A few years ago I had a mid-career crisis!
Well, I suddenly started questioning what am I really doing, and how am I contributing to people, life, and society being an interior designer. I mean, good doctors save lives, good teachers help new generations, good scientists push us towards a better future, and then there are environmentalists and engineers... and what have you!
In looking for answers, I had to go back in my mind to when I knew I wanted to become a designer watching how a decorator like Nate Berkus, one of my idols, on Oprah could make people so happy and ecstatic just by using his talent. Then, taking the first step by signing up for a design course and how amazingly exciting it was. My dream was getting closer, and I was daily fantasizing about my feature and all the possibilities. And then you can imagine how thrilled I was to get my first design job.
Going back in my memory that far and remembering what quality of energy I possessed reinforced my belief that when someone is following their dream and doing what their soul had asked them to do, no matter what that is, they are helping a certain positive energy be brought into existence, making things better for themselves as well as others.
I guess this translates into a simple fact; it's not what we do, it's how we do it!
A teacher back at school once told me: "there's no despicable job, but there are despicable men!". If one can be happy doing whatever she/he chose to do, and if their happiness could touch and affect others around them when possible, then what else is more important in life really!
Furthermore, designer, writers, artists, musicians, photographers and those in such creative fields help manifest a yin energy very vital in a yang-dominated world. In other words, if we - artists - do what we are supposed to do correctly and with the right energy we soften up the hardness, and put smiles on faces. We all move to a beautiful tune, feel nice seeing well-done interiors, get inspired when reading a sincere book, or stand in awe to a stunning painting or a photograph. It's in us as humans to appreciate beauty and link it directly to the heavens.
And I'm in the business of real beauty. I do believe now that design is a definite act of love, because of the beautiful and positive energy flow it creates! And yes, I know it's not easy to always achieve it in daily and professional life, but I keep reminding myself of this basic fact. Also, because I love what I do I can put up with a lot of things that I wouldn't otherwise.
I believe designers are people who help change the world no less than those who do all the professions I mentioned at the start. In fact, more!
So the answer to 'why design?' would be that when I'm designing I'm truly as close as I can ever be to the 'universe' and my innermost self. That's all there is to know!
Comments