Bonnie Carr
Bonnie Carr
COO in Sustainability. Design Consultant and Outerwear Archivist. Maker. Writer on culture and clothing. Connector of people and things.
Originally from The Midlands, UK
Based in London, E1
Who inspires you, and why?
The people who have caused me pain inspire me I think- to love, remain kind and seek to help others wherever I can each day. Before Music and Design, I worked in care- looking after Autistic and Asperger's adults and teens, young Deaf children and those abused by their families. Once you have seen the challenges society and the built environment creates for these people, you don't draw as much inspiration from the famous or iconic perhaps. Don't get me wrong, there is still inspirational design around, cool visuals, style, colour, all of it, but I'm under no illusion that it's building a better world.
What's your main life goal?
Not to let my childhood ruin everything? Haha. Just to survive it at this point. I sometimes find living hard, not sure if that resonates with anyone.
In your opinion, is life fair?
No. In no way. The odds are stacked. Protect your peace and your ability to love. I have learnt in my own life that proclaiming 'unfair!' does very little. A way to address this facet of life, is to seek to help others and give as much as you can to those with less. Be genuine, be authentic, be kind, be warm - and steadily you'll feel the universe addressing the balance, on your behalf.
Of course. So what's the greatest reward in life?
Knowing yourself to be a good person. Being able to sleep at night because of this. Allowing yourself the reward of setting heavy weights down when you simply can't carry them for everyone anymore.
If you were God, what is the one thing you would change right now?
Toxic messaging. It's really fucking people up. I would look to free the modern world from toxic positivity, as a lot of us really don't feel this way about the limits of our daily lives or futures. Great for those who do feel optimistic of course, but the Internet or Influencers telling us that's the only way forward- is detrimental to people's natural and valid emotions. Just allow people to feel what they truly feel :) it's simple. I think this would be a good healthy change yeah. More dynamic, more range, larger scales of emotion, less hostility towards the real etc. Of course everyone wants to feel positive, it's lovely! But telling people they must is highly toxic. Hope that makes sense. Just let people be, stop telling them how to feel, what to share and who to become.
What's your biggest challenge in life, and how do you overcome it?
I've had a hard few years privately, so my gauntlet is to recover enough to shine again, haha. My biggest personal challenge has always been a kind of intrinsic loneliness.
Finally, what is your greatest life advice?
No man is an island.
www.instagram.com/notforarchiving/
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