — the right margins for you. I hope you are getting closer to finding them!
I haven’t thought much about margin along with space, but I learned long ago that I need wide margins! I have been busier than usual last week and this week looks the same, but I’m already looking forward to giving myself some margins for rest after this busy time. Just because spring exploded in your neck of the woods doesn’t mean that you have to do all the things all at once. Enjoy your life with margins!
When I first started reading this I thought about how it applied to Me. I need a lot of white space. Then when you mentioned your place up north I thought about our vacation home and how nice it was to have that white space. THEN, I thought about all the people in the world who couldn’t afford any white space at all (too many kids, not enough money, demanding jobs, etc.) and how did they find happiness? THEN I though about how elastic human nature can be in terms of Survival of the Fittest, and how would I frame my thinking to achieve some inner white space in such dire circumstances… See what you started, Kym?:).
As a long ago graphic designer I’ve had a lot of margin battles.(Fill! The! Page!) I love this concept of applying it to every day living. I think I need a fair amount these days…there’s always tomorrow.
I appreciate you pointing out that we all need different margins. Yes! I happen to need lots. And I think I’ve historically (and unfairly) judged myself harshly for it. This post prompts me to consider that need a bit more…objectively. Thanks!!
This is delightful, Kym. I had not at all considered the margins… but wow. What an idea for a more balanced day/life. (and I really laughed at Dee’s blank page comment!)
I am really happy that in the midst of the Spring Explosion you are finding a way to make sure your days have some margins that allow you to pause, breathe, and re-energize! XO
What a wonderful , and important, post. This – margin – is so useful and healthy for us all to ponder.
Thank you.
I need all the wide margins! LOL This is such a great concept and I’m glad it’s helped you have a better season of transitioning from your winter pursuits to your spring and summer pursuits.
One of my biggest pet peeves is texts that go on for DAAAAAYYYSSS (metaphorically) and have a lack of substance, lack of cohesion, no punctuation, and NO WHITE SPACE! (I’m talking of one of my sisters, here, who talks her texts, so it’s stream of conciousness with NO spell check or proofreading, etc.)
I’m in a season of building a mountain home (STILL), re-settling my 86 year old mother in TN, from where we moved her when COVID hit (I’m in Nashville, now), and trying to wrap my head around closing my business after 35 years, in order to move to said mountain as soon as the house is done…
I haven’t had much white space in my life for the better part of three years and I’m so happy to read about this topic, and all the responses from your friends. I’m going to incorporate intentional white space going forward. I will schedule it if need be!
Right now, I’m going to go turn on the French Open and spend some time knitting. That, to me, is White Space. (Capitals intended!)
PS. A trip to Bliss Yarn, may be in my future this afternoon. It’s less than a mile away… =-D
What a great way of explaining this feeling, totally get it.
This is such a great way to think about space (and time, and how we plan/spend our time) … and wonder how our concept of necessary margins changes over the years. Literally – I used to love pages packed with text – the more the more the better. and now I need the words to be spaced further apart … more white space just makes it easier to read. Good luck as you explore your margins – and I’m going to be thinking about this as I make my way into a new season.