In thinking about my successes of the past year I would have to say that most of them rested on the people around me. Rather than try describe it, I'm going to write a few thank-you notes to anonymous recipients. Those for whom they are intended, you may or may not recognize yourselves; you thought you were just doing your thing, but to me, you were heroes.
To the motivational speaker: your generosity of spirit and encouragement were constant and genuine. I was astonished that someone with so much talent and such an unflagging work ethic could be so quick to find value in the efforts of others. I took your friendship as a high compliment and any insights you had on your work very seriously, and hope to emulate you more and more closely as I grow in my self and in my work.
To the machine: you made me laugh, you irritated the shit out of me, you answered a boatload of questions and you were even right most of the time. With you I experienced my first blackout, my first drive in snow (not even close to the same month, Mom, don't worry), my first three sleepless nights in a row, and a bunch of other stuff that was a lot less unpleasant than it should have been. As fun as you are, you were also a bedrock. When I had to come to you for help, you were steadfast and unquestioning; you offered whatever I needed for as long as I needed it, and it turned out that that - just the offer - was exactly what I needed. You provided that, and I will always be grateful.
To the artist: you are learning to have confidence in your beautiful spirit and I am so glad. No one could deserve it more. For me, you were an escape, a way to enjoy a few minutes in my life at a very confusing time, a beacon of friendship in days and months awash with uncertainty. You are unique in my life in that you continue to surprise and impress me with unexpected strength and perceptiveness, and remind me in countless ways that though I may feel a thousand years old sometimes, I have so much more to experience of the world. Thank you for the beauty and friendship you bring to my life. You enhance it so much more than you will ever know.
To the stargazer: for all that you are, for all that you've said, for all that you've done. Thank you for everything. You define the bigness of that word.
To the friend I lost: The best parts of me are the ones that you influenced. Thanks for sharing yourself with me in the time that you had. I will always miss you, and I will always love you.
Albert Einstein said, "If I have seen farther than others, it's because I stood on the shoulders of giants." I dedicate with earnest gratitude my efforts of the coming year to you. I will work harder; I will be more confident; I will have more faith. I will do these things, but if I kick ass it will be because you've been a part of it.
To you.
24 June 2010
25 May 2010
Correspondence: Farewell
Gentle Library,
It has been almost a month now since I bid you adieu. I sort of left you hanging with the last letter; I was so caught up in addressing all of the questions it inspired that I didn't have time to talk with you about it! At this point, I'd just like to conclude our relationship by musing on our correspondence, and then this chapter can be closed in both our lives.
I'd like to begin by acknowledging how very helpful that correspondence was. It helped me to distill all of the things I was thinking about into concrete ideas. The mere act of coalescing the mental miasma into something coherent began to suggest direction by the time the words flowed onto the screen. This was helpful in managing how overwhelming the process seemed and kept the work moving forward.
One aspect that I think has yet to be resolved is how to balance the proportion between analysis and action. This writing, Gentle Library, it does take time! It's difficult to still oneself and one's mind - all right, dear Library, it is difficult for me to still myself and my mind - I feel like it is not productive action if it does not involve frenetic activity. But that isn't right, and I know it. Henry Ford (have I already told you this?) has said that for every moment of action there must be an hour of thought. I think the spirit of that is right but that it could be tweaked: that for every hour of action, there must be a moment of thought. That is why the proportion is perplexing to me; once I begin to think about something, I get carried away, and I lose sense of how much time it will take to explore any particular idea, let alone design and develop them with any degree of success. Oh, well; one more aspect of the process to understand so that I may exploit it to greatest effectiveness.
Interesting thought: what if our correspondence had not been me to you, but you to me? Intriguing. Perhaps next project...
Regardless, thank you for your participation; for listening, for offering suggestions, for taking part in this first experiment. Let's make each other a promise: next time, let's get down and a little dirtier in our letters, okay? I'll get naughty if you will.
Affectionately,
your architect
It has been almost a month now since I bid you adieu. I sort of left you hanging with the last letter; I was so caught up in addressing all of the questions it inspired that I didn't have time to talk with you about it! At this point, I'd just like to conclude our relationship by musing on our correspondence, and then this chapter can be closed in both our lives.
I'd like to begin by acknowledging how very helpful that correspondence was. It helped me to distill all of the things I was thinking about into concrete ideas. The mere act of coalescing the mental miasma into something coherent began to suggest direction by the time the words flowed onto the screen. This was helpful in managing how overwhelming the process seemed and kept the work moving forward.
One aspect that I think has yet to be resolved is how to balance the proportion between analysis and action. This writing, Gentle Library, it does take time! It's difficult to still oneself and one's mind - all right, dear Library, it is difficult for me to still myself and my mind - I feel like it is not productive action if it does not involve frenetic activity. But that isn't right, and I know it. Henry Ford (have I already told you this?) has said that for every moment of action there must be an hour of thought. I think the spirit of that is right but that it could be tweaked: that for every hour of action, there must be a moment of thought. That is why the proportion is perplexing to me; once I begin to think about something, I get carried away, and I lose sense of how much time it will take to explore any particular idea, let alone design and develop them with any degree of success. Oh, well; one more aspect of the process to understand so that I may exploit it to greatest effectiveness.
Interesting thought: what if our correspondence had not been me to you, but you to me? Intriguing. Perhaps next project...
Regardless, thank you for your participation; for listening, for offering suggestions, for taking part in this first experiment. Let's make each other a promise: next time, let's get down and a little dirtier in our letters, okay? I'll get naughty if you will.
Affectionately,
your architect
23 May 2010
Loyola University New Orleans 2010 Unified Commencement Keynote Speech
by Drew Brees
Thank you.
What an honor it is to be here. Thank you to Father Wildes, distinguished faculty, esteemed trustees, and guests, and of course the 2010 graduating class here at Loyola University. I'll be honest; I was a little nervous about using "distinguished" and "esteemed" in the same sentence, because I thought it would come out "extinguished", and that is not the description I wanted to use. Certainly you are all distinguished and esteemed, and it is an honor to be here.
You know, we have a lot in common. Most of us came to New Orleans around the same time, the spring or summer of 2006, when that was not the most popular thing to do. For me, I felt like coming to New Orleans was a calling; and for you, there must have been something drawing you here as well, a much stronger force that we can't necessarily describe other than we know that we belonged here. And now, four years later, we can reflect back and say that we were a part of something special. Certainly the work is not done yet, but we were a part of something special. We've all watched the city not just come back, but come back stronger than ever. And we have seen the people come back with more passion and determination than before. And we've all been part of the SuperBowl championship. (Definitely couldn't leave that one out.) No matter where you're from or where you go from here, keep New Orleans close to your heart, and remember what you were a part of, and know that we are now all linked together forever.
As I look out at the young men and women graduates of Loyola University, class of 2010, I am so excited for you all. What you are about to experience will be eye-opening, certainly rewarding, challenging at times. You know. they say that experience is what you gain when you don't get what you want. I can promise you that over the next few years you will gain experience; you will not always get what you want; you will face adversity. But know that the sky is the limit as to what you all can accomplish. There are some of you that will be doctors, lawyers, politicians, writers, artists, teachers, coaches, entrepreneurs, inventors, and maybe one of you will even own an NFL franchise someday. I know another Loyola University member who does, that's Mr. Tom Benson.
But I can tell you this. Your best years are yet to come. But that does not mean it's going to be easy. In fact I can guarantee you that you will face adversity along the way; and for most of you, it will be the toughest thing you've ever had to face in your life. But I'll also tell you that every successful person you meet or talk to will say that it was because of that adversity that they were given the opportunity to reach new heights that they never thought possible. For me, it was my shoulder injury back in 2005. December 31st, 2005. I was playing for the San Diego Chargers. I dislocated my right shoulder going into a season, or an off-season in which I did not have a contract. I did not have a job. And when you have that kind of injury at the quarterback position, there's not that many people that come calling or knocking. So at the time, I thought, this is probably the worst thing that could have ever happened to me. But now, I look back at it four years later, and I say, it was probably one of the best things that ever happened to me, because it brought me to New Orleans. There are many others that have faced that adversity and that have been in those similar circumstances or situations. I'll give you a few examples.
Steve Jobs. You might know him; CEO of Apple. He was adopted as a young baby. He went to college and dropped out after his first year. He ended up then inventing, or starting, Apple along with a partner of his when he was 20 years old in his basement. But then, by age 30, he was fired from his position as CEO when he had a falling out with his partner and with the Board at Apple. For the next few years, there was some soul-searching for him, but in the end he ended up starting another company - you might have heard of it: Pixar Animation - which ended up getting bought out by Disney for almost $8 billion; and then another company that Apple ended up buying a few years later for 500 million. Then he was right back where he was years before, 20 years before, as the CEO of Apple; and there he is today, doing some absolutely remarkable things. But what he would say, and what I've heard him say, is that it was that adversity that he faced when he was kicked to the curb, so to speak, from the company that he founded where he really gained strength and yet more motivation to go forth and do remarkable things, things that he would not have been able to accomplish had he not gone through what he went through at age 30.
Another example, Ellen DeGeneres. We all know Ellen; she grew up right down the road. She used to go to Saints games at halftime at the old Tulane Stadium. I've heard Ellen talk about the moment when she came out and announced that she was gay. At that point she was having a pretty sex - successful career. (A little slip.) She was having a pretty successful career. And then once she announced that, she - for three years she was out of work. People would not give her the opportunities that they had before. To her, that was the toughest thing she ever had to go through; but in the end, she was being true to herself. She then received a small opportunity, to perhaps host her own TV show, her own talk show. I think we all know how that's gone. She is perhaps one of the most, if not the most, successful talk show host in history. Certainly by being a New Orleanian we love her to death, we know what she's meant to this community; not only to our community, but to the country and to the world, she is a source of inspiration, and somebody who would sit here and tell you that had she not gone through what she went through during those three years, that she would not be where she is today. So once again, the lesson being that adversity is an opportunity. Adversity will make you stronger. Adversity will mold you into the person that you're meant to be.
You all probably remember the onside kick in the SuperBowl, right? How could we forget that? I'll tell you the story behind that. You know, we had two weeks to prepare for the SuperBowl. I remember Sean Payton came in to the meeting at the beginning of that two-week preparation for the SuperBowl and said, "We have an onside kick that we're putting in the plan, and it's not a matter of if we are going to run it, it's when we are going to run it. It's gonna happen." And sure enough, it did. And it worked. ...Thank God. So the lesson there: it's not a matter of if you will face adversity in your life, but when. So when adversity knocks on your door, seize it as an opportunity, for that adversity is being put in your life for a reason. It is God's way of providing you with the strength and the tools to face future challenges and to mold you into the person that He meant for you to be. In the end, it is this adversity that will allow you to accomplish things in life that you originally thought were reserved only for your dreams.
My second piece of advice to you is this. Find what you love to do, and then figure out a way to get paid for it. Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it? Find what you love to do, and then figure out a way to get paid for it. Some of you out there think you know exactly what you want to do, and then there's others that probably have no idea. And I can tell you this: that's okay. Because in a year from now, those that think they know exactly what they want to do, they might not have any idea at that point; and those that don't know what to do, you might have found your passion by then. But my point is, be patient, and don't settle. The only way to do great work is to love what you do; and, as with every matter of the heart, you will know when you find it.
My third piece of advice is to approach every opportunity with an attitude of gratitude and a mindset that, whatever you encounter, you will leave it better than when you arrive. We have all been part of that here in New Orleans; but why stop here? In everything you do in life, leave your mark. Leave your mark. Be a great steward of the community, and to society and to whatever business you are involved; and understand that part of your purpose in life is to leave whatever you touch better than when you found it. So leave your mark, and leave it better than when you found it.
Number four. Life goes fast. I was sitting in your seats ten years ago. Now, it's hard to think that that was ten years ago, because it feels like it was yesterday. I guess my point there is, don't forget to enjoy the moment and reflect back on the journey from time to time. For me, standing on that podium after we won the SuperBowl was a moment - one of the defining moments of my life. What made it even more special was the fact that I was holding my son; and the reflection on everything that we had been through - as a city, as a team - to get to that point. And as we watched the confetti coming down and "World Champions" come across the JumboTron and looking out at the Who Dat Nation just going crazy, beads flying everywhere, we recognized what a journey that had been and how special that was. There's no city, no organization, no group of people that deserve it more. I promise you that.
But the journey's not over. We want another one.
Also: don't forget to enjoy the little things in life. Sometimes you get going so fast. I feel like the last three months have been like that for me. But don't forget to enjoy the little things in life. Watching a sunset with the one that you love, taking a walk in Audubon Park, sitting in rocking chairs on the front porch watching the streetcars go by, throwing the ball with your child out in the front yard: you work too hard not to enjoy those little things. So enjoy the little things.
My last piece of advice is, don't forget why you were put on this Earth. Mayor Landrieu mentioned it earlier. We were all put on this Earth to serve others. Sometimes, the more successful that you get, people tend to forget that. It becomes more about how they can serve you as opposed to how you can serve others. So don't forget, no matter how successful you become - which you all will - to serve others. As you all sit here on Graduation Day, I believe everyone can agree that we have all been blessed with some great opportunities in our lives. Be appreciative and respectful of those opportunities, and never take them for granted. And with that mindset, just think about being able to give back what has been given to you. Take the time to make a difference in the life of somebody less fortunate. It's amazing that the more generous you are and the more you choose to serve others, the happier you will be.
And now, for the words you've been waiting for: In Closing - I'd like to leave you with a quote. (Oh, we're going to finish strong. Don't worry. We don't know any other way, so here we go.)
In closing, I want to leave you with a quote. I could have chosen many profound quotes from Presidents, CEOs, philosophers; but I am choosing one from my grandfather. He's 85 years old; he still lives on a ranch, herding cows, in East Texas. His name is Ray Akins. And a quote I heard all the time from him when I was growing up was this: "According to my grandpaw, there are three types of people in this world. There are those that make it happen. There are those that watch it happen. And then there are those that wake up one day and say, 'What the heck happened?' So which one are you?" is what he would tell me.
So I leave you today by first saying, Congratulations to the 2010 graduating class of Loyola University.
And now: let's go make it happen.
(link to the live version)
Thank you.
What an honor it is to be here. Thank you to Father Wildes, distinguished faculty, esteemed trustees, and guests, and of course the 2010 graduating class here at Loyola University. I'll be honest; I was a little nervous about using "distinguished" and "esteemed" in the same sentence, because I thought it would come out "extinguished", and that is not the description I wanted to use. Certainly you are all distinguished and esteemed, and it is an honor to be here.
You know, we have a lot in common. Most of us came to New Orleans around the same time, the spring or summer of 2006, when that was not the most popular thing to do. For me, I felt like coming to New Orleans was a calling; and for you, there must have been something drawing you here as well, a much stronger force that we can't necessarily describe other than we know that we belonged here. And now, four years later, we can reflect back and say that we were a part of something special. Certainly the work is not done yet, but we were a part of something special. We've all watched the city not just come back, but come back stronger than ever. And we have seen the people come back with more passion and determination than before. And we've all been part of the SuperBowl championship. (Definitely couldn't leave that one out.) No matter where you're from or where you go from here, keep New Orleans close to your heart, and remember what you were a part of, and know that we are now all linked together forever.
As I look out at the young men and women graduates of Loyola University, class of 2010, I am so excited for you all. What you are about to experience will be eye-opening, certainly rewarding, challenging at times. You know. they say that experience is what you gain when you don't get what you want. I can promise you that over the next few years you will gain experience; you will not always get what you want; you will face adversity. But know that the sky is the limit as to what you all can accomplish. There are some of you that will be doctors, lawyers, politicians, writers, artists, teachers, coaches, entrepreneurs, inventors, and maybe one of you will even own an NFL franchise someday. I know another Loyola University member who does, that's Mr. Tom Benson.
But I can tell you this. Your best years are yet to come. But that does not mean it's going to be easy. In fact I can guarantee you that you will face adversity along the way; and for most of you, it will be the toughest thing you've ever had to face in your life. But I'll also tell you that every successful person you meet or talk to will say that it was because of that adversity that they were given the opportunity to reach new heights that they never thought possible. For me, it was my shoulder injury back in 2005. December 31st, 2005. I was playing for the San Diego Chargers. I dislocated my right shoulder going into a season, or an off-season in which I did not have a contract. I did not have a job. And when you have that kind of injury at the quarterback position, there's not that many people that come calling or knocking. So at the time, I thought, this is probably the worst thing that could have ever happened to me. But now, I look back at it four years later, and I say, it was probably one of the best things that ever happened to me, because it brought me to New Orleans. There are many others that have faced that adversity and that have been in those similar circumstances or situations. I'll give you a few examples.
Steve Jobs. You might know him; CEO of Apple. He was adopted as a young baby. He went to college and dropped out after his first year. He ended up then inventing, or starting, Apple along with a partner of his when he was 20 years old in his basement. But then, by age 30, he was fired from his position as CEO when he had a falling out with his partner and with the Board at Apple. For the next few years, there was some soul-searching for him, but in the end he ended up starting another company - you might have heard of it: Pixar Animation - which ended up getting bought out by Disney for almost $8 billion; and then another company that Apple ended up buying a few years later for 500 million. Then he was right back where he was years before, 20 years before, as the CEO of Apple; and there he is today, doing some absolutely remarkable things. But what he would say, and what I've heard him say, is that it was that adversity that he faced when he was kicked to the curb, so to speak, from the company that he founded where he really gained strength and yet more motivation to go forth and do remarkable things, things that he would not have been able to accomplish had he not gone through what he went through at age 30.
Another example, Ellen DeGeneres. We all know Ellen; she grew up right down the road. She used to go to Saints games at halftime at the old Tulane Stadium. I've heard Ellen talk about the moment when she came out and announced that she was gay. At that point she was having a pretty sex - successful career. (A little slip.) She was having a pretty successful career. And then once she announced that, she - for three years she was out of work. People would not give her the opportunities that they had before. To her, that was the toughest thing she ever had to go through; but in the end, she was being true to herself. She then received a small opportunity, to perhaps host her own TV show, her own talk show. I think we all know how that's gone. She is perhaps one of the most, if not the most, successful talk show host in history. Certainly by being a New Orleanian we love her to death, we know what she's meant to this community; not only to our community, but to the country and to the world, she is a source of inspiration, and somebody who would sit here and tell you that had she not gone through what she went through during those three years, that she would not be where she is today. So once again, the lesson being that adversity is an opportunity. Adversity will make you stronger. Adversity will mold you into the person that you're meant to be.
You all probably remember the onside kick in the SuperBowl, right? How could we forget that? I'll tell you the story behind that. You know, we had two weeks to prepare for the SuperBowl. I remember Sean Payton came in to the meeting at the beginning of that two-week preparation for the SuperBowl and said, "We have an onside kick that we're putting in the plan, and it's not a matter of if we are going to run it, it's when we are going to run it. It's gonna happen." And sure enough, it did. And it worked. ...Thank God. So the lesson there: it's not a matter of if you will face adversity in your life, but when. So when adversity knocks on your door, seize it as an opportunity, for that adversity is being put in your life for a reason. It is God's way of providing you with the strength and the tools to face future challenges and to mold you into the person that He meant for you to be. In the end, it is this adversity that will allow you to accomplish things in life that you originally thought were reserved only for your dreams.
My second piece of advice to you is this. Find what you love to do, and then figure out a way to get paid for it. Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it? Find what you love to do, and then figure out a way to get paid for it. Some of you out there think you know exactly what you want to do, and then there's others that probably have no idea. And I can tell you this: that's okay. Because in a year from now, those that think they know exactly what they want to do, they might not have any idea at that point; and those that don't know what to do, you might have found your passion by then. But my point is, be patient, and don't settle. The only way to do great work is to love what you do; and, as with every matter of the heart, you will know when you find it.
My third piece of advice is to approach every opportunity with an attitude of gratitude and a mindset that, whatever you encounter, you will leave it better than when you arrive. We have all been part of that here in New Orleans; but why stop here? In everything you do in life, leave your mark. Leave your mark. Be a great steward of the community, and to society and to whatever business you are involved; and understand that part of your purpose in life is to leave whatever you touch better than when you found it. So leave your mark, and leave it better than when you found it.
Number four. Life goes fast. I was sitting in your seats ten years ago. Now, it's hard to think that that was ten years ago, because it feels like it was yesterday. I guess my point there is, don't forget to enjoy the moment and reflect back on the journey from time to time. For me, standing on that podium after we won the SuperBowl was a moment - one of the defining moments of my life. What made it even more special was the fact that I was holding my son; and the reflection on everything that we had been through - as a city, as a team - to get to that point. And as we watched the confetti coming down and "World Champions" come across the JumboTron and looking out at the Who Dat Nation just going crazy, beads flying everywhere, we recognized what a journey that had been and how special that was. There's no city, no organization, no group of people that deserve it more. I promise you that.
But the journey's not over. We want another one.
Also: don't forget to enjoy the little things in life. Sometimes you get going so fast. I feel like the last three months have been like that for me. But don't forget to enjoy the little things in life. Watching a sunset with the one that you love, taking a walk in Audubon Park, sitting in rocking chairs on the front porch watching the streetcars go by, throwing the ball with your child out in the front yard: you work too hard not to enjoy those little things. So enjoy the little things.
My last piece of advice is, don't forget why you were put on this Earth. Mayor Landrieu mentioned it earlier. We were all put on this Earth to serve others. Sometimes, the more successful that you get, people tend to forget that. It becomes more about how they can serve you as opposed to how you can serve others. So don't forget, no matter how successful you become - which you all will - to serve others. As you all sit here on Graduation Day, I believe everyone can agree that we have all been blessed with some great opportunities in our lives. Be appreciative and respectful of those opportunities, and never take them for granted. And with that mindset, just think about being able to give back what has been given to you. Take the time to make a difference in the life of somebody less fortunate. It's amazing that the more generous you are and the more you choose to serve others, the happier you will be.
And now, for the words you've been waiting for: In Closing - I'd like to leave you with a quote. (Oh, we're going to finish strong. Don't worry. We don't know any other way, so here we go.)
In closing, I want to leave you with a quote. I could have chosen many profound quotes from Presidents, CEOs, philosophers; but I am choosing one from my grandfather. He's 85 years old; he still lives on a ranch, herding cows, in East Texas. His name is Ray Akins. And a quote I heard all the time from him when I was growing up was this: "According to my grandpaw, there are three types of people in this world. There are those that make it happen. There are those that watch it happen. And then there are those that wake up one day and say, 'What the heck happened?' So which one are you?" is what he would tell me.
So I leave you today by first saying, Congratulations to the 2010 graduating class of Loyola University.
And now: let's go make it happen.
(link to the live version)
02 May 2010
Quotes about perfection
Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing.
~ Harriet Baker
Certain flaws are necessary for the whole.
~ Goethe
Nothing that is complete breathes.
~ Antonio Porchia
A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault.
~ John Henry Newman
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything,
That's how the light gets in.
~ Leonard Cohen
To escape criticism - do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.
~ Elbert Hubbard
Only in grammar can you be more than perfect.
~ William Safire
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.
~ Henry van Dyke
Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands. But like the seafaring man on the desert of wateres, you choose them as your guides, and following them you will reach your destiny.
~ Carl Schurz
Gold cannot be pure, and people cannot be perfect.
~ Chinese proverb
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
~ Confucius
(although I am not sure if I buy this.)
When you aim for perfection, you discover it's a moving target.
~ George Fisher
Once you accept the fact that you're not perfect, then you develop some confidence.
~ Rosalynn Carter
There are no perfect men in this world, only perfect intentions.
~ Pen Densham
The imperfections of a man, his frailties, his faults, are just as important as his virtues. You can't separate them. They're wedded.
~ Henry Miller
The human story does not always unfold like a mathematical calculation on the principle that two and two make four. Sometimes in life they make five or minus three; and sometimes the blackboard topples down in the middle of the sum and leaves the class in disorder and the pedagogue with a black eye.
~ Winston Churchill
They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds.
~ Wilt Chamberlain
Always live up to your standards - by lowering them, if necessary.
~ Mignon McLaughlin
He who hath not a dram of folly in his mixture hath pounds of much worse matter in his composition.
~ Charles Lamb
Even the best needles are not sharp at both ends.
~ Chinese proverb
The pursuit of perfection, then, is the pursuit of sweetness and light.
~ Matthew Arnold
Unless I accept my faults I will most certainly doubt my virtues.
~ Hugh Prather
Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it.
~ Salvador Dali
I cling to my imperfection, as the very essence of my being.
~ Anatole France
Living up to ideals is like doing everyday work with your Sunday clothes on.
~ Ed Howe
(I don't really understand this, but I'm looking forward to thinking about it.)
Try as hard as we may for perfection, the net result of our labors is an amazing variety of imperfectness. We are surprised at our own versatility in being able to fail in so many different ways.
~ Samuel McChord Crothers
--courtesy of quotegarden.com
~ Harriet Baker
Certain flaws are necessary for the whole.
~ Goethe
Nothing that is complete breathes.
~ Antonio Porchia
A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault.
~ John Henry Newman
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything,
That's how the light gets in.
~ Leonard Cohen
To escape criticism - do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.
~ Elbert Hubbard
Only in grammar can you be more than perfect.
~ William Safire
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.
~ Henry van Dyke
Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands. But like the seafaring man on the desert of wateres, you choose them as your guides, and following them you will reach your destiny.
~ Carl Schurz
Gold cannot be pure, and people cannot be perfect.
~ Chinese proverb
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
~ Confucius
(although I am not sure if I buy this.)
When you aim for perfection, you discover it's a moving target.
~ George Fisher
Once you accept the fact that you're not perfect, then you develop some confidence.
~ Rosalynn Carter
There are no perfect men in this world, only perfect intentions.
~ Pen Densham
The imperfections of a man, his frailties, his faults, are just as important as his virtues. You can't separate them. They're wedded.
~ Henry Miller
The human story does not always unfold like a mathematical calculation on the principle that two and two make four. Sometimes in life they make five or minus three; and sometimes the blackboard topples down in the middle of the sum and leaves the class in disorder and the pedagogue with a black eye.
~ Winston Churchill
They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds.
~ Wilt Chamberlain
Always live up to your standards - by lowering them, if necessary.
~ Mignon McLaughlin
He who hath not a dram of folly in his mixture hath pounds of much worse matter in his composition.
~ Charles Lamb
Even the best needles are not sharp at both ends.
~ Chinese proverb
The pursuit of perfection, then, is the pursuit of sweetness and light.
~ Matthew Arnold
Unless I accept my faults I will most certainly doubt my virtues.
~ Hugh Prather
Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it.
~ Salvador Dali
I cling to my imperfection, as the very essence of my being.
~ Anatole France
Living up to ideals is like doing everyday work with your Sunday clothes on.
~ Ed Howe
(I don't really understand this, but I'm looking forward to thinking about it.)
Try as hard as we may for perfection, the net result of our labors is an amazing variety of imperfectness. We are surprised at our own versatility in being able to fail in so many different ways.
~ Samuel McChord Crothers
--courtesy of quotegarden.com
29 March 2010
Correspondence: Cosmo edition
Dear Library,
Can we talk? Let's talk. About your clothes, and your complexion; your general appearance, gentle Library, must be addressed. We are not being superficial; we are simply considering the entirety of your impact.
Let's talk about your skin first; your complexion is thus far unclear.
What sort of palette do we have? Let's think. There's the naturals - stone, wood, limestone (which would be locally quarried, what could be earth-friendlier?). There's the industrials - metal, glass, concrete. And there's the synthetics - laminates, plastics, alloys. All right. I think we can go ahead and discard this last, at least for your skin; we'll return to it later if we decide to accessorize. That leaves naturals and industrials. Considering that the place is urban and modern, considering that this is an up-and-coming funky neighborhood, I think we should also discard strictly naturals. We can incorporate them; maybe even prominently. But not exclusively. Okay, we're making good progress! Keep thinking. That leaves a combination of naturals and industrials, or strictly industrials. I think we should go with the combination. Although too much natural material leaves a place feeling rustic - absolutely not our intent, gentle Library, I know! - there is also the homey and comforting feelings it evokes when used in appropriate scales and proportions. So let's keep these in mind.
There is more to discuss on that front, gentle Library, but let us leave this aside for a bit and let it simmer on the back burner, so to speak, as we discuss something else: just how dressed do we want you to be? This is an issue of how much light to let in; how much visibility to allow, in and out; where to reveal and where to protect. Oh, dear, gentle Library... I feel a diagram coming on. All right. Next step: to make a diagram of the parts of the program that need light and those that must eschew it, and possibly some sense of the gradation between. It's possible that the sorts of programs in each particular area may then begin to suggest their own coverings.
You've done well, dear Library. I'll complete this task - it's like a Cosmo quiz, for buildings - and come back to you with more questions soon.
Cheers,
your architect
Can we talk? Let's talk. About your clothes, and your complexion; your general appearance, gentle Library, must be addressed. We are not being superficial; we are simply considering the entirety of your impact.
Let's talk about your skin first; your complexion is thus far unclear.
What sort of palette do we have? Let's think. There's the naturals - stone, wood, limestone (which would be locally quarried, what could be earth-friendlier?). There's the industrials - metal, glass, concrete. And there's the synthetics - laminates, plastics, alloys. All right. I think we can go ahead and discard this last, at least for your skin; we'll return to it later if we decide to accessorize. That leaves naturals and industrials. Considering that the place is urban and modern, considering that this is an up-and-coming funky neighborhood, I think we should also discard strictly naturals. We can incorporate them; maybe even prominently. But not exclusively. Okay, we're making good progress! Keep thinking. That leaves a combination of naturals and industrials, or strictly industrials. I think we should go with the combination. Although too much natural material leaves a place feeling rustic - absolutely not our intent, gentle Library, I know! - there is also the homey and comforting feelings it evokes when used in appropriate scales and proportions. So let's keep these in mind.
There is more to discuss on that front, gentle Library, but let us leave this aside for a bit and let it simmer on the back burner, so to speak, as we discuss something else: just how dressed do we want you to be? This is an issue of how much light to let in; how much visibility to allow, in and out; where to reveal and where to protect. Oh, dear, gentle Library... I feel a diagram coming on. All right. Next step: to make a diagram of the parts of the program that need light and those that must eschew it, and possibly some sense of the gradation between. It's possible that the sorts of programs in each particular area may then begin to suggest their own coverings.
You've done well, dear Library. I'll complete this task - it's like a Cosmo quiz, for buildings - and come back to you with more questions soon.
Cheers,
your architect
27 March 2010
The beginning of the correspondence
Dear Library,
I have been thinking about you a lot lately. The sort of thoughts that seem to swirl without coalescing in a particular direction if I don't talk about them, and that would take a LOT of talking, and it's hard to find ears with that much time. So I have decided to write to you, gentle Library, as a means of working some of these ideas out in a productive manner. ...hopefully the men in white jackets don't find these letters.
I am currently away from my sketchbook (and waiting for the first baseball game of the season to start) so my head is not as in the game at the moment as it could be. I will start by asking you two questions:
How do we make you civic but not institutional? As a corollary to that, I guess I need to decide just how welcoming I want to make you. Hmm. Welcoming, yes, but not a home away from home. How much of that is space and how much of that is materiality? Oops, that's an extra question.
Also: how do we make you public without being monumental? You're rather big right now - through no fault of your own, and you might even stay that way - but that's not the kind of experience we're trying to create for your visitors. Or is it, you tricky thing? Sometimes I think your intentions regarding your future differ from mine. I hope that we can compromise without a battle of the wills, gentle Library.
Okay. You ruminate. I'm going to cheer for the Diamond Wolverines - that doesn't ring nearly as well as the Diamond Dawgs; sometimes I miss Georgia in funny ways - and I'll get back to you in a little while on your thoughts.
Cheers,
your architect
24 March 2010
I give
Okay, Anya, I give. You were right.
Problem: Astronomical anxiety about not being prepared enough to present research and project development thus far to cohort and colleagues.
My proposed solution: presenting to a small group.
Anya's solution: bump up the presentation date by three days with 90 minutes' notice.
Results:
1. No time to question decisions; all presentation decisions were made and executed with little development between the two.
2. No time to create new material.
3. Completely unrealistic expectations led to overload of anxiety fuse: tripped the breaker.
4. Frustration with lack of ability to prepare adequately* (*in my opinion) => it felt pointless to be invested in a 'final' product in which I had little confidence; divorced opinion about work from opinion about self.
Effects:
1. There was only minor appreciable compromise of production quality.
2. No half-assed elements were present in presentation.
3. Short-circuit of anxiety fuse led to an unexpected serenity when presenting. I felt like I was clear, concise, and comprehensive; the high value and relevance of the critics' feedback seems to reflect my perception.
4. I hate Anya for being so very right about changing the date on me. Also I love her.
Moving forward:
How can I short-circuit the anxiety fuse to begin with? It never drives productivity, efficiency, or creativity in ways that are actually helpful.
How can I better balance my time between big moves - design, presentation, layout - and fine-tuning? I suspect I need an objective standard up against which I can hold up my work. Does such a thing exist? Can I create it?
Never forget: I could always bag architecture school in favor of being a waitress instead. Although after this project, I don't think I want waitress to be my backup career choice any more: I want to be a librarian. Or a rocket scientist. You know, something less stressful.
18 March 2010
You just can't make this stuff up
Some of the results from a Google search for universal signs and symbols. I did not find what I sought, unfortunately; but some of these almost made up for it.
13 March 2010
why mehitabel jumped
well boss i saw
mehitabel the cat the other day
and she was looking a little
thin and haggard
with a limp in
the hind leg on the starboard
side old feline animal i said
how is tricks still in the
ring archy she said and still a
lady in spite of h dash double l
always jolly archy she said in
spite of hard luck
toujours gai is the word
archy toujours gai how did you
get the game leg mehitabel i asked her
alas she said it is due
to the treachery of
one of these social swells who
is sure one bad actor he was a
fussed up cat with a
bell around his neck on a
ribbon and the look about him of
a person that is currycombed and
manicured from teeth to
tail every day i met him
down by the east river
front when i was scouting
about for a little piece of fish since
the high cost of living has
become so self conscious archy
it would surprise you
how close they
watch their fish nowadays
but what the h dash double l archy
it is the cheerful heart that
wins i am never cast down for long
kid says this gilded
feline to me you look hungry i
am all of that i says to him i
have a vacuum in my midst
that is bigger than i am i
could eat the fish that ate
jonah kid he says you have
seen better days i can
tell that from looking at you thanks
i said what you say is at
least half true i have never
seen any worse ones and so
archy one word led to
another until that sleek villain
practically abducted me
and i went with him
on board a houseboat of which
he was the pampered mascot
such evidence of pomp and wealth archy
were there that you would not
believe them if i told of them to
you poor cockroach that you
are but these things were nothing to me
for i am a reincarnation of cleopatra
as i told you long ago you mean
her soul transmigrated to a cat s
body i said it is
all one archy said she have it your own
way reincarnation or transmigration
is the same to me the point is
i used to be a queen in
egypt and will likely be one again
this place was furnished swelly percy i
said the furniture is
fine and i could eat some of it if
i was a saw mill but
where is the honest to g dash d food
the eats percy what i crave is
some cuisine for my stomach let us
trifle with an open ice box
for a space if one can be
persuaded to divulge the scheme of its
interior decoration follow me
said this percy thing and led
me to a cabin in which stood a table upon
which stood viands i
have heard of tables groaning archy
but this one did not it
was too satisfied it purred with
contentment in an instant i had eaten a
cold salmon who seemed to be
toastmaster of the occasion and a
whole scuttleful of chef dovers what
you mean is hors douvres mehitabel i
told her what i mean is grub said she
when in walked a person whom
i should judge to be either a butler
or the admiral of that fleet or maybe
both this percy creature who had led me
to it was on the table eating with me
what do you think he did what
would any gentleman friend with a
spark of chivalry do what but stand by
a lady this percy does nothing of the
kind archy he immediately attacks me do
you get me archy he acts as if i
was a stray cat he did not
know and he was protecting his
loving masters food from my onslaughts
i do not doubt he got praise and had
another blue ribbon for his heroism as
for me i got the boot and as i went
overboard they hit me on the limb with
a bottle or an anchor or something
nautical and hard that archy is why i
limp but toujours gai archy what
the h dash double l i am always
merry and always ladylike mine archy has
been a romantic life and i will
tell you some more of my adventures
ere long well au revoir i suppose i
will have to go and start a pogrom
against some poor innocent little
mouse just the same i think
that mehitabel s unsheltered life sometimes
makes her a little sad
archy
By Don Marquis in archy and mehitabel, 1927.
mehitabel the cat the other day
and she was looking a little
thin and haggard
with a limp in
the hind leg on the starboard
side old feline animal i said
how is tricks still in the
ring archy she said and still a
lady in spite of h dash double l
always jolly archy she said in
spite of hard luck
toujours gai is the word
archy toujours gai how did you
get the game leg mehitabel i asked her
alas she said it is due
to the treachery of
one of these social swells who
is sure one bad actor he was a
fussed up cat with a
bell around his neck on a
ribbon and the look about him of
a person that is currycombed and
manicured from teeth to
tail every day i met him
down by the east river
front when i was scouting
about for a little piece of fish since
the high cost of living has
become so self conscious archy
it would surprise you
how close they
watch their fish nowadays
but what the h dash double l archy
it is the cheerful heart that
wins i am never cast down for long
kid says this gilded
feline to me you look hungry i
am all of that i says to him i
have a vacuum in my midst
that is bigger than i am i
could eat the fish that ate
jonah kid he says you have
seen better days i can
tell that from looking at you thanks
i said what you say is at
least half true i have never
seen any worse ones and so
archy one word led to
another until that sleek villain
practically abducted me
and i went with him
on board a houseboat of which
he was the pampered mascot
such evidence of pomp and wealth archy
were there that you would not
believe them if i told of them to
you poor cockroach that you
are but these things were nothing to me
for i am a reincarnation of cleopatra
as i told you long ago you mean
her soul transmigrated to a cat s
body i said it is
all one archy said she have it your own
way reincarnation or transmigration
is the same to me the point is
i used to be a queen in
egypt and will likely be one again
this place was furnished swelly percy i
said the furniture is
fine and i could eat some of it if
i was a saw mill but
where is the honest to g dash d food
the eats percy what i crave is
some cuisine for my stomach let us
trifle with an open ice box
for a space if one can be
persuaded to divulge the scheme of its
interior decoration follow me
said this percy thing and led
me to a cabin in which stood a table upon
which stood viands i
have heard of tables groaning archy
but this one did not it
was too satisfied it purred with
contentment in an instant i had eaten a
cold salmon who seemed to be
toastmaster of the occasion and a
whole scuttleful of chef dovers what
you mean is hors douvres mehitabel i
told her what i mean is grub said she
when in walked a person whom
i should judge to be either a butler
or the admiral of that fleet or maybe
both this percy creature who had led me
to it was on the table eating with me
what do you think he did what
would any gentleman friend with a
spark of chivalry do what but stand by
a lady this percy does nothing of the
kind archy he immediately attacks me do
you get me archy he acts as if i
was a stray cat he did not
know and he was protecting his
loving masters food from my onslaughts
i do not doubt he got praise and had
another blue ribbon for his heroism as
for me i got the boot and as i went
overboard they hit me on the limb with
a bottle or an anchor or something
nautical and hard that archy is why i
limp but toujours gai archy what
the h dash double l i am always
merry and always ladylike mine archy has
been a romantic life and i will
tell you some more of my adventures
ere long well au revoir i suppose i
will have to go and start a pogrom
against some poor innocent little
mouse just the same i think
that mehitabel s unsheltered life sometimes
makes her a little sad
archy
By Don Marquis in archy and mehitabel, 1927.
the song of mehitabel
this is the song of mehitabel
of mehitabel the alley cat
as i wrote you before boss
mehitabel is a believer
in the pythagorean
theory of the transmigration
of the soul and she claims
that formerly her spirit
was incarnated in the body
of cleopatra
that was a long time ago
and one must not be
surprised if mehitabel
has forgotten some of her more
regal manners
i have had my ups and downs
but wotthehell wotthehell
yesterday sceptres and crowns
fried oysters and velvet gowns
and today i herd with bums
but wotthehell wotthehell
i wake the world from sleep
as i caper and sing and leap
when i sing my wild free tune
wotthehell wotthehell
under the blear eyed moon
i am pelted with cast off shoon
but wotthehell wotthehell
do you think that i would change
my present freedom to range
for a castle or moated grange
wotthehell wotthehell
cage me and i d go frantic
my life is so romantic
capricious and corybantic
and i m toujours gai toujours gai
i know that i am bound
for a journey down the sound
in the midst of a refuse mound
but wotthehell wotthehell
oh i should worry and fret
death and i will coquette
there s a dance in the old dame yet
toujours gai toujours gai
i once was an innocent kit
wotthehell wotthehell
with a ribbon my neck to fit
and bells tied onto it
o wotthehell wotthehell
but a maltese cat came by
with a come hither look in his eye
and a song that soared to the sky
and wotthehell wotthehell
and i followed adown the street
the pad of his rhythmical feet
o permit me again to repeat
wotthehell wotthehell
my youth i shall never forget
but there s nothing i really regret
wotthehell wotthehell
there s a dance in the old dame yet
toujours gai toujours gai
the things that i had not ought to
i do because i ve gotto
wotthehell wotthehell
and i end with my favorite motto
toujours gai toujours gai
boss sometimes i think
that our friend mehitabel
is a trifle too gay
First published in archy and mehitabel by Don Marquis, 1927.
of mehitabel the alley cat
as i wrote you before boss
mehitabel is a believer
in the pythagorean
theory of the transmigration
of the soul and she claims
that formerly her spirit
was incarnated in the body
of cleopatra
that was a long time ago
and one must not be
surprised if mehitabel
has forgotten some of her more
regal manners
i have had my ups and downs
but wotthehell wotthehell
yesterday sceptres and crowns
fried oysters and velvet gowns
and today i herd with bums
but wotthehell wotthehell
i wake the world from sleep
as i caper and sing and leap
when i sing my wild free tune
wotthehell wotthehell
under the blear eyed moon
i am pelted with cast off shoon
but wotthehell wotthehell
do you think that i would change
my present freedom to range
for a castle or moated grange
wotthehell wotthehell
cage me and i d go frantic
my life is so romantic
capricious and corybantic
and i m toujours gai toujours gai
i know that i am bound
for a journey down the sound
in the midst of a refuse mound
but wotthehell wotthehell
oh i should worry and fret
death and i will coquette
there s a dance in the old dame yet
toujours gai toujours gai
i once was an innocent kit
wotthehell wotthehell
with a ribbon my neck to fit
and bells tied onto it
o wotthehell wotthehell
but a maltese cat came by
with a come hither look in his eye
and a song that soared to the sky
and wotthehell wotthehell
and i followed adown the street
the pad of his rhythmical feet
o permit me again to repeat
wotthehell wotthehell
my youth i shall never forget
but there s nothing i really regret
wotthehell wotthehell
there s a dance in the old dame yet
toujours gai toujours gai
the things that i had not ought to
i do because i ve gotto
wotthehell wotthehell
and i end with my favorite motto
toujours gai toujours gai
boss sometimes i think
that our friend mehitabel
is a trifle too gay
First published in archy and mehitabel by Don Marquis, 1927.
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