Is Silence Golden?

If you're a faithful reader of the blog (and I'm wondering if there are any of you still out there?), you may have noticed my recent absence.  I like to take the summer off from blogging.  But as summer drifted into fall and as temperatures in the northeast took a nose dive, my hiatus grew longer.  I can't give one good reason why, except to say that sometimes life happens.

To be perfectly honest, I've been having an existential crisis.  For the past six months, I've been dealing with personal, business and cultural issues that have stopped me in my tracks.  On a personal level, there have been health and financial issues affecting me, the family I was born into, and the family I bore.  Business-wise, things have plateaued.  I have projects, but they haven't been things that have challenged me or fully occupied my time.  Culturally, I have been consumed by, and unable to reconcile, the outcome of the 2016 U.S. Presidential campaign and election.  In combination, these factors have left me questioning my purpose, toying with a major life change, and thinking, Does predicting and writing about the next major design trend (among other mundane design topics) really even matter?

As the climate of fear consumes us, both here in the United States and in other parts of the world, I fall culprit.  My design magazines stack up, yet I can't seem to tear myself away from news stories, whether they be on TV, radio in the car or my smart phone.  I've resisted attending as many industry events as I normally do.  I'd rather put on my sweats, cuddle with my cats, cook comfort foods, and lay in my favorite spot on the couch.

I don't think my reaction is atypical.  A friend of mine went for an ultrasound to diagnose a chronic urinary infection.  Quite fortuitously, the doctors found a cancerous lesion on her lung.  Luckily, they caught and treated it early, but it changed my friend's entire outlook on life.  These types of life-threatening events make us re-orient our priorities.  I suppose I'm just in the process of figuring out mine.

I know for sure that good design fosters well-being.  When a space works, we delight in its beauty and experience equilibrium.  I do what I do to create a sense of wholeness and happiness in my clients.  I suppose that I will ride this crisis out, taking comfort in and being grateful for the small things that bring me joy.  If there's a good design that I can bring to the mix, or a blog post I write that inspires you, I'll consider that a step in the right direction.

Comments

[Gloria Sollecito]

Thank you for the candid post,Laurie. I think you are not alone. It doesn't matter what we do, if we do it with passion and honesty it makes a difference. Sometimes I come across an excellent waiter or salesperson and and find it so joyful! What we do makes a lasting difference. I think of my kitchens and artwork as little legacies.

[Laurie Gorelick Interiors]

Thanks, Gloria, for your encouragement. It's good to know there are folks grappling with the same issues. I, too, celebrate the people who add a special dimension to our workaday responsibilities.
Laurie