How to Collect Metaphors
We can reground ourselves in our lives by seeking out metaphors that actually resonate with us.
Many of our inherited myths and sayings are not of our current environments. We may know the phrase, "A stitch in time saves nine," but how many of us have actually repaired a garment recently? We can reground ourselves in our lives by seeking out metaphors that actually resonate with us.
For example, what does it mean to be "under construction"?
A quick walk around my Manhattan neighborhood offers many images: Construction sheds, heavy equipment, scaffolds, hard hats are among the more common or cliched ones.
What about: Field offices, coming soon signs with digital images, wheatpasted flyers? What about dumpsters, mandatory regulatory papers? All of these play a role in construction too.
So if we say that our project is "under construction," what do we mean? How can we draw on images that we notice to clarify the roles and needs of our projects?
Just as sommeliers are constantly collecting smells, we can constantly collect images and metaphors. This becomes a rich bank (or library!) of material that we can use to better understand the situations we encounter.