Admitting disorientation.

I've been in design, business, and programming for over 17 years. In that time, I've gotten used to feeling oriented. I've built up instincts, learned the patterns, and developed a level of fluency with the tools of the trade over this time. But lately, that sense of orientation has started to slip. The tooling is evolving so quickly, it's become difficult to keep up. And if I'm feeling disoriented, I can only imagine what it's like for others who might not have the same depth of experience.

This isn't just a personal feeling. It's a signal. Disorientation is going to be a common experience for all of us working in tech, design, and creative industries right now. And that's okay.

For seasoned professionals, and myself, admitting disorientation feels like failure. But it's not. It's not a sign of defeat. It's recognition of the moment. It's like getting lost in a mall or an amusement park. Your instinct is to stop, look around, search for something familiar. You try to get your bearings. But right now, the speed of change is so bonkers that there might not be anything familiar to look for. That's disorientation.

We're entering a time where not knowing is going to be the norm. Where feeling lost might be the starting point. The important thing is to acknowledge it; sit with it. Discomfort is part of the process. And from that discomfort, we can find new ways of seeing, understanding, and creating.