Welcoming the precarious 2012

Twenty-twelve is a precarious year. Its highlight, as it is still hotly debated, is the apocalyptic scenario for the end of the year Dec. 12, 2012, or, as the Mayan calendar and some scholars (and some not too scholarly speculators) ruminate, the end of the world.

For many, 2012 could be yet another calamitous year, what with environmental changes, global warming and the earth’s plates shifting here and there throughout all parts of the the globe. For others, the calamity is happening right in their pockets and bank accounts, as we are also in the midst of global economic shifts, with established world powers and their financial foundations being put to the test in so many ways.

In a shifting and unpredictable, natural and man-made world, individuals have begun to turn to themselves and carry a greater awareness of their personal ideals and individual goals. Success, happiness and beauty are all being redefined; goals are being reevaluated; and relationships are being reestablished. While mankind shoots for the moon and misses, it lands among the brightly shining stars of life’s more essential elements.

Collective realizations

While personal introspections abound, there are also realizations that are collective—whether within small groups, or large regions or even whole continents—which help define life’s essentials and help put value into our everyday lives.

While we build and rebuild our world and look forward to our material acquisitions and the environments they make possible, we also take a second look at its sum total—in the form of our living spaces and places—as giving added value to our everyday sensory experiences. These are the positive emotional response triggered by these environments.

The coming year sees us spending more time in uplifting spaces, whether in the solitude of our personal prayer rooms, or in the silence of our little reading nook, or even in our active gym or dance studio environment. Life is teaching us to be present, and with this awareness of “now,” we become more appreciative of the present, and with that, all the little nuances of our surroundings. Like stopping to smell the roses, small and seemingly insignificant details come to fore and are appreciated (or scoffed at) as part of our grander experiences.

Our sense of individuality also comes forward to be recognized, for in as much as there are individuals who are firm and set in their understanding of themselves. There are also those who are struggling with their identity, most especially after a loss or major life change, changes which we see happening all too often around the globe. We will probably see more shifts in priorities and a downgrading of things material that have little bearing on one’s true happiness.

Collectively, we are also seeing a longing for a sense of place. In these modern times when technology has moved forward quickly to make the urban environment beautifully modern but so globally generic, people have looked for the traditions that keep them grounded to their roots, and separate them from the mass of humanity.

Our cities will probably look more contextual and less one-dimensional when infused with more of its aesthetic traditions. Malls, institutional facilities, transport hubs and multi-use developments become cultural centers in themselves, giving users not only a feeling of belonging, but also giving them a spot in the global world of aesthetics.

More meaningful way

On a personal scale, eclecticism will continue to flourish, but in a more meaningful way, with minimalism as a backdrop to carefully selected memorabilia, artistic pieces, or elements. These will tell the story of one’s life, like the highlights in many chapters, rather than a continuous rattling of a story otherwise flat, with no thrill, no climax, and too many forgettable moments.

Workspaces will give more importance to the intangible needs of the workforce, providing for rest and recreational spaces that not only increase productivity, but more importantly, give workers a sense of home and a feeling of brotherhood with the rest of their organization. Individual workspaces will be designed to be flexible, allowing self-expression and identification in the sea of blue-collar worker.

The coming year may bring about its threats, but it also takes with it new realizations by coercing us into introspection.  With a refreshed knowledge of our priorities, we will be able to work our renewed needs into our spaces. Welcome 2012!