Every time I close a project no matter how big or small I like to do a little bit of self reflection. Was it successful? What were the wins? What would I change? How can I learn and apply that knowledge to future projects?
I practice Architecture and the “practice” is the key to my approach. I have a good knowledge of my field and experience to support it, but I do not have all the answers. I strive to find those answers, to understand and gain clarity from each project, to share that clarity and knowledge. I strive to learn. I focus and try to enjoy the journey, to keep “practicing” and to get better with every stroke of the pencil and every project.
Each single project is different. There is a different client or clients, with different backgrounds, needs, perspectives and points of view. The site, location, climate, and surroundings are always different. There is always something new to learn and to share.
In the same way, every year is different. This year was historic and uncertain. Nobody knew how to navigate it with assertiveness but we all had an opinion, and we saw a clash of everything, good and bad. We tried to understand history and get some clues that would help us, while dwelling on pandemics of disease, ideologies, and emotions. However, I also want to think that we have learned to have more tolerance. We have learned to see that we all have a little bit of truth, and that the collective one has a lot of weight. We have learned that we are stronger together and that we need each other for survival. We all experienced this year in a different way, and here is my account.
This year my family and I walked on completely unknown terrain. We learned to slow down, to absorb the new rapidly changing reality. On March 12 we were celebrating a birthday and passing my last Architectural Registration Exam. A huge milestone that I had been working towards for years. We were having dinner and everything felt amazing. We already knew about the pandemic, we had the sense that something big was coming, but it still looked far, and we could not really grasp the full meaning and implications. The next day was the last day my son went to preschool, and I began sharing a home office with my husband. That weekend, the city’s streets were deserted, people were panic buying and everything felt extremely surreal. The news said that this would last at least 6 months, and I remember that sounded like such a long time!
Every year, in the last days of December I like to look back, reflect and learn. I believe that this exercise is very important this year in particular. As challenging as this year has been, it would be a waste to let it pass without absorbing and learning as much as possible.
While I reflect, I like to concentrate on the positive. There is always something, and despite the struggles and difficulties, this year has brought so much love and growth that it is important to acknowledge it.
Professionally, this year I was able to finally obtain my California Architect’s License, and started Unfolding Lines Architecture. Getting the License was a challenging process, but one that definitely contributed to my growth as an Architect. This year allowed me to accomplish these long time goals and I am very excited about the opportunities that are to come. As a side note, for anyone studying for the AREs or the CSE feel free to reach out! I would be more than happy to share resources and knowledge.
Personally, I have once more been able to see my resiliency in action. I have been able to develop my patience and put much emphasis on improving daily habits. My family life has been busy and unexpected. On one hand I have not been able to see as many members of my family that live abroad as any other year, or even many friends and family that live close by. On the other hand, my nuclear family has strengthened. My husband and I have learned how to make a better team, dividing house chores, taking care of our son, developing careers and improving our relationship. I have been able to enjoy so much time with my son that I would have missed otherwise. I have also been able to spend more time with my in-laws, and their companionship during this time has been a blessing.
I have had my good share of challenging times, but I prefer to not dwell on them. I am choosing to focus on the good ones, and all the blessing and growth that this year brought. With less than 10 days left in the year, it is a good time to celebrate anything, to be grateful and to begin thinking about the next year and how we are preparing for it.
How was this year for you? Did you complete any exciting projects?
Thank you for reading. Stay tuned because I am preparing a blog post for the new year, with a tip that I have found to be very helpful at the beginning of any project.
In the meantime I will leave you with a
Timeless “Christmas gift suggestion”
By Oren Arnold:
Christmas Gift Suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.
Have a Merry Christmas and a happy and blessed new year!
As always, thank you for your support, and please help me reach more people and share it with your friends, family and colleagues! To know when a new blog post is out you can follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Gracias!
Citlalli
It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things,
That while there is infection in disease and sorrow,
There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious
As laughter and good humor.
Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
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Special thanks to my editor, Ilya Godes!
Citlalli is an architect and a mom who enjoys
finding the extraordinary around us and
understanding what makes each person thrive.
She believes that art, and good design should
be accessible, and her motivation is to help build
a better world for the next generations.
She has worked on residential and commercial
projects for 15 years, and decided to open her own
studio in Los Angeles, California, aimed to make
great architecture accessible and affordable to more people.
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