Sometimes, just thinking about the history of ideas can give me goosebumps. To imagine the things that were once societally accepted as fact, until someone’s crazy, outside-of-the-box idea challenged it. To be there on the day someone bravely raised their hand, amidst the sneers and rotten tomatoes lobbed there way, and said, “Err…come on guys.” There was a time when everyone accepted the world was flat. That the sick could be heeled by bleeding them. That smoking had no adverse health effects. That Donald Trump was an acceptable presidential candidate. Come on guys.
In one of his early notebooks, Charles Darwin sketched what he called the “corals of life” to represent the evolutionary relationships between species. It was pretty groundbreaking stuff at the time, because rather than the prevailing, societally accepted view, which believed that man was at the apex of all things, Darwin put forth this idea that each species followed its own independent course of evolution, but with repeating structures and patterns, common solutions to biological problems appearing again and again. That despite this weird and wonderful world and all of its inhabitants, we are all still in some way related.
This print has always reminded me of Darwins “corals” and every time I wear it I get an odd sense of purpose. Like all things, each of us are following our own independent course, getting to where we need to be by taking our own winding road. Building on our shared past, straying but never truly disconnecting from one another.
The tree of life should perhaps be called the coral of life, [its] base of branches dead; so that passages cannot be seen.
Life and Letters of Charles Darwin
As I was getting dressed this morning, I found myself reaching toward a piece of my own history. This beautiful vintage leaf necklace belonged to my grandmother and found its way to me via my mom after her passing. I take comfort knowing that, like Darwin’s sketches foretold, we are in a constant, unflappable connection to everything and all of the people of our past. We may be following our own path day to day, but we all came from a shared history. And no matter what, history – our history – will usually repeat itself, in the strains of genetics woven through our character. In wearing a piece of my grandmother today, I hope to bring out her spunk and sass, her kind soul and her unabashed determination.
Speaking of history repeating itself, I’m definitely getting a lot of use out of this handbag lately. I can’t help it – it just screams summer and sunshine to me. It was a gift from my mom awhile back, and now holds a revered spot in my closet. Maybe for some reason, I needed to feel connected to the women in my family this week. To remember where I come from, so that I can be brave enough to face where I’m going.
Speaking of going, I’d better go to work!
xoxo
Outfit Details:
Dress: Anthropologie (similar vintage or modern here, here & here)
Cardigan: Boutique in San Diego (similar here & here)
Necklace: Vintage, belonged to my Grandmother (similar here & here)
Belt: ASOS (similar here)
Handbag: Gift (similar here & here)
Shoes: Melissas via M Dreams (in a different colorway here)
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