just like… right here, right now!

ansharihbasri

Dec 27

You get to build your perfect space for reading and writing. What's it like?

ah, this is one of those trap questions:

that makes us feel like if only i had this perfect space, i'd read and write much better!

but of course that's not how it works. if anything, a more appropriate answer might (also) be what kind of mental space it looks like, for reading and writing to be "perfectly" enjoyable.

i just know that even if i had this beautiful, "perfect" personal library and study, it all comes down again to my—mental space.

and there are dozens of reasons why my mind wouldn't feel like reading or writing (despite a perfect physical space): having other businesses to do, having fear of overwhelm about what to read, the anxiety of failing to apply what i've read, the worry of my writing not being read by anyone despite the grand space, and so on.

and look, everything has to give: with such a "perfect" space to read and write, there has to be a cost to it. and even if we put aside technical costs like to build it etc., imagine, again, the overwhelm: oh god, i have this perfect space but i still can't read faster than i used to or can't write a bestselling novel yet!

because why? because nothing fundamental about our reading or writing habits changes just by changing just the (physical) environment! it has to come both internally and externally. and my point: i'm not against the idea of having a perfect physical space at all! it's just that—it is just one part of the equation. so when i'm asked what's my perfect space for reading and writing? it has to include both the mental space and the physical space.

another thing is that, if i do get to design a perfect physical space, i'd love it to come as a gradual upgrade from my current set up. just so i can adjust to the effects of the changing environment on my mental space. because, again, sure, a better physical space can motivate us to read and write more (and hopefully better), but there has to be a cost to everything and i'd love to adjust to these costs at a manageable level.

but of course, if i get to pick anything, i'd rather have the perfect mental space that can make me read and write best wherever i physically am.

but even so, there can't be such a thing—and i wouldn't want to read and write all the time either.

my current mental set up, with its occasional laziness for reading and writing is just already the perfect space that allows other wonderful pursuits to fit in,

each at the right time.

and you are already there too:

your perfectly imperfect space

for reading, writing, and all the wonders of life.