The Zone

At one point in our lives most of us have experienced the zone. The zone is a place were we disconnect from reality and transcend into a place of bliss and creation; a place of creative flow.

Everyone has something that gets them to the zone, for some it’s singing others its painting or even acting. We all have that one activity that takes us to a place of focus where we become one with the activity. The zone is not limited just to traditional creative activities but rather anything that you love doing the kind of activity that makes you loose track of time and perhaps even forget to eat. For me it’s designing and making clothing that gets me to the zone.

The first time I experienced the zone was a decade ago. I had just graduated from high school and was ready to take a journey that will dictate my future. I was ready to choose what my career would be. As an immigrant kid my parents supported me into anything I wanted to get into but they wanted me to choose a safe career one that was high paying that will create the lifestyle that they desired but were not able to attain at the moment.

I was always a creative kid and loved fashion. I was always intrigued by the choice of clothing people decided to wear. I had this game were I will see random people on the street and think of ways to improve their look or different clothing options that will upscale their style. I was ready to become a fashion designer and applied for fashion school, however to get in I had to show my skills and create some pieces to present to admissions. I decided to make a classic mens waistcoat. I was thrilled to get this project started and headed to the garment district to get tools and supplies. I got some rulers, paper, pencils and my first pair of fabric scissors along with fabric. (I still have my trusty scissors and can be seen in the photo above) I got home full of excitement and began to work. I got my headphones and played my favorite tunes as I started drawing out the pattern pieces that I will later cut out in fabric, then it hit me I was locked in; I was in the zone. I felt like I was flowing though the room especially the way my scissors glided through the fabric, I had entered a state of nirvana were time just seemed to flow and pass and as the piece came together I grew even more exited about it. At the moment I thought to my self this piece is going to be a show stopper, to me it was the best waist coat I had ever seen. Now I realize it’s a butchered up piece of fabric that I am embarrassed to show anyone and it stays in the deep end of my closet kept in darkness, however at the time I thought I was Gianni Versace. From that moment I knew what I wanted to do with my life and I was ready to embark on a journey to become a fashion designer.

The waistcoat served me well and got me into fashion school so I keep it as a reminder of how far I’ve come. I am still on that journey and get better at it day by day. I encourage you the reader to find what it is that gets you to the zone and to pursue it because a life where you create your happiness is a well lived one. What activity gets you into to the zone?