Kevin's Weblog

It shouldn’t need to be pointed out, but the root of ‘useful’ is ‘use’. If you don’t actually use an object, regardless of whether you abstractly feel it to be useful, perhaps it isn’t. There is a particular risk with objects that are both beautiful and useful that we fail to use them, whether because we feel they are too expensive or unique and irreplaceable to risk damage, or because we put them on display as works of art but then fail to reach for them when the need arises, or whatever excuse there may be.

Recently there are a handful of objects I’ve been treating this way: my pocket knives and my fountain pen. Yesterday, I actually did take the intentional action of putting a knife in my pocket, along with my wallet and keys, before heading out the door. Today I did some paperwork with my fountain pen. Hopefully this marks a return to these habits.