Miscellaneous

reader profiles: ambika.

by erin |

Lately, I’ve been tossing around a few ideas of ways to give back to you: my readers. I can’t thank you enough for the support you’ve brought me through the months and I hope that I can give each of you just a fraction of that encouragement.

So, in an effort to make Design for Mankind a bit more collaborative and reader-focused, I’d like to present to you: reader profiles. You may not be a fabulous artist or own a studio, but you’re still a part of this community and I’d love to honor that.

All thanks to Jude who gave me the swift kick-in-the-pants to organize this, and who was also the brainchild for reader profiles [thank you, dear!].
—

We’re starting out with Ambika, a gal who would just LOVE to know how to be a bit more patient… think we can help her out?


[click to enlarge & read].

If you’d like to be featured on Design for Mankind, email me right here and tell me what’s keeping you up at night.

  • Ha! And hey, I just found out we *are* invited to Idaho this summer so I will be wake boarding this time!

  • Thanks, Yas! I owe it to Jude, the mastermind of features. :)

    And Ambika— HURRAY! :)

  • i really love this feature! to answer amibika’s request for feedback on worrying:

    i tend to be quite the worrier (so was my mother), but have found that i can only remain in that state for so long. if i put a time line on the worry, i.e. the exam will be over by 2 pm, i’ll feel a little bit better.

    something else i “try” to do when it’s an extremely stressful situation that i can’t control (the root of worry, i think), is to acknowledge that it’s going to be a difficult time and accept it rather than try to be happy and get over it, which just creates additional stress.

    hope that makes sense? if it doesn’t, contact me if you want to ambika.

  • p.s.

    i think it’s really sweet that you’re looking to “give back” to your readers, especially when you already give a lot, ie, the e-zine and featuring indie designers. so thanks for that :)

    oh, and p.p.s.

    i used to be a worrier too. but it helps to be around people who aren’t! my husband rarely worries about things, and he’s helped me a lot when i was in college. i’ve learned that patience goes a LONG way, and acknowledging the fact that if something is beyond your control, all you can do is wait and think about the good that is going on at present.

    in a more physical sense, i’ve learned how to breathe properly. deep breathing helps a lot. i also found that when i draw or do anything creative, i’m less if not stressed at all (which is why my blog is good therapy :P).

    also, aside from my husband and a very supportive best friend, i have my pets. knowing that there are beings in this world that want nothing more but your love and affection is a great feeling and wipes all the worries away :)

    i hope this helps, even a wee bit. feel free to email me if you’d like ambika!

  • What a great new feature!! I love it- and this is exactly WHY you are THE most awesome blogger :)

    As far as helping her out, I am quite the worrier as well. The best advice that I can give is what I follow and focus on the fact that there are people who have REAL things to worry about. When you take a step back and think, you remember “don’t sweat the small stuff”. It kinda puts things in perspective.

  • I also am a bit of a worrier… here are my tips:

    1.) pray. For me, trusting in God is the best peace I can have.
    2.) write a list of everything you worry about no matter how big or small. Then divide the list into “What I can control” and What I can’t control”. For the things you can control, transform them into goals. What can you do to change the situation? For the things you can’t control, you have to let them go. Don’t let them consume your thoughts and your time.
    3.) If you’re worrying, change things up so you aren’t dwelling on your thoughts– go for a walk or run, have a nap, call a friend, do something creative, watch a movie you love…

  • this is such a great idea! i love to learn about others and i like that the format is not too long. just enough to make you want to know…

    patience- i don’t know if you have children, but before i had my son, i had very little patience. having a wee one around really slowed me down and made me realize…all good things in time.

    worry- don’t know that i can help here. i’ve been a worrier all my life, but in the past couple of years i’ve learned to see past what is bothering me at the moment, and focus on the good things that lie ahead.

  • Ooo, I’m loving all the worrying tips. Patience is definitely a virtue I’m without and I’m sure a big part of it.

  • DFM – great new segment. I agree that it is great that it isn’t too long.

    Because I am not a creative/design person myself, I like that maybe all of your profiles won’t just be about “design” people.

  • What a great idea… are the questions the same for every interview, or different ones? Just curious. You always come up with such creative ideas, but I have to say that this is one of my favorites.

  • Erin you are brilliant! In other news… i figured out that your site won’t crash me if i’m on explorer. Anyone else having problems on safari?
    -heidi (faboolosity)

  • oh this is wonderful! such a great idea erin! you are soooo good.

    i LOVE ambika, one of the many blogs i read. so it’s exciting to see her here!

    i too have ishtar w/ patience. my latest mantra, which i found through blogger friend danica who writes slow progress http://www.comfies.blogspot.com…is “everything happens the minute it is supposed to.” i say that to myself often. sometimes a couple 100 times a day, depending on my mood. i also remind myself that life is precious and do i want to spend my time huffing and puffing because things aren’t happening quick enough? it’s hard in the moment…but i try. ;)

  • I have to agree with most of these comments Erin. It shows a lot about your character that you desire to give back to your readers and want them to feel valued. You would make a good boss:)

    This is why we keep on coming back to your awesome blog, checking back every hour through out the day.

    You’re the best sister!

  • Awww, I love all of your comments and thank YOU guys so much for helping out Ambika. Megan— I love yours and Danica’s mantra! Very inspiratioal.

    And Seven— similar questions, but I may change them up every now and then! :)

  • erin, you really know how to use blogs to their fullest potential. you’ve made this one into something that is just so real and fresh and effortlessly inspirational.

    to answer Amika:
    I’ve dealt with my worrying mind for so long, and it’s terrible when it prevents you from doing normal everyday things. And the truth of it is, no matter what, you’ll be a better person for going through whatever it is that you’re worrying about, so embrace it and hope for the worst! that’s what makes us; that’s what makes our lives. the other thing is there is always something else out there that’s worse than what you’re dealing with and there’s always another way to look at a situation.

    I hope that helps! And about the patience thing, what are we rushing for — to get to something else we’ll want to rush through? Slow down and take the moment for what it is.

    – Jessie – xo

  • Awww, thank you, Jessie. And I LOVE LOVE your advice to Ambika. It’s just great how supportive you readers are with each other! :)

  • I love Ambika with the fire of a thousand suns. And I love this new feature too!

  • wait? you’re not supposed to be impatient and worry? oh crikey i’m doing it all wrong!!! hehe.

  • love the new feature!

    i have a friend that always tells me to put my worry in the big deal basket or the small deal basket. if it’s in the small deal basket – let it go & if it’s in the big deal basket – then you can worry. i tell ya – simple & silly, but it reduced my worries by 80%.

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