Week sixteen - In which our hero talks about the importance of personal space

Creating a space is something I do. I think I've always done it and I don't think I could not do it. I love working with everything I love around me and within easy reach. 

When I moved into my current apartment, I was like, 'Now Gina, let's keep these nice, white walls minimal in their decoration. Keep It Simple.' Anyone who knows me realises that this is almost impossible for me. Within a month, every available spot on my bedroom walls was covered in art, anatomy posters and photos of pals. I think I just have to submit to my true nature. 

I have loved building cubbies and pillow/blanket forts since I was little. 

Me and my teddy (Mason) just hanging out with my hoard of safety blankets (I'm hiding them behind me like a dragon hiding treasure).

I would often work on the floor as a kid/teen and I liked working in circles. I mean, even my business card is an aerial shot of me surrounded by all my favourite things, everything specifically  placed in just the right spot. 

Creating this bubble of things would help me calm down when I got (get) nervous or overstimulated with my surroundings. It happens less these days but usually after a couple of hours of socialising environment I can start getting anxious and usually need some drawing alone time. 

The idea of surrounding myself with things that make me happy and help me feel calm is just something I've naturally gravitated to. I never leave my house without a bag filled with books, paper, pens, pocket knives (and now my laptop) -- anything I would need for any situation. I never like being caught with a great idea or spare time on the bus or train or at a meeting or cafe without my mini studio in a bag. 

Circles. They are the best. 

Rob also has the knack for space creating -- surrounding himself with all his favourite things, including (but not limited to): vegemite toast, toys with wheels, coke in a measuring cup, blankets, books with lots of pictures (we both love pictures - we also share the same favourite Beatrix Potter book, The Tailor of Gloucester) and Disney cartoons.

Also in Rob's personal space creating is sound or the lack of other people making it. Rob loves making noise while he's watching his fave shows, he can get real loud, but he doesn't like anyone else to be noisy around him. This often leads to him having one finger in his ear (leaving one hand free for book reading, snack eating etc). Sometimes, wanting to keep that one hand free, he'll try to put his shoulder up to his unblocked ear and still grab for things. He actually makes it work pretty well. 

He also managed to create personal Rob spaces at school as well as home. I remember seeing this photo come home in Rob's school diary and being super jealous that Rob didn't have to sit at a table with lots of other kids. 

Although the caption from this school visual diary entry reads 'Rob at home', Rob is actually at school. 

Although there are similarities, personal space for Rob is very different to mine. Rob's space is everywhere and everyone else is just disrupting his space, whereas my space is this protective shield, defending me from everyone else. 

While Rob would often come and stand face-to-face to me, naked, trying to tap my teeth and being darned cheeky, I would lock myself in my room listening to Billie Holiday and rearranging my bookcase in a new order. 

I would eat with my family at dinner time, sitting in the same seat over time, whereas Rob would eat in his room away from everyone else. 

Even though we are both lovers of personal space, I still liked connecting with people (preferably ones I already knew and only for short amounts of time) and Rob preferred being alone. Here's a photo that pretty much sums up me and my brother. 

That's it for this post. I hope you enjoyed it! How do you feel about personal space? Do you create your own little bubbles of calm around you to get you through the day?

Stay excellent and write you soon. xx