C.S. Robadue's Blog, page 3

Showing Up

NOVEMBER 2023 – Success and showing up. The correlation between the two is hard to ignore. Even when we’re not at our ‘best’, simply making an attempt to rise to the challenge builds character and allows for the potential of something good to happen. Versus not even trying, ducking out of responsibility, and hiding from the world… That is a good recipe for regret and missed opportunity. As if you don’t try, you know what will happen, nothing. And believe me, I know how easy it is to get thrown off, but that is exactly when you need to tap into your inner resiliency and find a reason to go on. The benefits might not always be immediately clear, but in time, a life of bravery and commitment to your highest ideals will be so much more rewarding.

Meet the moment and you’ll be amazed at what can happen. Having another person in your life that can help tee up opportunities and encourage you is also super helpful and vice versa, where you can help them reach their potential. Most positive outcomes in our life come from repetition and a thousand small positive decisions that compound into a great long-term outcome. So also remember to show up for yourself each and every day and make little efforts towards your big goals, as that momentum will build in time and fuel you to work harder and make dedication come easier and easier.

This month I’ve been spending a lot of time on focusing my energies towards the goals that I want to make progress on the most. Reading more is one of those goals and I snagged a copy of Steven Pinker’s book, ‘Enlightenment Now’ to step up my knowledge-base on a number of topics. The landscape of the future is such fertile territory and his book dives into many topics of interest for me, such as the future of progress, happiness, reason, and what a good life means. There is A LOT in this book and like any book discussing what will come, it becomes a catalog of the sentiments of the time in which it was written/published (2018). I have a lot of respect for authors that take a shot at visualizing the future and extrapolating what the lessons and outcomes of the present moment will be. Hindsight is a powerful thing and it is forever humbling to realize how blind we are to the truth and the implications of each passing second.

Don’t give up and remember to keep showing up for yourself and others. The world needs your kindness, humility, and grace.

~ CS

Once Upon A Time

OCTOBER 2023 – People love a good story. Whether recounting a favorite memory, watching a cinematic masterpiece, devouring the latest best-selling novel, or telling a bedtime story to your kids, stories are significant touchstones in our lives. I’ve always loved stories and aspired to be part of that tradition. Books, movies, theatre, podcasts, campfire oration, the world of art and storytelling have collided for thousands of years. As we head further into the 21st century, I wonder about the medium as it relates to storytelling and which form is the most relevant in the modern era.

Short video clips, podcasts, movies, books, magazines, there are so many ways people search out entertainment and stories these days. I love books, no secret there, but I wonder how broad their appeal is in the always online world we now navigate. From a quick look at yearly book sales figures it seems they are remaining pretty strong, which is fantastic. I would guess that e-books actually help a lot in keeping the written word in the game so to speak.

For me, I welcome opportunities to hold a real book in hand and flip through it’s pages. I spend a lot of time in front of a computer, so it is a welcomed respite to have time away from a screen. No matter the form you enjoy, we can all appreciate quality and novelty, as well as time honored classics. There is a brilliant clip about storytelling from a lecture given by Kurt Vonnegut that I would highly recommend checking out. He brilliantly explains story arcs and how we as humans react to them in the same way as we always have.

I have been thinking about the future a lot lately. Wondering what it is going to be like and how I can play a positive role in it. Which reminds me of the book I snagged this month, ‘The Inevitable’ by Kevin Kelly. In it he writes about the technological developments in production and on the horizon that will have profound impacts on the way we live our lives and the possibilities of tomorrow. It is so tough to put out a book on technology as things move so fast. LLMs were not all the rage when he wrote the book, and I imagine an updated version now would easily be twice the size of the original text, haha. Robotics, artificial intelligence, gene editing, space exploration, fusion energy, there are paradigm shifting technologies on the way that is going to make the world a fantastically different place. So buckle up as it should be an interesting ride! And with it I’m sure numerous new stories to be told from both traditional and artificial intelligence sources alike.

~ CS

A New Reality

SEPTEMBER 2023 – Time to step things up, summer vacation season is over. The pull of a new academic year never fails to bring clarity and an existential dread of sorts. Grab your number 2 pencils, pens, trapper keeper, and let’s go, we got work to do!

Have been wondering lately about the changing place of art in society with all of the generative AI protocols that create images from written prompts or even sketched in new GUIs. It is amazing what they are able to create and so quickly, I have been really impressed with the visualization ability of these applications. Generative art definitely is here to stay and like a new tool, such as photoshop or illustrator, they will expand what is possible and open up numerous new avenues of creative expression.

I do wonder how it will impact the artistic community. I imagine a lot of portrait artists lost commissions with the advent of the photograph. But at the same time, it opened up portraiture to entirely new populations and 100+ years later is a fundamental way in which we share memories, interact with culture, and create art. I hope this new type of artistry is equally positive and allows more people to express themselves, versus undermine the practice of art itself and turn over creativity to algorithms and away from the human spirit.

What do you think? Have you tried it? Do you think people will be getting framed generative art in their homes?

The above is a real photograph, not a result of generative AI, but maybe with virtual reality and AI photographers people will be taking digital photos from simulated vacations they go on. Seems extremely possible. Especially for augmented reality experiences like say traveling to outer space or exploring the depths of the ocean. Movies, video games, and theme parks have tried to tackle that for years, but I imagine the next decade is going to see much more enhanced efforts to create more convincing virtual experiences. It’s not something I’m personally interested in, but I do like being transported to other worlds through my imagination from reading a good book. Call me old fashioned I guess, haha.

~ CS

Look Up

AUGUST 2023 – In a world with limitless opportunities for distraction and diversions from reality, it seems ever more frequent that the pull is back to the ‘real world’. To escape the realm of screens, endless content feeds, instant gratification, and dopamine hits. Perhaps the paradigm is in need of a shift. A life of greater authenticity is out there, but it can be difficult to reclaim your time and attention from devices. To spend more time engaging with reality brings so many benefits and creates memories that the cyclical loop of funny clips can never match. I bet if I were to chart my own hours spent in front of a screen for work, relaxation, news, and connecting with family and friends… it would be a horrific number.

Disconnected is not the goal though, is it? I don’t think so, we still want to be part of it all, in touch with our friends and family, sharing our digital lives. But I think the more time we spend online, in front of screens, the more we lose touch with reality. And it leads to over-valuing emotions and not recognizing the actual state of things. To focusing our attention on things that are of little consequences towards the larger pull of human flourishing.

If we make a point to look up from our screens, to see what is actually going on around us, (especially with those nearest and dearest to us) it will open up a greater connection with reality. And through that connection allow us to be more the drivers of our own lives and to recognize what is really valuable and what isn’t. Reclaim your life, your attention, and what you give your time to. You won’t regret it.

In the spirit of challenging myself and my assumptions, this month I read ‘Apocalypse Never’ by Michael Shellenberger. The book is about how good intentions can interfere with positive growth and human flourishing. How shortsightedness and a lack of system dynamic assessment of issues can feed attention and efforts into methodology that sounds good, but has terrible consequences and second order effects. Reading this title definitely broadened my thinking on energy and the environment and what human flourishing entails. And ultimately how human efforts to protect nature and the environment can sadly not go as intended. Well worth the read if you have the stomach to have some of your sacred cows questioned. But I think it is important to reflect on who we are and what we’re doing if we ever truly want to grow, evolve, and become fully realized.

~ CS

The Water’s Edge

JULY 2023 – Stepping up takes on many forms. Maybe it means confronting a challenge that you’ve been putting off or going that extra mile to make certain that everything works out. When you are faced with something that causes you concern or self-doubt, it is best to take action, now matter how small a step. Set a plan in motion. Make that initial effort, even little bits of progress can alleviate the weight of indecision and help guide you forward. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “fortune favors the bold.” well, even small assertive moves can deliver oversized returns. So make that initial effort, no matter how trivial it may seem, as it can release your mind and allow you to build momentum.

This tactic is especially helpful with writing. Many writers will literally make themselves write near gibberish, just to get past that wall of creative resistance known as writer’s block. I like to leave a single sentence with the idea for the next passage underway, so that I can pick up the next session and have that into to guide me forward. The more you practice this technique in your writing and your life, the more accustomed your brain will be to getting rolling and being more decisive.

When you’re at the water’s edge, there is a sense of potential and expanse that can set your mind free, if you let it. One of my favorite things to do is to go out kayaking, late in the day and cruising over the calm water and watching the symphony of nature perform all around me. It is at these moments especially that I can understand why humans throughout history have always been so drawn to the ocean. In so many ways, water is life, and the closer we are to it, the more it stirs within our souls.

Have ordered some new books to read, so hopefully will report back on that next time. Until then, I hope you are having a summer full of warm memories and opportunities to unwind and rejuvenate the spirits for a purposeful sprint to the finale of 2023.

Cheers all!

~ CS

 

Next Chapter

JUNE 2023 – Next chapters are always exciting. The thrill of the unknown, feeling the vitality of a new direction as it’s momentum begins taking hold, and slowly discovering what it has to offer. In writing, as in life, it isn’t always obvious when that moment has come, but you can sort of sense it once you become accustomed to the rhythm of how story lines flow. A momentous event, a shift in time, a change of perspective, these are common catalysts for the launch of a new chapter. Pacing is very important in story telling and using chapters allows the writer to build suspense, let the reader come up for air, or to dangle an intoxicating carrot question mark that keeps the audience wanting to read “just one more page”. That is my personal favorite, I like a good cliffhanger chapter ending (both as a reader and writer). It is also helpful when I’m writing to know where I’m going next and to stop my current writing session with at least some idea of where to go when I pick it back up, as that keeps the momentum of the project alive.

This month I’ve taken out the good ole writing journal again to start putting ideas down on paper. Love this part of the creative process! Have several different directions I’m considering, haven’t yet decided which one I want to do first.

Contemplating some multimedia undertakings as well, to find the right vehicle to be able to contribute positive change to the world. Having been in school, I feel like I’ve been on the sidelines for awhile and I really want to do something tangible to help and improve the environment and foster a more positive future. Anyone doom scrolling online might be easily persuaded that the world is a pretty grim place and prospects for the future are anything but optimistic. But I’d like to foster and encourage an alternative vision and I think my green building design philosophy and planning skills could help that score.

Bridging gaps takes dedicated effort, innovation, and good timing, so let’s see what that next chapter holds!

~ CS

Scholarly Reflections

MAY 2023 – Completed my planning and design studies this month, capping off several years of efforts to professionally broaden my knowledge base and enhance my residential design skills. The experience has been fruitful and helped to push me further forward, as I really want to contribute towards helping design a better future. For the program finale I wrote a major paper on net zero residential architectural design, took another architectural planning studio course, and designed a green/living roof eco passive house.

Reflecting on all of the changes of the last few years, it has been a veritable sea change of moves, but that is how you improve and reinvent yourself. I know I’ve said it before, but incremental progress is how you move mountains, so if there is something out there that you want to accomplish, make the commitment to start. Often in life we lose sight of who we are, where we’re going, and what really matters at the end of the day. So, be kind to yourself, make the commitment towards building towards a life of purpose and don’t take for granted all of the gifts that you have.

Now that I have some daylight between me and the due dates for all of my scholarly efforts, I can once again return to one of my greatest passions, reading. (And writing, soon!) Picked up a copy of ‘Inca Gold’ by Clive Cussler to dive back into the world of fiction and kick things off with a raucous, swashbuckling style, adventure, haha. I have a pretty decent stack of books to read this summer, but feel free to hit me up with recommendations, always curious what other people are reading and enjoying.

Now it is time to take my efforts from concept to reality and get moving. But first, a few weeks of mental vacation, catch you on the flip side!

~ CS

Unwinding the Beginning

APRIL 2023 – Complicated problems are at the heart of innovation. And the world is ripe with opportunities to innovate. But it is often hard to know where to begin, as it can be a tangled mess to get to the core of the issue(s). Architecture and designing the future can certainly feel like that at times as there is always so much more to know and to figure out. That is also a big part of the beauty of it, the immense depth of what has come before, the endless realm of possibility of what could be, and the very real need to improve things. Searching for fertile territory to mine faults is easy in the 21st century as it seems everyone has a pet issue they are willing to discuss endlessly. What is vastly more impactful though is building and creating solutions to said problem.

Not enough eco-friendly houses? Design new methods for constructing them, create new super efficient home design plans, learn how to actually build them and start a company. We need a mind shift change, from can’t to can. We can make the world better, we just need to practice setting road maps that lead to big goals but have clearly thought out steps to get there. Don’t like the direction your community is going? Get involved with your local planning department and help guide it down a better path. Unwind problems, don’t let the sense that the problem is too big to be helped stop you. Now is the time to build, there is so much good that can be done, let go of the ease of discouragement and embrace the excitement of forward movement.

That is a big part of the beauty of Springtime, new beginnings, new opportunities to start over, fresh, and grow to meet the challenge of the moment.

Most of my reading this month has been articles on Net Zero residential design, there is a lot of interesting ideas being developed in the space, which is awesome to see. I suspect the electrification of society is going to grow by leaps and bounds in the coming decades and we’re going to need a lot of innovation to power that future. Much of my work is on optimization and efficiency, but equally as important is breakthroughs in cold fusion technology, safer nuclear reactors, and vastly superior battery storage systems. There is a lot to look forward to and I’ll be keen to see where we are as a society in five, ten, and twenty-five years from now.

Are there any exciting new beginnings in your world this Spring? I hope so! Thanks for stopping by and catching up, cheers!

~ Chris

In the Studio

MARCH 2023 – Growing up, all you had to do was give me a pencil, an eraser, and some paper and the creativity would just pour out. Working in the design studio has shades of that, but in a much more controlled way, is hard to recapture that level of freedom. Is an interesting push pull between innovation and the constraints of designing for a world with very real costs. As once an idea attempts to leave the conceptual world of imagination to be realized in definitive space it always comes with a healthy dose of reality, haha. Being aware of that in advance is both helpful and harmful to the creative process. Given the infinite nature of creativity, having some ‘limitations’ or ‘roadblocks’ in mind can actually be quite helpful as it forces you to approach a problem from a new direction. Sort of sounds like a Bruce Lee quote, having no limitations as a limitation, but in practice it genuinely is quite helpful when you are trying to innovate.

The work I am doing in the studio this semester is multi-faceted, but one project is focused on residential architecture design and making plans for an 1,800 +/- sq/ft home. I have a list of elements that I want to include and goal targets for what to include inside as well as design features such as a super-insulated building envelope, green roof, and net zero ready building plan. At some point I’d like to try doing a design project completely with mechanical pencil and rulers versus digital design (which outside of the conceptual phase I how I do all of my design work using PC tools), like they did it in the old days. Trying to imagine what it might be like working with Frank Lloyd Wright in his design studio, ‘Taliesin West’, in Arizona. Will have to visit there one day!

Been going through this text, ‘Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods’ by Edward Allen and Joseph Iano, that I snagged to get a background on classic building methods and fundamental principles of construction. There is so much to learn, it feels like drinking from a fire hose sometimes, haha. But I gotta be prepared for the Grand Design life in the future! Enjoying the studio time right now and it will be cool to see how this residential design shapes up. Already throwing a bunch of solar photovoltaic panels on the roof, so you know it means business!

Cheers all!

~ CS

Undisturbed

FEBRUARY 2023 – World continues to turn, even in those quiet moments when everything seems so still and meditative. Our experience of time is often so uneven, weeks that feel like months, hours that feel like seconds. I recently re-watched Denis Villeneuve’s film ‘Arrival’ (which is brilliant if you haven’t yet seen it, no spoilers here, but highly recommended watching if you enjoy sci-fi/suspense/drama) and his work rarely fails to land me in a contemplative mood. It is difficult to take a step back and reflect on the big picture of our own lives, a life that is often measured by the big milestones (birthdays, new jobs, etc), which I totally understand, but I think my memory is often more modulated by novelty. Ask me what I had for lunch a week ago and I wouldn’t have a clue. But I can recall with clarity my first recital in fifth grade or waking up drooling after having my wisdom teeth out.

Seasons, holidays, celebrating life’s successes, big and small, all of this creates touchstones for our memories to be built from and influences how we experience time. How you approach this can either slow down or speed up your perception of time. Typically we want the good times to last and the painful times to pass. Getting older impacts the perception of time as each day becomes a smaller and smaller fraction of the whole entirety of your life, so by comparison, this speed, relative to the whole, is going by faster. Being ‘busy’ also impacts this too, which is why modern technology, avoiding being bored by being on our phones/screens, makes the experience of life seem much faster. Not just because it is inundating us with ever constant stimulation, but because it never gives our minds time enough to pull focus and slow down our perception. Try meditating for an hour, it will feel like A LONG TIME.

Continuing this reflective vibe, I also re-read ‘Mill’ by the incomparable David Macaulay as research for a design project I’m working on. Macaulay is a fantastic illustrator, writer, and was classically trained as an architect at the Rhode Island School of Design. His black and white illustrations are absolutely brilliant and I remember getting lost in his drawings as a kid, particularly in his book ‘Castle’. He features building cross-sections, aerial views of landscapes, and numerous construction and behind-the-scenes drawings in many of his books, which makes them a well-spring of inspiration for any up and coming creative. And I really like how he weaves a narrative into his history lessons about the creation of a landmark period feature building, in this case a fictional Mill built in Rhode Island. A joy to read and definitely a cornerstone of my childhood.

Whether it is because I’ve been so busy or because it has been a month full of diligent work efforts and too many repetitive bowls of oatmeal for breakfast, time feels like it is flying by! So, dear reader, I hope you can take a moment, unplug from the world and throw in a bit of memorable celebration to your life this week. Maybe try a new restaurant, visit a local tourist attraction, explore a park you’ve been meaning to, start planning your next vacation. You won’t regret it and you just might remember it when looking back on 2023 in the future.

Bright moments,

~ CS