ON THRESHOLDS

Being aware of thresholds is key to navigating them successfully.

Note: This post is an ongoing project and will be updated regularly.

I think of thresholds as spaces of transition.

Where the forest meets the pasture.
An on ramp or exit ramp.
Where things transform from what was to what will be.

In life, we’re always interacting with thresholds, and we can break it down into three main categories of interaction (I’ll use these terms quite a bit throughout this article):

• Approaching (orientation)

• Navigating (disorientation)

• Leaving (reorientation)

ON ORIENTATION

(more to come on this…)

ON DISORIENTATION

One of these is clearly not as fun as the other two.

Disorientation is important and necessary; not something to be avoided at all costs. In fact, disorientation is a critical aspect of our Unrationed rites of passage. (You can read more on that here).

For much of human history (read: all?) we looked to stories as guides.

These stories often included at least one component of orientation, disorientation, or reorientation; and the ones that have had the biggest impact went full circle.

They remind us that disorientation is necessary, but reorientation the aim.

Enter the chaos, and as far as you're able, don't create more of it.

Travel to the depths of hell if you so choose, but don't reemerge alone.

Thresholds always tell a story, and our awareness of that story has an impact on how we engage with the space we’re in.

ON REORIENTATION

(more to come on this…)