Welcome to the Human Prototype blog, a space where the past and present converge to showcase the evolution of a life in progress. Inspired by my TEDx talk, "I am a Prototype," this blog is part of a broader journey of transformation through journaling, capturing the essence of living as a perpetual prototype. Each week, during 2024, I reviewed my archives from 2016, contrasting journal scans filled with drawings against the backdrop of my current experiences.
Puddles and Progress
Then: March 7-13, 2016
A week themed around self-care unfolded with some yoga, a massage, and a visit to the doctor. Then came the rain, quite unusual for Dubai. Funnily enough, just yesterday, the UAE was on severe weather alert, experiencing flooding.The country is generally not built to drain rain, which makes rain episodes extra dramatic. This time, it seems the factory was flooded, though, from what I recall, it was quite mild. The rain led us to cancel our tug of war practice, which inevitably resulted in our loss at the Corporate Games on Saturday —a sort of mini Olympic games for corporates in Dubai. It's fun; you get to see your colleagues sweating and swearing. (The following year, I participated in dragon boat racing—how cool is that?—and we made second place! I kept the medal and it’s currently in my living room cabinet.)
What else happened?
The usual CrossFit sessions, with nothing particularly notable (except that we can admire my practice’s consistency).
The weekly Human-Centered Design course meetup with Kiran and Noha took place; it seems we were brainstorming, looking at the board covered in post-its. We tackled a challenge related to reducing food waste, noting Dubai's plethora of gorgeous restaurants and extravagant brunch buffets often ending with perfectly good food going to waste. One idea was installing fridges in less fortunate neighborhoods where delicious and nourishing food could be shared for free. This concept came to life the next year during the holy month of Ramadan (though not due to our efforts, to be clear).
A couple more highlights: Waffles on Saturday. I made waffles for breakfast this weekend, using the same waffle maker. I'm quite pleased, having reused the same appliance after all these years. Yes, it also means I transported the waffle maker with me from Dubai to London (along with a whole load of other shit).
On Sunday, I recall meeting a supplier who was extremely rude to his staff. After leaving the company, one of his employees connected with me on LinkedIn and Facebook. We're still connected, though we haven’t been in touch since then. Perhaps it's time to see what she's been up to?
Artistically, I'm very pleased with my depiction of the flooding against the Dubai skyline, complete with a scuba diver sticker, on Wednesday. Well done, me!
Now: March 4-10, 2024
Hear the journey: There's a unique intimacy in spoken words—a warmth and immediacy that text alone may not convey. In my weekly audio commentary, I share reflections both deep and light-hearted, offering a companion piece to the visual and written narrative.
Companion Links: Extend Your Journey
- Slow productivity - Book by Cal Newport
- Atsuko on Instagram
- A song to love: Corps by Yseult
Spread the Word
Found something that moved you or made you think? Share it with your circle!
Together, let's embrace the beauty of becoming, the intrigue of what was, and the promise of what is yet to come.
