ar·tic·u·la·tion
noun
LANGUAGE
the
formation of clear and distinct sounds in speech.
"the
articulation of vowels and consonants"
MUSIC
clarity
in the production of successive notes.
"beautifully
polished articulation from the violins"
ARCHITECTURE
distinctiveness
of both structural/functional
and
cosmetic/ornamental features
comprising
a whole
LIFE
…
Articulation implies some level of carefully constructed
complexity and/or deconstructed perplexity,
with “everything in its place” … nothing missing and nothing
wasted. Each syllable in perspicacious language
and living has meaning, purpose and weight.
It implies propriety, efficiency, austerity, clarity, completeness – no
slurring or slippage. It also implies
“carving out”, as in separating or purifying or creatively and innovatively
bringing about something new or better … higher, more aspirational. There is also an implication of
intentionality in articulation.
Personal note: Much of my personal
life has been an amalgamation … a “singularity” of merging eating, sleeping,
working, playing, etc., all running together.
At least that’s what is looks like!
I have papers overflowing on my desk – including tax documents, books to
be read, notes to be codified, contacts to be contacted, etc. But it’s rather like mining for aluminum in a
city dump instead of in diverse remote locations … at least a large part of the
“rendering” process from raw material has been circumvented!
Speaking of city dumps …, I still tend
to amalgamate my mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green beans and
cranberry sauce during holiday feasts!
My laboratory – in my most
productive science days – was similarly “amalgamated” to the uninitiated
beholder. However, I had a very clear mental
articulation of what was where, and every critical process had its place
and associated accoutrements readily available in situ for maximum efficiency of operation. Nonetheless, cell culture operations were
meticulously articulated in their own right for sterility and technical purity
purposes. And the lab notebooks were
meticulously articulated!
What I have found in my more “seasoned” years is that regimented
articulation (i.e., more intentional than “habit”) can add both intrinsic and aesthetic
value.
When you visit someone else’s home,
it’s the articulation you most do or
do not appreciate: If things are orderly (as in the case where the person(s)
being visited were expecting company), outfitted and spaced “in good taste” –
with some degree of intentionality and forethought – clean and neat, it creates
a much more pleasant experience than if everything – including dust bunnies and
all of one’s “hoardings” – is “amalgamated”.
Why do we like to go shopping and
acquire “new” stuff? Because of both the
articulation in the stores … with
everything attractively displayed, clean and neat … and the articulation of new merchandise …
separated from everything on the “cutting room floor” :: and separated from
sweat, dust, gravy, make-up, tears, snags, dents, scrapes, fading, wrinkles,
clothes hanger creases, etc.
Why do we like to eat out? You guessed it! Articulation!! (You fill in the blanks!)
Here we stop to ponder the contrasting images at the top of
this offering – the exquisitely articulated mansion outfitted for the holidays
versus the bland, neutral, “practical” neighborhood hovel … with everything
blanketed in a single color. (One virtue
in the latter case is that the house was just newly painted, covering up a lot
of errant articulations of peeling and discolored paint, rust, loose siding,
etc.)
Disclosure: I have a personal
aversion to painted brick architecture – particularly to brickwork painted in a
way that disarticulates it from surrounding building materials. Bricks have intrinsic gravitas and should be
allowed that distinction!
Note that errant articulations and disarticulations can
cause a lot of angst, stress and discombobulation well beyond their immediate in situ conjunctivation. A bad hip can do significant damage to one’s
back and knees, not to mention one’s “disposition”.
We can become much better “disposed” by giving more
attention to articulation.
Finally, the importance of clearly articulating what you want and need – and can do without
– cannot be overstated. And WHY! Remember, it’s got to be purposeful, like
you really mean it.
And re-articulate frequently. Life requires continuous sculpting, carving
the best YOU and your PATH OF DESTINY out of a vast universe of possibilities …
moment-to-moment. Like Michelangelo,
create the most vibrant/elegant life-track vision you can conceive – not that
you can fit comfortably into but that you can GROW into. Here’s to a Grand New Year of Grand New
Articulations! Quartermaster
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