One of the joys of writing this weekly newsletter is that helps me surface and uncover ideas and patterns that often were staring me in the face, but I'd never quite made the connection before.
It's been a week since I launched Navigate Paris Online. Navigation has long been a theme in my work from designing wayfinding signage while working for architects, to my Paris tours. Somehow it's taken the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing to realize that navigation is really in my blood, and I think about it often these days.
My grandfather was instrumental (literally and figuratively) in the guidance and navigation systems that helped the astronauts get to the moon. While I always knew this at some level as a kid, it felt abstract, and has only sunk in more recently.
My grandfather helped people get to uncharted territory with precision, while my mode of navigation involves a bit more aimless exploration. Either way, both of our approaches involve getting out into the world and talking to people. In fact, I fully intended to send this newsletter a couple hours ago, but I ended up being on a call with a former colleague of my grandfather and we ended up talking for 2 hours as I collected more stories. I had no clue I was speaking with a 97-year-old until the last few minutes of the call!
Every week continues to inspire me...
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Listen.
I know I've already shared 13 Minutes to the Moon in a past newsletter, but I shared it before I realized my grandfather makes a cameo in episode 5: the fourth astronaut. It refers to the navigation system to my grandfather (and his lab) developed that helped us get to the moon. Listen for the parts on Charles Stark Draper (who I get my middle name from!). This podcast keeps giving me goosebumps even though I know how it will end!
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Watch.
Ever since I started studying storytelling, I've become somewhat obsessed with Pixar. "Toy Story 4" is a complete joy as you find a place in your heart for a toy made out of a fork. I definitely laughed out loud, and even shed a few tears of laughter. It's good fun!
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Read.
After watching Brene Brown's Netflix special "A Call to Courage" I've been on a mission to read more of her work. I've slowly but surely been making my way through her books starting with "The Gifts of Imperfection: let go of who you think you're supposed to be and embrace who you are." I find her messages are exactly the reminders many of us need to hear.
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I'm curious, are there any things or people from your past that you feel connected to now? Are you consciously integrating that inspiration into what you do? Do you find themes that run through your work that you didn't expect?
Here's to an amazing week, wherever you're headed! 🌎
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Anne S. Ditmeyer is a designer, explorer, and creative coach based in Paris, France. Her latest endeavor is NavigateParisOnline.com.
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