Yesterday I wrote about the Joy Of Missing Out and technology so I wanted to follow up with how technology can enhance this joy of missing out. These are super beneficial to me:
I am always on the look out for technology that helps eliminate BS and helps enhance my experience at the same time.
If you were anyway plugged into social media and internet culture the past few years you are familiar with the acronym phrase “Fear Of Missing Out” or FOMO. Wherein people are constantly plugged in and engaged with what every one else is doing or posting so they won’t miss out on what they think is important right NOW.
I recently came across a book titled JOMO or, “The Joy Of Missing Out”, which implies what the rest of us are already thinking- We don’t care what is going on, we’re too busy enjoying ourselves to be bothered with such nonsense!
My love/hate relationship with technology is an example. Social media is an example bad technology. The networking with others is good but it could also screw with your self-esteem and distract you from what is important.
What is better are real connections with people through technology. E-mail has been around a long time as has text messaging. These are still the best, most secure forms of communication. Owning and growing your own domain and website is better technology and more beneficial than working on a billion dollar social media ad farm.
Before I settled on a specific operating system and ecosystem (Apple for the win), I bounced back and forth between Android and Apple devices every six months thanks to my carrier’s mobile plan. Because with each hardware and software iteration there were small improvements that I didn’t want to miss out on. I agreed with the slogan “It just works.” Which was perfect for me because I was finally getting tired of the phone FOMO. I don’t want to think about it anymore, damn it, I just want it to work.
The Apple ecosystem to me are a combination of function and beauty. Powerful and minimal. I don’t want the FOMO distraction and want maximum focus on productivity. With this technology, the simpler the better.
My beloved Nikon D200 was eleven years old before she was replaced. I’ll hold on to my current Canon Rebel which will hopefully stick around just as long. I don’t need the latest or the greatest and I don’t ever think I am missing out by not upgrading these every few years. In fact, I’ve also gone back in time. Back to simpler designs and functions with film cameras. They’ve lasted for decades and will continue to do so. And I am missing out on nothing.
How much more can I keep subtracting bad technology and adding value and joy to beneficial technology? For now, I have worked hard to trim down and can honestly I am missing out and it doesn’t bother me one bit.
I have this thing for black and white images.
I have a thing for black and chrome things too.
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One simple thing I’ve noticed after reviewing my previous year’s resolutions is how many things that blossom and bear fruit in one year that were planted as seeds years before. (Maybe even longer) It makes me wonder how many of those seeds are sprouting right now…
It’s that time of year again! The 12th annual intent at creating life-long habits for myself (formerly known as Ground Hog Resolution Day). I’ve discovered that because of the after the end-of-year holidays I am not mentally or physically capable of sticking with resolutions for the upcoming new year. (Truth be told, I was failing at this for the rest of the year too.) The idea was to take January as a break so I could reflect and plan. And I have given a lot of consideration to dropping the Groundhog Resolutions altogether to come up with a more do-able plan.
I’ll be taking this year-long trek up until December 12th (12/12) and will stop and reflect on my progress each month until then. These will be known as monthly checkpoints.
On 2/2 I will start at the trailhead and will check-in on March 3rd (3/3) next. After that will be 4/4, 5/5 etc.
Since this will be a long trail of betterment I need to pack light. The previous years have been weighed down and overburdened with too many goals and habits and then failing at most of them. Time to lighten the load and focus on the essentials. I’ll go into details in the next few days.
This is priority one. I am at my heaviest and it shows. I feel it daily and I don’t like it. This means I have to focus on my nutrition first. Going out daily for lunch and then sitting at my desk during the work week is hurting me. I’ll need a lot of help with this one. There are too many temptations out there for me. But I want and need to eat cleaner.
Next up is training. There are a lot of activities I am interested in to help my goal of dropping those forty pounds. Foremost would be strength training to help burn off some fat and regain some muscle definition.
I have participated in a few group yoga practices and it was lacking. I find yoga to be a personal endeavor as I try to relax and concentrate on what I am doing. A guru just gets in the way instead of guiding. I’ve subscribed to a fitness app that provides guidance and can be silenced as I work out.
On meditation, I have realized it can be done anywhere at anytime there is even a free minute. This makes me happy and gives me zero excuses to not focus and relax.
Here we go again. The annual intention to enjoy my hobbies properly. Regarding my two decades worth of unorganized images: progress. I will get the archives organized this year. Only then can I advance in what I really want to do with them. I want to make memories by developing physical prints, books and even zines. I’ve also switched up my genres to focus on landscape and urban photography. A lot to learn here this year.
Regarding my writing? It seems I enjoy writing about my intentions rather than just writing the damn things themselves. No mas. I am hoping with a clear mind and a healing body this year will assist in putting words down.
This year I am not adding or subtracting to these intentions. I am taking all of these on this year long journey and I am not leaving them behind.
I’m starting at the trail head on February 2nd and not stopping until December 12 with these goals accomplished.
Overheard in the office: “If you did not have to sleep, how would you spend your extra 8 hours?”
Focus is the art of knowing what to ignore.
Reading is like a software update for your brain.
Let’s face it; I will never run a marathon or a triathlon. I will never climb a rock face any higher than 100’ again. I am not an extreme athlete and have no desire to be one. Once my child was born it stopped being about me and the risks I used to take (I still take risks but they’re more calculated now). None of this matters to me now.
I don’t consume energy/sport drinks and waste my days watching the XTREME SPORTZ channel on YouTube all day. I’m just Chris. Currently a mild-mannered, urban city-dweller and sedentary desk worker who is looking to improve his quality of life. Rarely do we see stories about Chris. “Chris is in his late forties, doesn’t wear the latest workout fashion but wears what is comfortable and has no idea what his personal best is.” There are a lot of Chris’s out there. In fact, I see them walking around the neighborhood in cold weather.
This doesn’t scream “active lifestyle.” It doesn’t inspire adventure or extreme risk. But what it should do is encourage me to move. To squeeze into my workout clothes and to get my lazy ass into the wilds, urban or actual. I’m working out a couple of times a week but I am setting no records so we’ll call it bare minimal maintenance. As I age I fall out of shape quickly and bad habits become too comfortable and easy.
So there are days I manage a thirty minute walk to work or a fifteen minute walk to the fast food place during the lunch hour. Sometimes I’ll walk around the indoor track at work. I wonder if I can add another walk before dinner time. I’m sure I could do the very least of this routine maintenance.
Every time you come to a fork in the road, don’t think. Automatically take the harder route, and pretty soon you’re off on someplace of your own, and no one else’s rules apply.
It is almost the end of the year and the end of another decade. But for me a new day starts when I wake up, not at midnight. Nothing changes except the time. My memorable time stamps occur during meaningful, personal moments.
January 1 is a work holiday where I get paid to not show up. Cool.
Valentine’s day is a great day for candy and cards but is arbitrary. I prefer to express love for friends and family with time spent, not obligation.
The last Thursday of November is not the time I am most thankful.
I don’t wish for peace on earth and goodwill towards men just within the last week of December.
Forcing these celebrated dates disconnects them from the meaning they are supposed to celebrate. And it’s thoughtless and again an obligation.
I prefer celebrating meaningful time stamps instead of calendar dates.
