January Series: Day 16 16 Lessons Learned on This Journey

The journey of daily observations so far has been a mix of discovery and refinement. From experimenting with biophilic design principles to exploring the challenges of collaboration, the lessons learned are shaping what we do, how we do things and when we do things here at Healing Buildings into more than just a structure. 

Here are 16 lessons gathered along the way—a blueprint of ideas that bring purpose and clarity to the process of creating spaces and places are going through the process of healing.  

  1. Distractions drain creativity. 
    Jumping from one idea or app to other scatters focus, diluting the intent behind every design decision. 

  1. Morning is a sacred time. 
    The quiet hours before dawn spark clarity, offering a moment to build, reflect, or dream without interference. 

  1. Themes become anchors. 
    Design education, biophilia, and collaboration form the pillars.  These recurring ideas shape what we are trying to do here. 

  1. Perseverance shapes progress. 
    Daily dedication to this project transforms uncertainty into clarity, like steady hands shaping raw materials into structure. 

  1. Creative resistance is part of growth. 
    Some days, even the brightest visions falter. Yet, pushing through these moments leads to breakthroughs that resonate deeply. 

  1. Nature is healing. 
    Biophilia, the love of life and living systems, breathes vitality into people, places, projects and practice. Time away from the desk and outside are as important as the time at the laptop. 

  1. Collaboration is messy yet meaningful. 
    Like a room of diverse occupants, shared sense of purpose it fosters makes the mess worthwhile. Every voice contributes to something greater than itself—a structure of ideas as strong as any foundation. 

  1. Lists bring clarity. 
    Organising thoughts into lists is like arranging a room’s layout: it creates order from chaos and reveals purpose in what seemed scattered. 

  1. Not all inspiration is useful. 
    While social media and design tools can spark ideas, they can also pull focus away from deeper, more meaningful work. 

  1. Simplicity holds power. 
    The simplest elements—light, airflow, open spaces—have the most profound impact. Stripping things back often reveals hidden brilliance. 

  1. Mornings are for more than productivity. 
    The early hours are not just for planning or building. They’re for dreaming, imagining, and infusing every corner with intention. 

  1. Rest is essential. 
    People, place and planter need care—maintenance, stillness, renewal. Rest fuels creativity and strengthens the foundation for what comes next. 

  1. Iteration is the key to mastery. 
    Design evolves. Each sketch, adjustment, and revision is a step toward something greater. It’s a process as much as a destination. 

  1. Progress is rarely a straight line. 
    Some days bring leaps forward, others feel like steps back. Yet the arc of growth always trends upward when viewed as a whole. 

  1. Connection defines purpose. 
    Whether through people, nature, or ideas, connection breathes life into spaces. It’s the invisible bond that makes me whole. 

  1. Healing is a journey, not a destination. 
    This project reminds me that growth comes from patience and persistence. Healing is woven into every choice, every material, every corner of what I am becoming. 

 

Closing Thoughts 

As Day 16 draws to a close, we reflect on the complexity of the creative process, where that is designing a space, planning a teaching session or arranging a workshop—the layers of intention, the moments of doubt, the breakthroughs that light the way forward. Healing, whether for buildings or the people who inhabit them, is a journey of embracing messiness, joy, and quiet triumphs. 

Here’s to Day 17 and the lessons it will bring. As we grow as a project/movement, we continue to hold these reflections. Every day is another chance to evolve, to inspire, and to heal. 

Ann Vanner


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