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June 22, 2006
Happy Solstice
Tonight, the longest darkest night, has in past times been seen as an important date in the turning of the seasons and the constant cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
It once might have been a moment to reflect on the passing of time, but in todays age of heaters, air conditioners, packaged goods and global warming it is just another date. Most people dont even know what a solstice is, or an equinox.
So what have I to reflect upon? A realisation over the weekend was just how hard it was to feel like you are achieving anything or progressing in my profession. Projects last for years and each stage flows into each other. Even "completion" is a blurred event and architects often want to move on quickly to the next paying client.
In university it is simple. You have set milestones: semesters, years, degrees. You get marked on your work, and you get told if you are going well. Every assignment done is a step forward.
In the workforce and the rest of life things are harder to assess. Should I have changed jobs? Am I learning a lot? Is my work good? Where do I want to go? What do I want to do? Do I want to be a registered architect? Have my own firm?
And what about the other ways to judge your life? Romance? Friends? Personal projects? Fitness, trips, experiences...
Money?
Do people collect material goods mainly because it is an easy system to mark progress in? More money = good. More possessions = good. Bigger house, a new car....
What do we want to achieve before our eventual deaths?
Posted by julien at June 22, 2006 12:18 AM
Comments
Happiness? And I suppose that happiness for me would include a family of my own (even if that's a family of cats:P) and, yes, material possessions like a house. I think everyone wants to have a place of their own though.
Posted by: bec at July 11, 2006 11:28 PM