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.
Weight Lifting
Then: June 20-26, 2016
In the middle of June 2016, after working on Christmas packaging a few weeks prior, I started working on Easter formats. Quite the seasonal shift!
Marie-Line joined our team, and I did some acro yoga with Piotr. I wanted to date him, but he didn’t feel the same way.
There was a viewing session with the theatre class for our monologues, but I don’t remember any of it. I do remember the dinner afterward, though.
One standout memory is the house party at Ahmed’s place with Muhannad, Safwan, and Dina. Safwan painted a mural in Ahmed’s apartment in the Torch tower. I remember getting sick, Muhannad trying to kiss me, and performing my monologue for them. It was such a fun night—one of the best of my life so far.
Here are some pictures of the party house mural and of my theatre friends:
That week was packed: three CrossFit classes, drinks, dinners, theatre, yoga, lunch, a house party, and an after-party. Wow, I wish I had that energy now. I think I can have it, but I’ve been drained by the effort needed to fit into an environment that was against my nature over the past couple of years. As I transition to something new, I’m starting to realize this. Reviewing my 2016 journal is a reminder of what life could be like, instead of accepting my current reality as the new norm.
We are so adaptable that we manage pain without even noticing how heavy our burdens are until they’re lifted. Yet, there seems to be some attachment to this heaviness, almost like a badge of honor. It’s hard to let go.
This transition is a moment of self-reflection. Earlier this year, I talked about detaching my identity from my deliverables. Now, handing over my tasks to someone else, without having something concrete on the other side, feels like I am identity-less. Strangely, this is equally exhilarating—a blank canvas full of potential.
This weekend, a friend came to meet me after her 10km charity run. There's no way I could have done both. Just thinking about it makes me want to nap. I don’t think this is normal.
It's interesting to reflect on how I've stayed so long in a situation that drained my life energy and yet realizing that the opportunity now offered to me required persistence and perseverance through those difficult times.
That said, I am optimistic that this change at work will bring more energy to live fully, not just survive. Nothing is guaranteed, but this weekly reminder of what life could look like is beneficial. This week, I am going to explore and visualize what I want my life to look like moving forward. Hurray!
Now: June 17-23, 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
- The Dark Side of Self-Empowerment Teachings (11min video): as I continue my prototyping journey, it’s important to examine the limits of personal development and self-empowerment. The more I grow and the more I find that the medicine lies in community.
- Inspiration on how to create your own Tarot Card/Oracle Deck (17min video)
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.
