Tim and I spent this past long weekend in Charleston and Savannah, with my brother, who flew down from Chicago and met us there. We’d booked the tickets back in October, when Southwest ran a deal that turned the total cost of two round-trip flights into a price lower than my dream cardigan (half that, actually), which was a deal hard to pass up.
Charleston’s long been Tim’s favorite city (while I’ve never been) and we’d been wanting a chance to travel with Adam, with whom I used to take yearly trips.
But mostly, there was the fact that, even months ago, from the perspective of warm and sunny October, we could anticipate the coming January, post-holiday, pre-spring, and the way this month tends to push a person to constant dreams of sun and sand.
Turns out it wasn’t hot in Charleston, not except on Thursday, a day that greeted us with blinding sunshine and progressed into a balmy 70+ degrees that had me trading my boots for flip-flops and cords for a cotton skirt. When I first stepped outside that morning, surrounded by vibrant blue skies and landscaping filled with pinks and purples, I felt like I’d escaped to summer.
Tim and I ran an errand to the UPS station down the street, and I chattered on and on about my freshman year of college in Florida, about the power of light to renew a girl’s spirits.
But even when the climate cooled that evening and over the next few days, giving weather in the 50s more akin to spring, Charleston and Savannah surely gave us our hoped-for sunshine fix: We walked beaches, strolled piers, toured miles of historic downtowns and swung on playground sets.
Sunshine is not all these cities gave us, either. While, back in October, we anticipated the joy of warm weather, we couldn’t have predicted how welcome this little weekend would turn out to be, not just for a break in gray days but also for a source of fresh perspective, creative inspiration and refreshment.
There is, as Alain de Botton writes in The Art of Travel
, “an almost quaint correlation between what is in front of our eyes and the thoughts we are able to have in our heads.” This is probably why people are always suggesting we take a walk or get outside when writer’s block or some other discouragement sets in.
“Large thoughts at times [require] large views, new thoughts new places,” de Botton points out. “Introspective reflections which are liable to stall are helped along by the flow of the landscape. The mind may be reluctant to think properly when thinking is all it is supposed to do.”
I’ve been writing nightly in my line-a-day-journal, an idea inspired by Nicole’s e-newsletter, and that includes on vacation. On Friday night, a day in which we’d shopped in downtown Charleston, grabbed pistachio pesto pizza for lunch, driven down to Savannah and eaten French food for dinner, my entry didn’t recount any of those details but instead said something about the enormous amount of talent in the world.
Because we’re laid-back vacationers, in the sense that, our trips include time to read or surf online, just as much as to try new restaurants or see new sites, our few days away brought my eyes across several new blogs and writers worth checking out—and, over the weekend, surrounded by “new places” and “the flow of the landscape,” I had the chance to pay attention:
+ a new-to-me Nashville writer’s blog
+ an article by Anne Lamott on finding time
+ a site so pretty I want to redesign mine all over again
In the middle of the Historic Charleston City Market, I picked up a complementary copy of Palate Magazine and found a fascinating personal account of participating in WWOOF by Nashville’s own Jennifer Justus, who, it turns out, not only writes for The Tennessean but also has
+ an engaging blog of her own.
Some days, these kinds of discoveries overwhelm me in the sense of “Everyone else is more talented than I am” or “I’ll never be able to compete!” or “What is the point of making things?” I mean, I don’t know about you guys, but I hate just about everything I write (or create or make) after I’ve had enough time away from it—and, once you start to realize something like this about yourself, it’s hard to want to make another imperfect and flawed blog post or drawing because of it. But, for whatever reason, on vacation, that’s not what I felt.
If it’s true that our perspectives are often shaped by what’s right in front of us, perhaps the key to changing our perspectives is changing what we see.
And for me, over the last few days in Charleston and Savannah, looking at mossy trees and deserted sands and historic architecture has meant more than checking off sights; it’s meant changing my focus. Staring at the awe-inspiring, complicated, often beyond-my-understanding work of landscapes and oceans and marshy grass has pushed my thoughts to even greater levels of talent, the kind that comes from an even greater Creator, and given me a renewed desire to keep growing and keep pushing to reflect Him in the way I pursue my little projects, from pictures to recipes to posts.
Oh, and if you’re interested, here’s a list of places we liked in Charleston and Savannah:
Charleston, SC
- Five Loaves Cafe (thanks for the recommendation, Megan!)
- FIG, “Food Is Good”
- EVO, “Extra Virgin Oven”
- Butcher & Bee
Savannah, GA
About Shanna Mallon
Shanna Mallon is a freelance writer who holds an MA in writing from DePaul University. Her work has been featured in a variety of media outlets, including The Kitchn, Better Homes & Gardens, Taste of Home, Houzz.com, Foodista, Entrepreneur, and Ragan PR. In 2014, she co-authored The Einkorn Cookbook with her husband, Tim. Today, you can find her digging into food topics and celebrating the everyday grace of eating on her blog, Go Eat Your Bread with Joy. Shanna lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with Tim and their two small kids.
I so enjoyed reading this during my breakfast this morning. Your writing always relaxes me, and pushes me into a reflective state. Savannah and Charleston have long been on my list to explore. Your pictures do it justice & have me itching to plan a trip soon. Thanks!!
Thank you, Denise, for that sweet and thoughtful comment!
Fives Loaves is the most wonderful spot! Your east coast adventures look magical 🙂
You’ve been there, too! We were so impressed by the sheer breadth of the menu — I swear there were at least eight soups in that little cafe. And, oh, the East Coast will always have my heart. : )
Sounds like a wonderful weekend. Makes me want to plan a little getaway of my own. I’m so glad you’ve started the one-line-a-day journal. I’m going on year 2 and love it!
Nicole, If I didn’t already love your newsletter, that suggestion alone would have made me a full fan. Such a good idea. SUCH.
yes! i meant to email you the link to Seed&Water, i found their blog last week and thought of you.
your weekend sounds so lovely! refreshing and fun.
personally, i enjoy your writing and creations.
You did! It’s just so lovely! And thank you, as always, for your encouraging words. It feels small to say I’m thankful you come over here, but I am seriously so thankful.
I went to Savannah in the end of March 2 years ago. Its so gorgeous. I love those trees in the square. It was so nice to be somewhere with a glimpse of summer.
Exactly, Sarah–It gives you hope that warm days will come again. : )
It sounds like you had an amazing trip, your pictures are beautiful! I know exactly what you mean when you say looking at others’ inspiring work can sometimes make you feel inadequate, but agree that it’s more productive to use it as inspiration rather than a measuring tool of your own ability. I remind myself of that daily.
Also, glad you were able to make it to Five Loaves! I miss that place so much. I’m coming back to this post in April; we are planning a Savannah weekend that month… I have never been!
Yes! I am resolving–over and over again–to see talent as inspiration and as a testament to what is possible and of the beauty that is, rather than something to compare myself to. It is so a daily thing.
And Five Loaves was such a great tip! Thank you again! I had this incredible eggplant wrap and some eggplant fritters on a salad with goat cheese, and every bit of it delighted me.
Charleston is my favorite city ever! So glad you had a good time there… FIG is to. die. for.
I read that article by Anne Lamott a couple months ago and have come back to it several times. Love, love, love her.
I have the feeling I will be coming back to it several times myself. So much truth there!
This was the perfect read to accompany my breakfast this morning. Writing is what I love to do, what I would (in an ideal world) love to be paid to do full time, but sometimes even setting down the simplest sentence on paper seems to take a gargantuan effort when fear and doubt creep in. The comparison game is so easy to play, and it is so hard to believe that you have anything valuable to offer. When you have a chance to take a step back and see the world as it is in other places, to free your mind from just thinking, thinking, thinking, you have to seize the opportunity and allow your mind to be free for a while and allow yourself to trust in the wonder of the universe that you are expressing in your creative efforts.
Exactly! Sometimes I’ll be just paralyzed instead of doing. I get caught up with how imperfect the results will be and wanting them to reach a certain level… and so I don’t try. And that’s a shame, both because it pretends anything we create is “perfect” and because it supposes working and growing and learning aren’t valuable in themselves.
Yay Charleston! That’s my home! I’m glad you enjoyed yourself while you were here.
Also, Green Truck is my favorite thing about Savannah!
What a beautiful place to call home, Erin! Historic architecture, white sandy beaches, temperate climate, great restaurants… what more could you want! Loved getting to look around.
Thank you for the shout-out! You’re not alone: I see everyone else’s published work and feel so behind. For example, I’ve always wanted to blog about cooking, but I see so many gorgeous sites like yours and I get intimidated. Maybe I should just go for it 🙂
In the end, Nashville is one pot of talented folks, and we should all work to inspire one another. Thanks for giving me a confidence boost today!
Megan
(megan-writes.com)
P.S. I am going to try your recipe for crockpot chicken curry this weekend. Can’t wait!
Megan! If you want to blog about cooking, you should definitely do it (and if you want someone to cheer you on, you’ve found her!) — was so glad to find your site this weekend. I like reading your thoughts, partly because you’re in Nashville, partly because you’re a writer, mostly because you have a nice way of sharing them. Glad to connect! and ps – mmm chicken curry! hope you enjoy!
“If it’s true that our perspectives are often shaped by what’s right in front of us, perhaps the key to changing our perspectives is changing what we see.”
YES.
: ) I miss you.
Ah. This was such an encouraging, thought provoking post! Thank you, dear friend, for using your creative gifts in this way. I am so thankful. Truly, truly. And, I’m always so happy whenever you post new blogs that you’ve found because I know I will love them too! So glad that you had a wonderful, refreshing time away. Love that you always took a trip with your brother and love more that the three of you go exploring together.
I’m thankful for the way you use your gifts, Sarah, and I really mean that.
Two places that I’ve wanted to visit for a long time and it sounds like they are the perfect cities to renew your spirits.
: ) aaaand I’d like to head over to London…. someday!
Shanna – I am a relative newcoming to your blog, but am delighted every time I see a new post has gone up. As much as other bloggers and sites are inspiring and challenging for you, this is how many of us see your writing and style. Thank you for creating, even if you aren’t feeling ‘it’ sometimes – you are passing along the inspiration bug as you do 🙂 Your trip looks rejuvenating and warm – thanks for sharing!
Melissa, I want you to know how much I appreciate those kind words. Thank you–it is so encouraging to hear you’re enjoying this space.
Hi,
Are the first set of pictures Charleston and the second set Savannah? Very pretty.
Kate, You got it!
truly dreamy! made an escape to florida this week — but i’m ready to head north again!
Do it, Mallory! BTW I just took a quick peek at your site and see you’re two best friends blogging from different cities? Do you already know Seed + Water? Also, similar idea, but with twin sisters: Tale of Twins