A site for who you are

Lately I've been thinking about a name change. It's a nasty habit of letting fear slide in the back door. Each time I need to reorder stationary, I wonder how people perceive the title 'site designer', and I get a bit nervous. I consider this nervousness good though. It means I'm not asleep at the wheel or leaning on systems that don't fit me.

I know the title is odd, a little off the main stream; especially when an entire population comprehends the term 'interior designer' quite well. After all, I used the traditional title for years and was always understood, when describing what I do. Then I got this wild idea to be rebellious and perform what I call 'sitings' on locations I thought needed improvement. I photograph places to offer ideas to unsuspecting potential clients. Sometimes I simply shoot spots, because they tell a wonderful story of who lives there.

Once I was in full swing of this quirky marketing strategy; the title seemed more appropriate. Isn't every location a chance to explore? Why refer to a design profession as 'interior', when you love to design anywhere?

Although I'm often asked if I design websites, I really don't mind explaining the nature of my work. It gives me a chance to redefine if necessary, and this is precisely how design in our lives can work! It's a realization of continual refinement. It's redefining or needs and never stagnant...always evolving!

Take for example the site of my friend George's chair. This scene has evolved over the past two years. It's actually my favorite site in his house, for several reasons. One, it says something about who he is; his commitment to comfort and an eye for quality. He ordered this leather chair custom and set it in the same location his father had it, when he was alive. He's kept the lamp from his early childhood days as I remember. The second reason I like this scene; is because it is different today than the last time I visited, yet in some ways, the same.

It's not important to see an entire room as something 'to design'. What's more important is to follow where your eye rests when you relax, or speak to company.

What area takes on meaning for you?
What offers you pleasure when glancing in a certain direction?

These are the sites of your life! They suggest the church your soul resides in, your own personal orbit of objects moving in and out, and the visual language of who you are. How you handle the daily mail, or newspapers or cups on a tabletop; each movement carrying traditions forward in your life; like waves of your own intentions. It serves you to pay attention.

There is a Zen story of the student on the verge of becoming a teacher. He approaches his wise master and asks him if he's ready. It's a rainy day and he's standing in his stocking feet outside the Zendo, after his morning meditation. His master asks him "When you came into the Zendo this morning, did you place your umbrella to the right or to the left of your clogs?". It turned out this student wasn't ready to become a teacher quite yet. He went on to study six more years of practice.

How much are we present in our daily lives?
Carolyn