DouceLifeAt50.com

Aerial winding road photo by: eberhard-grossgasteiger-1074216-unsplash.jpg

“Definition of archetype in psychology : an inherited idea or mode of thought in the psychology of C. G. Jung that is derived from the experience of the race and is present in the unconscious of the individual. Example: The archetype of the witch, carried through centuries of pop-culture and folklore, is a divisive character.”

I started this past week with the motivation to do 20 minutes (1 mile of sweats) on the elliptical machine as soon as I got up.  Since I have been keeping my phone outside my bedroom I seem to be able to stay on track. Instead of reading my messages or check my email or other media as soon as I get up, I follow a new routine that is geared toward my Self.  I started with giving myself 20 minutes to meditate and plan my day. I have added 20 minutes of exercise which I am motivated to do as my jeans have been tight since the holidays. I have noticed it has become easier to get up earlier to follow this new schedule.   My daily routine includes going outside to get some fresh air with my dog before I start the day. If I cannot come up with an idea for my essay I usually take my dog for a long walk, being outside usually does the trick. This week however the amount of exercise really exceeds the amount of writing.  Even with all my physical efforts my inspiration was lacking. As the date to publish my blog loomed I was still staring at my blank screen. As I listened to the rain I decided to put on my rubber boots, grab my umbrella and join my dog outside, maybe this time an idea would pop into my head. As I was walking around the field under my large umbrella I started thinking about the book I had just finished reading on archetypes.  I was not familiar with that subject but I was curious about the different myths, behavior patterns and characteristics we associate with them. This essay is not a summary of the book.

As my dog ran around chasing the ball I was distractly kicking, my mind started playing images of certain archetypes.  The explorer and creative archetypes came to the forefront. A picture popped into my mind, that of a car I have admired since childhood.  Maybe it was the Joker Archetype that woke up and asked this question: “If you were a car which one would you be?” I left my dog abruptly.  I am sure you’ve been pondering this very existential question too. Alleluia, I had finally find my idea for my essay. What can I say, it seems the creative archetype has been occupying a large part of my inner world for months.  The adventurer archetype which has been dormant for many years seems to want a bigger share of my life, thus the car analogy. I realized while reading the book that I have been too shallow in my thinking. I have been too narrow minded when it comes to thinking about who I am.  I have not allowed myself to think in the broader sense of what makes an adventurer and a creative person/artist. I am neither “Lara Croft” nor “Indiana Jones” but I do love to zipline and travel to learn about other countries and their cultures.  I have not given myself the opportunities to bring the adventurer to the forefront.  Neither have I appreciated the creativity I bring into our lives with cooking, knitting, decorating the house etc… and now writing.  Back to the car analogy.

Do we purchase cars that represent us the best?  After all we drive around for all to see, sometimes our budgets constrain us.  Do we subconsciously gravitate towards the style of car that satisfies our archetypes when we finally leave the dealership with our dream car?  Not always, in my late twenties I drove a 1984 red Camaro until we had our first child, the back seat was too narrow to accomodate an infant car seat, the only place for her was in the front.  Not a good family car. We bought a used Ford Tempo, our first car with electric windows.  My favorite thing about that car was that we had no car payments.  It was beige, old, practical, fit our budget, a mama car.  I drove the Camaro when I was going solo, our daughter drove it in high school, by then it had become a “classic”.  After our second child was born and our Tempo became unreliable we bought a Nissan, another used sedan, it was gold, almost new, very comfortable.  Minivans were all the rage but I could not see myself driving one.  Minivans screamed mom, kids, soccer practice carpools. They are very practical but oh so van..ish.  However, I don’t mind being a passenger in one or renting one while vacationing.

Now that I have free time, I am waiting for my friend to buy her dream car, a Porsche, so that I can accompany her on her road trips.  That sports car is for driving on empty winding roads and wide empty freeways.  There is no better way to reconnect while discovering new places.  No more sedans for me, I really enjoy driving my Honda SUV which seems to fit my practical side and my adventurer spirit. However, there is one car that represent my adventurous spirit best.  I can easily imagine myself driving it along dunes, crossing rivers, or just bouncing along a dirt road while it holds equipment on top. That car will look perfect with great splashes of mud all over it.  So to finally answer the questions: “If I were a car, which one would I be?”  A Land Rover Defender.

Photo by Jannis Brandt on Unsplash

What car do you love to drive? Which one fits you best?