More space for mistakes in 2024
Ellipses… Issue #47
Ellipses… a small, special character. Used by writers to slow down, create a pause, and indicate thinking.
⚫️ 1 thought: A pencil love story 🪶
Let me tell you a story about bougie pencils and compassion. Weird, I know, but just hang in there for this graphic (pun intended) stationery love story.
I’m not talking about just any pencils, though. In the art and stationery world, the Blackwing pencil is the most coveted of all pencils. The snobbiest of lead-in-wood devices. Don’t get me wrong—they’re beautiful, are beautifully named, and have a curiously beautiful rectangular eraser.
The minimalist and pragmatic in me kept Blackwing pencils at bay for a decade. Why buy elite pencils when I have dozens of stubby 2B’s to use up?
Mr. Brio surprised me with a Christmas present (we don’t usually exchange) and lo and behold, a 4-piece trial set of the Blackwing pencils, aptly branded “Blackwing Audition.” I marveled over their length and the shininess of the ferrule (the metal part that holds the eraser—I had to Google it, too).
I manually sharpened them and tested them in my daily pocket notebook (currently a Traveler’s Notebook passport size, with a standard TN blank insert, for you fellow stationery heads). I marveled at the smoothness of each, even the extra-firm graphite one that would normally be heralded as the “too hard, too light” version.
The thing that really impressed me about these Blackwing pencils is the eraser. It’s a normal-sized exposed eraser at first glance. Upon further inspection, there are two small handles that allow you to pull out the eraser to replace it—something I vaguely knew about because of the replacement eraser packs I fondle at stationery stores during all of my visits. But what surprised me most? The length of the erasers.
These Blackwing pencils are designed for mistakes. As you use the pencil and sharpen it towards its stubby end of life, you can shift out the long eraser to fix more. Traditional yellow school pencils give you a ton of writing but are shit for mistakes, leaving you to buy extra erasers to pop on top of a scratchy ferrule or to keep in your pocket lest you lose it.
As far-fetched of an idea as it may seem, Blackwing pencils are a metaphor for a life full of self-compassion. I’m someone who made it to the eve of 40 with next to 0 self-compassion. Using an eraser-less pencil, making a stray mark, and cursing myself for losing the eraser on top of everything. Always hard on myself. Never allowing for mistakes.
In 2024 and beyond, I vow to practice self-compassion with the help of these beautiful metaphoric Blackwing pencils (and the help of several trusted human guides).
⚫️ 1 link: A new place for journaling and planning lovers 🔗
I created a new Instagram account, @jennyleejournals. I hope you find inspiration in this account to digest short-form digital journaling and planning content.
As a side note, I’d also love to get back into YouTube videos about intentional living again soon, but I’m just not up for it yet. (See? This self-compassion thing is really working for me so far.)
⚫️ 1 journal prompt: What do you need more space for in 2024 📔
Frankly, I’m therapy’d-out and am sick of the phrase “Give Yourself Grace.” In true Simplicity Astronaut form, I’m going to call it “Give Yourself Space.” Yes, it’s the same darned thing. But I like the universe, and “space” seems to call for more quiet reflection in my mind.
End rant. So, where do you need more space in your life this year?
Less calendar engagements?
More time in nature?
Less obsessive thoughts about new stationery?
Write about what it is, why you picked it, and how you can put it into practice.
Thanks for reading!
Hit reply or comment on the post to chat further on any of the above. I love to hear from you. See you next week.
Be safe and well,
🖤 Jenny