Embrace change

Wave
My first day in the office of the new year is also the day I hung up my favorite art: a woodblock print of turbulent sea.  It's very much in the tradition of The Great Wave Off Kanagawa by Hokusai.  In fact, it may be by Hokusai [Amazon link to book of his work], but I can't read Japanese, so I don't know the artist's identity.

The ocean as a metaphor for change is nothing new.  I would be pompous blogger to even waste your time expanding upon the world's volume of literature that does it better (and worse) than I would.  This print, a gift from Sarah, has hung in every office I've worked in for almost 8 years now.  Personally it embodies the way I approach technology.  Nothing is fixed, it's constantly changing.  You cannot become attached, as the change happens to you whether you are ready to change technology or not.  Your only choice is how you prepare or react to it.

It's a good attitude for Texas Hold'em poker as well.  You can start out with the best hand but subsequent cards could improve others and not you.  Your attachment to your previously best hand will end up costing you greatly if you choose to remain committed to it. 

2009 will be lots of change: new baby, new skills, and possibly a new job for Sarah if she finds something that fits well.  Here's to steady sailing.