The Power of Going Orthogonal

As the winter wind-down (for some) begins — I like to use this time as an invitation to let my mind go deep into orthogonal mode.

For those who aren’t familiar — orthogonal thinking refers to the practice of exploring diverse and seemingly unrelated fields of knowledge — that can lead to changes in our work life, or personal lives, in ways that can’t be predicted, or even measured sometimes.

For technologists like myself, I believe that exposing ourselves to a wide range of ideas beyond what is immediately in front of us day to day is our responsibility to the world — we need to understand the fullness of the world — if we are to build for (or with) it — and not just be constrained to our narrow tech-spheres.

So what does orthogonal thinking look like? Here’s a couple of examples:

1. reading Brene Brown’s Atlas of the Heart, I gained a deep understanding of human emotions. So important for me in terms of understanding myself, and others, but also useful in the context of user experience and how to design products for people that are all (beautiful) walking bags of emotions;
2. reading Braiding Sweetgrass (by Robin Wall Kimmerer) I learned how to articulate my non-traditional indigenous ways of knowing in a tech, science, or research context.

Below are what I’ll be diving into over the next few weeks (I doubt I’ll get through them all — but I’m excited to sample a piece of as many as I can):

1. Communion — Bell Hooks

Bell Hook’s lens on the world so deeply resonates with me as a woman of color. She introduced the idea of “queer” as a way of being and a way of thinking — to describe people who think and behave in non-dominant, non-normative ways — and are often “at odds” with the world around them. I’m excited to re-read this one.

2. When Things Fall Apart — Pema Chodron

This year has been filled with a lot of sudden endings and confronting grief for me. Pema writes so honestly and beautifully about the importance of grief, and the process of letting go to become again.

3. Braiding Sweetgrass — Robin Wall Kimmerer

Dr. Kimmererer’s storytelling is gentle and gripping at the same time. She writes in a way that takes you on a journey bouncing between two worlds — that of a scientist (botanist) and that of an indigenous woman. The way she weaves her story using threads from both of these worlds is astonishingly beautiful. I learn more about myself — and how to reconcile the different parts of myself — every time I read a chapter from this book.

4. Mockingjay — Suzanne Collins

Growing up I was a lover of fiction (especially science fiction and fantasy). I can get lost in a fiction book in a way that non-fiction doesn’t provide for me. I believe that fiction can give us the tools to imagine beyond what we think is possible. I’m excited to get lost in this one.

5. Spanish I

Non English languages have always been a transformative place for me. A sanctuary in many ways. I identify speaking English as a second language (Gujarati as my first). And learning how to read, write, and eventually think, in even more non-western/non-english ways for me opens up a window into worlds in a way that little else can. There was a time that I could think in 4 languages (Spanish being one of them) — but I’ve lost that ability — looking forward to re-introducing myself to Spanish again.

6. Born a Crime — Trevor Noah

I read this book cover to cover on a 20 hour flight to India last year. I’ve never read a book that “got me” in the way that I think Trevor Noah’s life story does. And in his unique style, Trevor Noah connects stories from his childhood to geo-politics, race, class, power and privilege, all while finding a way to make you laugh. A stunning once in a lifetime kind of book.

7. Women who Run with Wolves — Clarissa Pinkola Estés

In this season of life I’ve taken great intention to embrace the power of the feminine. So much of my formal education centered masculine, western ways of knowing the world. And yet there are so many stories, from indigenous cultures around the world, that tell the tales of powerful female leaders, spirits, goddesses, witches, and beyond. There are many worlds that celebrate feminine forms of strength and wisdom — and until the world we currently live in can reclaim that — at least there are books like this that we can turn to.

8. The Gifts of Imperfection — Brene Brown

I often tear up when reading Brene Brown’s work. She has a way of speaking so honestly, so directly, so vulnerable about hard thing — and I see many pieces of my story in her story. I learn from how she is able to articulate her challenging experiences and reclaim them as “superpowers” — giving her insights into the world that she now shares generously with others through her work.

9. Kindred — Octavia Butler

Back to the science fiction! Octavia Butler is a legend….LEGEND…in the world of science fiction. She writes about an imagining Black pasts, presents and futures in ways that truly push the realm of what our normative culture allows us to think is possible. There is a reason why her name was invoked by the New York Times when Black Panther came out. I’m excited to jump into this seminal work of hers.

10. The Prophet — Kahlil Gibran

I first heard a poem of Gibran’s in a yoga, read by the instructor at the end of class during savasana. I started weeping. It touched me so deeply. Poetry holds a very special place in my heart, and in my life. I currently write poetry to help express unprocessed feelings, and as a practice to make sense of my experiences in this world. There is something so liberating about treating each word as precious, about breaking the bounds of standard punctuation and grammar (which I was never very good at), to write to convey feeling, rather than to convey a point. If you see me crying on a plane over the next few weeks, it’s probably because I’m reading this book.

And in that spirit — I’ll end this post with the gift of one of Gibran’s poems that never fails to make me tear up. Happy reading, and winter season, to each of you.

On Joy and Sorrow

by Kahlil Gibran

Then a woman said, Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow.

And he answered:

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.

And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven?

And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, “Joy is greater than sorrow,” and others say, “Nay, sorrow is the greater.”

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.

Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.

When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.