Chris

Common Ground

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Living in the 3rd largest city of the U.S.A. taught me a lot about people’s perspectives and differences of opinion. I met and enjoyed talking with people I don’t agree with on a lot of things, except we do believe in each other. We talked, we shared, we encouraged each other, we found common ground.

A popular fast food chain is in the news recently because they decided to not donate funds to organizations that other groups disagree with.
I don’t care. I like their food. I don’t care about their politics and I never will.

I listen to bands for years that enjoy spouting off their causes and politics. We wouldn’t have agreed on much and I don’t care. I love their music.

I voted for the other guy. I don’t like him and would never sit down to have a drink with him.

I enjoyed gathering around family and friends to celebrate the holidays. I will enjoy a meal with them but don’t want to discuss politics with them.

Over the years I have developed the ability to glean lessons from a variety of sources. I am aware. I listen. I process. I learn. Some of my favorite teachers were liberal, others were conservatives, and still others were neither. I didn’t care so long as I learned.

Let’s find some common ground together.

Grateful

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I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual… O how I laugh when I think of my vague indefinite riches… No run on my bank can drain it for my wealth is not possession but enjoyment…
—Henry David Thoreau, from “Letter 30, December 6 and 7, 1856″

Photo Archival Project

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DAM. Digital Asset Management. I don’t have it but I critically need it. It’s hell trying to determine where any of my photos really are. Despite sporadic attempts at bringing things under control, I’m still not very well organized.

I’ve read a lot of articles about the top ten things photographers would do if they had to start all over again and not a one has mentioned anything about photo organization AFTER the shooting and editing. Now what? At first, we only have few dozen images and then hundreds and it’s easy to find things when looking for them. That’s the attitude we start out with. But a photo organization system? Never occurred to me.
Over time they start to accumilate and then you change devices, copy these images to that other hard drive and then the year ends and a new one starts; and then the years go by. We keep taking pictures and these files pile up and then we realize that they really should be organized soon. By then it’s too late and overwhelming and also past time that this has to be done.

Since I don’t have my very own JARVIS artificial intelligence to sort, remove duplicates, purge bad images, organize by date, tag, and geotag then I’ll just have to do the damned thing myself.


Jarvis? Organize my archives please

Now that I have some time off I can relax, enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday while traveling and plan my approach. A new incentive has arisen: time. Currently is late November 2019 and a new decade is approaching. So I will organize the archives by decade and secure them into digital vault.

Archive 1970-2009
Archive 2010-2019
Archive 2020 and future

Only then can I begin to think about processing the keepers and organize them into prints and maybe even some books. Especially for my planned Daphne photo project.

Damn.

More And Less

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  • More reading less Netflix
  • More walks less scooters
  • More cooking less eating out
  • More togetherness less selfishness
  • More outdoors less indoors
  • More analogue life less digital
  • More training less sloth

Keep Calm And Carry On

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Take your MEDS. Meditation/exercise/diet/sleep
Walk
Read
Write
Shoot
Talk
Get out
Accept what you can’t manage.
Detox from media, social media.

Wants

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“But I don’t want comfort. I want poetry. I want danger. I want freedom. I want goodness. I want sin.”

  • Aldous Huxley

Solvitur Ambulando

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Go outside. Take a walk. Just walk. Walk until you have figured out what is bothering you or until you are so tired that you don’t care about it anymore. Repeat as needed. Bring a friend if you’d like and just go. Walk.

Start Somewhere

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You have to start somewhere. That first step. A new mindset. A deep breath. Load that bullet and take your first shot. That first sip, a new notebook and pen. Make that call or email. Just start.

Self-Help

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Disconnect
I’ve been experimenting with Airplane mode on my devices to focus on anything else that is productive. This allows me time for myself to focus, recover and reflect. Also great for dedicated time spent with others.

Walking
Solvitur ambulando is Latin for “it is solved by walking”. I have a lot of issues that need solving so time to get those feet moving.

Training
Consistent gym workouts for strength. Yoga to improve my flexibility.

Rewilding

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Excerpt taken from a book coming out next month called Rewilding:

Before embarking on a hike through a forest, meadow, or other wild space, take a few moments to center yourself. Close your eyes. Take some slow, deep breaths. Allow your exhalation to be twice as long as your inhalation. Let go of anything rattling around in your head—whatever stress or worry you are transmitting. Tune into the sounds, sensations, and rhythms of the land around you. Stretch out with your feelings and sense the aliveness of the earth. Know that the beings that call this land home are paying close attention to what is happening here: They have to; their lives depend on it. Your presence will be felt and communicated far and wide. Notice the birds and the chipmunks—the little creatures we sometimes consider background noise. In a relaxed way, be curious, and with your eyes closed, observe what is happening around you. Take a few minutes to be with it all.
Then, open your eyes and look around. Simply observe everything while expressing your gratitude and respect for the land. Set a strong intention to stay present and connected to your breath, and create as little disturbance as possible. Let each footstep be an experience of soulful connection with the planet, each breath a rite of interbeing with the holy winds that blow.