“Only to him and Jude would Lispenard Street be considered an achievement–for as much work as he had done to it, and as much as Jude had cleaned it, it was still sad, somehow, and furtive, as if the place was embarrassed to call itself a real apartment–but in those moments he would at times find himself thinking, This is enough. This is more than I had hoped. To be in New York, to be an adult, to stand on a raised platform of wood and say other people’s words!–it was an absurd life, a not-life, a life his parents and his brother would never have dreamed for themselves, and yet he got to dream it for himself every day.”
This poignant excerpt from A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara introduces us to Willem’s perspective on his humble abode on Lispenard Street. For Willem, an actor in New York City, this less-than-glamorous street, often missing from city maps, represents a personal triumph. It’s a space where he can live his dream, even if it appears “sad” or “furtive” to outsiders. Lispenard Street, in this context, becomes more than just an address; it’s a symbol of personal contentment found in unexpected places.
Like Willem’s sentiment, I was recently mowing my lawn, a seemingly mundane task, when a similar thought echoed in my mind. Pushing the lawnmower across my small yard, observing the neat lines forming against the backdrop of my neighbors’ sprawling, perfectly manicured lawns, I was struck by the sheer absurdity of it all. This simple act, this small patch of green I tended to, felt like my own version of Lispenard Street.
This realization sparked a deeper reflection. In a world that constantly pushes us towards grand achievements – status, wealth, and conventional success – it’s easy to overlook the quiet satisfaction found in our personal “Lispenard Streets.” These are the aspects of our lives that may seem insignificant to others, perhaps even a little “sad” or “furtive,” but hold immense personal value and represent milestones in our unique journeys.
What is your Lispenard Street? It might not be a physical location, but rather a situation, a relationship, a skill, or even a state of mind. It’s something that, to the outside world, might appear unremarkable, but to you, it signifies progress, happiness, or simply “enough.” It’s the personal achievement that others may not understand, the choice you made that makes you happy, even if it defies conventional notions of success.
Oksarah standing at the street sign for Lispenard Street in New York City, highlighting the real location discussed in the article about finding personal contentment.
Perhaps your Lispenard Street is a small apartment in a bustling city, a garden you painstakingly cultivate, a modest job that allows you to pursue your passions, or a quiet evening spent with loved ones. These are the spaces and moments where we find genuine contentment, away from the pressure to constantly strive for more. They are our personal victories, often unseen and uncelebrated by the masses, yet profoundly meaningful to us.
Ultimately, finding your Lispenard Street is about recognizing and appreciating the beauty in the seemingly ordinary. It’s about defining success on your own terms and finding joy in the progress you’ve made, regardless of how it measures up against societal standards. It’s about acknowledging that sometimes, “this is enough,” and in that realization, discovering a profound and personal sense of achievement.
