Introspection: To Look Within

Abstract

Introspection: a reflective looking inward: an examination of one’s own thoughts and feelings. Each of us are pulled in a hundred directions each day while our actions and behaviors might not always align with our core values. The importance of slowing down to reflect, experience, and appreciate the moments we are in is essential for human life. Doing so helps us find our hearts desires, stir up creativity, and even curiosity. While I had not set foot in a public library since I was a kid, I continued to gravitate towards proposing a public library for my final study. During the early stages of my research, I had days of frustration and many “What have I done?” simply because the more I researched libraries the more I found myself lost in the direction I was going to take the project. It wasn’t until I had a video “The Future of Libraries: TDC Alumni’’ playing in the background. The speaker said, “The library is a sanctuary, an oasis” and it caught my full attention. I agreed the library should be a sanctuary to the public, however, I could not relate to what they were describing when thinking of the libraries that I grew up in. Therefore, this project is dedicated to the idea of the library embodying the term “sanctuary” through experience. Providing the community, a place to break away from the buzz of everyday life in order to look within and enhance the human experience even if only for a moment.