This New Place

Pictures of the people that molded me into who I am surround me and the memories made with them begin to reform in my mind as I sit in a quiet empty house wondering why I decided to move into yet another world of unknowns.  Then I take another look around and realize that this world of unknowns is just waiting to become another home to me, just like Meredith College became home, or Sansepolcro, or Stellenbosch.  My most recent memories took place at these places I started at alone and curious. 

Now I find myself in this new place knowing and still discovering exactly what it is that has me here.  I knew coming to DC that there was a lot of opportunity to learn about housing issues and the community development.  This city is drowning in 20 something year olds who I feel are all here for a cause that they are passionate about, and their anxious to see what DC can offer them.  In an interview I recently watched, Lara Galinsky,VP of Echoing Green (a group I hope to learn more about at an upcoming Millenials conference), said that over 65% of Millenials want to make a difference in the world and over half of us will take a pay cut to do it.  Although it may be easier to simply apply for jobs in only interior design, I don’t want to find one that “will do for now” and then never leave.  This is why I am taking chances to step outside of the box, with the hope that I can learn more from a new and different kind of workplace.  This is also why I must continue asking myself “what moves me?” and “how can the passions in my heart align with the knowledge I have and want to gain?”

As I wait, I am hopeful that my time can be used in a productive manner.  This includes preparing and training for a half marathon that is now 84 days away.  I’ve found keeping my body in motion keeps my head clear enough to create new ideas too.  The rest of my time has thus far been spent visiting with friends and spending more money than I have, so the next week will hopefully be a “stay-cation.”  Goals are reading as much as possible, finding some new favorite recipes, and applying for a few more jobs!

The reading has already begun, and although I am only through chapter 4 of Paul Polak’s Out of Poverty, I am motivated!  The fourth chapter rocked my world within the first page.  There Polak laid out words that would help me remember why I feel like I have steered from post college plans that may have been expected of me.  He said that 90% of the world’s designers spend their time finding solutions to the problems of the richest 10%.  I want to design for those who need it in order to have a place to live.  I want to be capable of creating logical and efficient solutions for the other 90%.  I guess that means I can still be the designer I imagined myself being back in middle school.  Part of the benefit of realizing what role I want in the change I hope is coming to our world is that I can do my role well but find others whose role is necessary in my ideas.

So what moves me?  What do I want to work for and see change about the world around me?  How am I going to start?  I think my work has started, but it continues every day, so let me get back to you on a few of those!  

Cheers from our nations capital and my new home.