It is 10:02 PM. It is Sunday (obviously!), and I didn't work today. I worked for several hours on the tower roof, however, and got a lot done yesterday. I didn't blog, however, with the intent of doing that today - which I am now doing!
Fortunately, this being the Sabbath, I did have time to reflect. My day had an interesting start. When I awoke, I somehow was thinking about one of the contestants on American Idol, Siobhan Magnus. Her "identity" is that she is "different." In her words, "I get that a lot!" What is interesting about her is that everyone saw right off that she has a phenomenal voice, with both an amazingly high register, and great power. I caught that she loved to perform, and that she was 100% relaxed and confident on stage. It was her "element."
And yet, for a number of weeks she has failed to "wow" the judges, and, to some degree, the audience. I find this interesting because I believe that she was quite confident at some point that she could win it all. Now I believe she has probably lost much of her confidence. So how does one explain the gap between her own confidence and belief, and her failure to succeed thus far?
Well, the two who I believe are at the front of the pack both know exactly who they are - without question. Interestingly, Siobhan, herself chided the judges for not being able to figure out who she was by saying "Even I don't know who I am." While that was an honest assessment, that may, in fact, be precisely her problem.
While apparently the counsel is credited to the Oracle at Delphi, Socrates is also credited with having said, "Know thyself." It occurs to me that the very next thing that we must do is be ourselves. Every person who is great in this life, in some capacity, seems to have somehow tapped into who they are. They seem to know themselves as it relates to a particular talent or gift, and they express that by being themselves, and sharing that talent or gift with the world.
So, in my quest to conquer The Pecans, I must be clear about who I am, and what I want. It became very clear to me as I reflected on the American Idol situation that I have described, that it was/is absolutely essential that we be honest in every case, and that we never apologize for anything that we believe. If I am about anything, architecturally speaking, it is purity and honesty with respect to style. "What ere thou art, act well thy part!" Whatever style one is undertaking, he should be true to it, and not compromise its integrity.
It is obvious to me that I have not been honest throughout my professional life, in that I have not taught my clients what real design is, and what my role is. I have "sold out," by hoping that they would want great design, but knowing in my heart (really!) that they didn't, or wouldn't. I did not simply teach them as Glenn Beck does relating to the role of government, as it relates to history, and the Constitution. He simply teaches. I should have done the same, but haven't done that. I have "apologized" for being who I am - a purist. That is completely wrong, and I don't plan to ever do that again!
It is now 11:02, and I'm done for the week!
Good night!
Mr. Ballantyne - Master Builder
No comments:
Post a Comment