I was first introduced to the idea of a liminal space in the context of Faerie, from the classic fairy tale, as a person moves from the "normal" world to the "fairy" world. But since then, I have started to see liminal spaces in life, my own and those around me. They often look like discontinuities, interstices (spaces between) or interregna (times between),
From my own life, I have often felt like I am hanging out in Dr. Seuss's "waiting place." Each college degree has transitioned me to a new phase of my career, but each felt like I was stuck "between." I've had jobs that were winding down for various reasons (politics or economics or the like). From my family's lives, I've had kids graduate from college and struggle to find work or feel stuck as they look for a job more in their area of interest, a spouse wonder why she's still pushing hard for an organization that so obviously sees no value in her contributions. It feels like we wait "in between" a lot, which can be very frustrating.
One thing I have learned in my academic journey is that those "in-betweens" are some of the richest areas of learning. What feels like an interregnum or an interstice is empty on the life-map not because there is nothing there (or nothing of value) but because it needs to be examined. Those "gap" areas of life, like "gaps in the literature" are filled with work, but work that yield discoveries. We just have to remember to look around and pay some attention. If we do so, we are sure to notice some interesting (maybe even life-changing) things. And then, when we reach the other side of our liminal space, we may find something amazing awaiting us. In the mean time, we can take Willy Wonka's advice to Mrs. Gloop: "Nil desperandum, my dear lady. Across the desert lies the promised land."
From my own life, I have often felt like I am hanging out in Dr. Seuss's "waiting place." Each college degree has transitioned me to a new phase of my career, but each felt like I was stuck "between." I've had jobs that were winding down for various reasons (politics or economics or the like). From my family's lives, I've had kids graduate from college and struggle to find work or feel stuck as they look for a job more in their area of interest, a spouse wonder why she's still pushing hard for an organization that so obviously sees no value in her contributions. It feels like we wait "in between" a lot, which can be very frustrating.
One thing I have learned in my academic journey is that those "in-betweens" are some of the richest areas of learning. What feels like an interregnum or an interstice is empty on the life-map not because there is nothing there (or nothing of value) but because it needs to be examined. Those "gap" areas of life, like "gaps in the literature" are filled with work, but work that yield discoveries. We just have to remember to look around and pay some attention. If we do so, we are sure to notice some interesting (maybe even life-changing) things. And then, when we reach the other side of our liminal space, we may find something amazing awaiting us. In the mean time, we can take Willy Wonka's advice to Mrs. Gloop: "Nil desperandum, my dear lady. Across the desert lies the promised land."
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