Did you know that Autodesk’s research team has published more than 60 peer-reviewed academic papers on AI-related discoveries, making Autodesk AI Lab the world’s leading publisher for AI research for 3D geometry and design?
It’s Make Anything Thursday, and today’s post is about something I’ve been stewing on. Yes, AI is remarkable, and it is undoubtedly having a moment. But might there still be times when good old-fashioned analogue is better?
Here are a couple of examples that come to mind:
Journaling
I’ve always been big on starting the day with a simple analogue journal and an evolved journaling process. For several years, I have used coloured pencils and a journal with unlined paper (i.e. whitespace.) I start each day with a simple image of something I’m manifesting. Lately, that image has been my new ‘every gPage Singletary thing’ website at gpagesingletary.com and my churnOn publishing logo. You can see below I typically sketch out the header for the website.
Next, I always ask myself three questions, and take a few minutes to record my thoughts:
- What am I grateful for today?
- Who can I help or pray for today?
- What is one truth leaping out at me today?
That process always seems to ground me and helps me start my day from a good place. (The little box I draw is a reminder to spend 80-90 percent of my time on things that are life-enhancing and 10-20 percent (max) on things I call ‘necessary and efficient’. Many people have this entirely backwards, and thus, they likely always feel they are chasing their tail, so to speak. Think about that, and read Richard Koch’s classic best seller, The 80-20 Principle: The secret to achieving more with less.
Typing thank you notes on an old typewriter
Do you see the typewriter on the table in the screenshot below? I put it there on purpose because it makes an interesting conversation starter. Call me crazy, but I have always loved typing short thank-you notes on my grandfather’s typewriter, as a unique way to share a thank-you message. It just feels good and I would say again, it is grounding.
What other examples might you have in your life, where analogue is preferred, or perhaps is better than the mighty AI?
P.S. The portable typewriter was a special Xmas gift from my secret Santa, Lucy May @lucybarfieldcreative. It’s a carbon copy of my Grandfather Singletary’s Royal, only smaller. The iPad of yesteryear! Well done, LuLu. I love it!
