Commonplace book
A commonplace book is a notebook or journal which records things of interest. These may be quotations, ideas, observations, written or drawn. My commonplace entries are entirely quotations. If I could draw, I would include pictures – I see them in my mind’s eye but am incapable of translating them into sketches. How I envy those who have artistic skills!
Anyway, today I was looking at the last pages of my commonplace book, Y and Z. Under Y I had written Yadah, for which I had the definition, ‘to acknowledge the nature and work of God.’ Looking it up today, I discovered that it is a Hebrew word encompassing praise, confession, gratitude and worship.
I had also written ‘yada, yada, yada’, which is an informal phrase used in a similar way to ‘et cetera’ and ‘blah, blah, blah’ and sometimes indicative of boredom or irritation with a conversational gambit. It’s not an expression I use but I think it’s quite colourful.
For Z, I had a Zen proverb – ‘Worry is like a rocking chair; it gives you something to do but it doesn’t get you anywhere.’ Very true!
Zen can be an adjective or a noun. As an adjective it means relaxed but I don’t know anyone who uses it. Its use as a noun is more familiar. Zen is the Japanese pronunciation of a Chinese word, ch’an, meaning thought or meditation. Zen is a Buddhist sect that originated in China. Practitioners do not believe in reincarnation or worship Buddha, although they acknowledge him, but seek enlightenment through meditation.
I like the rocking chair analogy. I like rocking chairs but it is almost impossible to sit in one and not rock. We have had ours for decades and it has borne the teething attentions of many toddlers, puppies and kittens. It may one day be restored to its former glory but for now it is battered and bruised. There is no point in owning something and not using it and I don’t believe in banning young ones from touching furniture.
A commonplace book sounds like a lovely idea. I keep meaning to start a nature diary. Like you, I can't draw. I see what I want to draw in my mind, but there's no coordination between what I see and what I can draw lol. I am thinking descriptions and photos will probably be the way to go with my nature diary.
ReplyDeleteA nature diary sounds like a lovely idea and would be a really personal memento.
DeleteWell done!
ReplyDeleteRoyals, noble families and religious leaders had their own recorders and archivists, but a personal diary is the only way historians and authors ever knew what ordinary people did or thought. Even if you keep your commonplace book private, it is still an important part of your life.
Thank you. I do write a daily diary, too, but sometimes have to remind myself to refer to the wider world. Future historians would find no help from my diaries, I'm afraid.
DeleteI'd love to be able to draw my thoughts too. xx
ReplyDeleteLike Leonardo da Vinci - what a genius!
DeleteI can perhaps see a connection between 'yada, yada, yada', and the '‘to acknowledge the nature and work of God.’ Whatever..
ReplyDeleteYour rocking chair is battered by the teeth of children, dogs and cats? What a wonderful historical piece of furniture. Don't destroy the memory reminders it contains.
Actually, a lot of our furniture bears reminders of days past - lots of people would look down their noses at that! Tough!
DeleteOh I'm the same, can't draw for love nor money, I wish I could. We had a rocking chair in my childhood home, I loved it but I've never had one in my own home.
ReplyDeleteYour creative skills lie in other directions, Jo.
DeleteI have two note books, one for knitting and sewing and the other for gardening, I sketch badly in the garden book, working out where things should go. My craft book, looks like maths homework, often working out number of stitches for knitting.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good idea to have books for specific purposes. I usually end up scribbling on sheets of paper. I do have a daily diary/journal as well as my commonplace book.
DeleteYou're right and everyone has different ways of coping with worries. Perspective is all:-)
ReplyDeleteI read that worrying doesn't accomplish anything but drains the joy out of the day. True. It's true. I love that rocking chair. That's the best part of old furniture: the stories of them. Good old furniture is loved and used and bears the marks of it, just as the velveteen rabbit did.
ReplyDeleteAh, the velveteen rabbit . . . :-)
DeleteThe rocking chair is lovely and the marks of passing years just add to its unique character. I keep a sort of garden/nature journal that includes usually brief references to special occasions or something more ordinary such as baking bread. Whatever I feel I would like to remember about the day and snippets of poetry are noted. Years later, when reading a few pages, I'm always amazed how (for example) a walk in the garden or woods springs to life instead of being lost in the blur of passing time.
ReplyDeleteA journal is a chance to revisit days gone by.
DeleteI've often thought about keeping a commonplace book, but never pursued this idea properly. Perhaps because between blogging (since 2008) and writing, longhand, a daily journal (since 1994) that's quite enough!
ReplyDeleteCheers, Gail.
30 years of diary entries is quite something. Well done.
DeleteFuture historians would learn very little of world affairs from my daily journal, though I do try to make relevant entries. In any case, my handwriting is terrible!
In tbe highly unlikely event that any future historian will have the patience to decipher my handwriting he or she will learn a lot about weather conditions on walks and bicycle rides around Northern Scotland, plus the occasional comment on current affairs!
DeleteI like that rocking chair quote.
ReplyDeleteIt's so obvious, really. I do like rocking in it, though.
DeleteYour rocking chair looks great.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I like the expression 'yada, yada, yada' .. I also don't use it enough.
ReplyDeleteWorrying is like a rocking chair... hmm good analogy.
I'm more of a 'blah blah blah' person - in more ways than one!
ReplyDeleteThe battering the chair has taken is part of its life story. I long ago grew out of the need to be surrounded by pristine belongings and would rather have the old, the well made, the items with a story to tell, the memories they hold. We all wear our history as we age so why not also our chairs?
ReplyDeleteSome wear their history more gracefully than others ;-)
ReplyDeleteAlthough I didn't know the expression "commonplace book", I've been keeping what I'm calling my journal during several periods in my life. Apart from the diary part of them, they've got quotes and - in the absence of a talent for drawing - mementos of daily life. I've got a travel journal which has sweets and chocolate wrappers from one of our first holidays in the UK, for instance. I do regret not being able to draw, though. xxx
ReplyDeleteIt's good to have meaningful reminders, no matter what form they take:-) x x x
DeleteYour rocking chair is a great piece of family furniture with all its knocks and dents. Happy memories for you to enjoy.
ReplyDeletePerfection certainly has no place in our lives;-)
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