Who Thinks These Things Up!?

Recently I came across a term/job title I wasn't familiar with - User Experience (UX) Designer - so I checked it out in Wikipedia (of course):

     User experience design most frequently defines a sequence of interactions

     between a user (individual person) and a system, virtual or physical,
     designed to meet or support user needs and goals, primarily, while also
     satisfying system requirements and organizational objectives.

Among my too-many-to-name jobs that I've had over the years, User Experience Designer was never one of my position titles... as far as I know.  And when it comes to writing, I would suppose that a technical or How-to book might qualify for such an entitlement, but I have written neither.  In some of my employment, I've been a waitress, an accountant, and even a retail salesperson.  When I "ponder deeply," I begin to realize that I actually have been what I never knew I was: a User Experience Designer.

• A waitress/food server is the liaison between the guest (user) and the cook (system designed to meet needs), primarily taking care of the customer while, at the same time, satisfying the manager/owner's (organizational) objectives.

• An accountant - a good one - defines the transactions made by an individual/company with a program designed to primarily support their needs and goals, while still satisfying IRS (organizational) requirements and objectives.

• A retail salesperson - again, a good one - is defining for the customer (user) a system (perhaps a 3-step skin care/makeup regimen) that is designed to primarily meet the individual's needs/goals, while still satisfying the quotas/demands (organizational objectives) of management or a company.

Guess I'm not as out of touch with today's hi-tech as I thought, and certainly more than I ever would've  given myself credit for.  But I do have a question: Who in the world has the time to sit around thinking these things up?  (And probably even gets paid for it nonetheless!)

The Architect of My Soul - Canvas or Drawing Board

Today I pull out the blank canvas. I need to repaint my life - again. Maybe I need to see things bigger this time; maybe I'm more than just a painter. Perhaps I should decide to be the architect - the one who plans, designs, and takes the oversight of the construction. Then I won't be having to revisit this subject - again. That's gotta be the answer.  I'll just become "The Architect of My Soul." (Of course, I say this as if I was the first one who's ever coined the phrase.)

So no blank canvas today. Instead, I'm sitting up to a blank drawing board. I'm actually more familiar with this medium anyway. I took 2 years of mechanical drafting in high school, AND, I was quite good at it I might add. But first, before I lay it all out, I must plan. That will take some serious consideration and thought and... time. Already this seems to be involving much more effort than I'm willing to put into it right now. (sigh)

Perhaps painting would be simpler after all - definitely easier. HGTV always points out how the easiest way to change where you live is: paint. The only plan needed is to decide a color scheme, and I already have one picked out.  It's relatively simple just to stick with what I know I already like.

Meanwhile, back to the drawing bo--- or, uh, I mean, ...blank canvas!  Right? So, I'm going to repaint my life. Right? Wait a minute... then what have I really changed? I'm just going to 'stick with what I know I already like" anyway. Isn't that the path I've taken before? Isn't this why I decided in the first place to pull out the blank canvas today? And, isn't it because of all these things that I concluded I actually need an architect? Yes, I believe so. And... that would be me; I'm the architect (and I'm not referring to The Matrix). I am:

The Architect of My Soul.