Tabula Rasa
February 20, 2020 As I write this, it’s day 1. The contractor is coming to do the tear-down. The room is going to be completely empty by the end of the day. I remember that the first Latin phrase I ever learned was tabula rasa. Empty slate. The phrase is used most often in relation to child development and learning theories, the idea proposed that we are empty slates and life fills us up with learning new information as we grow. We have an infinite potential, according to the theory. And that’s how I feel about this room now. The potential is vast. It’s my white canvas. And that is more than a little intimidating, I’ll admit. Will the dimensions work? Is my design user-friendly? Will the update stand the test of time, or will I hate it after a few months? Is it too white, too stark? Was wood flooring a poor choice? The only way to know is to jump in, to start painting like mad on that canvas. If I made planning mistakes, well, so be it. Because indeed, althoug...