“Five hundred years later, Leonardo Da Vinci’s notebooks are around
to astonish and inspire us. Fifty years from now, our own notebooks, if
we work up the initiative to start writing them, will be around to
astonish and inspire out grandchildren, unlike our tweets and Facebook
posts. “
“The more than 7,200 pages now extant probably represent
about one-quarter of what Leonardo actually wrote, but that is a higher
percentage after five hundred years than the percentage of Steve Job’s
emails and digital documents from the 1990s that he and I were able to
retrieve.”
– Walter Isaacson
How much of our digital selves are trapped inside social
media that we cannot retrieve, use or archive?
Digital note taking is fine but what happens when I am offline and need
to gather my thoughts?
I have been documenting my research and thoughts in multiple and
redundant formats and platforms hoping to find a system that sticks. Pen
and paper so far stands the test of time. I hate the act of physical
writing and my penmanship sucks but here goes.
How beneficial is all this research I am doing for various projects if if I’m not willing to apply it?
I tend to overthink and research topics to the point I am overwhelmed and paralyzed into inaction. I will do a little more research and thinking I haven’t done enough. Procrastinating?
It gets to the point when I get comfortable with just doing the research and thinking that is enough. Learning isn’t the same as doing, I know this but ignore it.What I don’t know is if my applying what I have learned is going to be either perfect or will it be half-assed?
This shouldn’t paralyze me but it does. If anything else I will be closer to my goals by trying it and editing along the way. Like Nike tells us, “just do it.”
Time to evaluate my progress for my Groundhog Resolutions, the 10th annual attempt at creating life-long habits for myself. I’ve discovered that right after the end of the year holidays I am not mentally or physically capable of sticking with resolutions for the upcoming new year. I need a break so I take the whole month of January off to reflect and plan and start on 2/2 instead of 1/1.
I’ll check back in on myself on 6/6
Fun-
50 Books a year challenge: Up to 9 so far. Need to get a move on.
Fitness-
Calvinball: Acquired balls but need to dedicate time to learning the rules and enjoying
Yoga: Work in progress
More 5 & 10k obstacle course racing: We did it! Just today we ran the Warrior Dash. Now we’re looking into local 5ks and cause to support.
Consistent training: Working out with Tracy is mutually beneficial. Accountability may be the one thing I needed to maintain this. We’ve just started out this past week and so far so good for both of us. Will utilize digital encouragement as well with our Fitbits.
Consistent nutritional training: Work in progress. Bad food is too cheap and easy to acquire while healthier options are scarce and pricey. Looking at some non-meat options as well as eating at home more. Again, accountability is key here. No Whataburger in weeks!
Hashing: Waiting on warmer weather. Got called out by THHH Mismanagement for it too. Will be paying for it when I’m back on trail.
Hiking: Taken more than a few hikes this year and explored familiar and new trails. Ancient Forest was extensive but limited access. Will go back. Also, urban hikes along River parks, Midland valley and Turkey mountain.
Geocaching: I am 0 for 15 so far this year. Um, what? Meanwhile, Tracy has decided to sign up and has found two that I wanted.
Meditation: Will be utilizing the same space as kickboxing and yoga for this.
Creative-
Complete my book: The plot thickens…finally.
Photo essay on a topic I am passionate about: Waiting for a topic and inspiration.
Video log every month: Landed on Vimeo instead of YouTube because I am getting rid of Google soon. So far just dark, grainy video of me looking tired but giddy for some reason.
Leave inspirational notes everywhere: Waiting on weather to get better and people hit the streets. Send me inspiration.
Year in photos album: 2017 is just there, waiting on me. Cannot wait to see what 2018 memories I’ll have at the EOY.
You must be constantly adding to your store. For this purpose you create… principally upon your own impressions, feelings and experiences. You also acquire material from life around you, real and imaginary, from reminiscences, books, art, science, knowledge of all kinds, from journeys, museums and above all from communication with other human beings.
“The greatest hazard of all, losing one’s self, can occur very
quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all. No other loss can
occur so quietly; any other loss – an arm, a leg, five dollars, a wife,
etc. – is sure to be noticed.”
Just like my Groundhog Day resolutions, I need photography goals. I
know that I shoot from the hip but a part of me needs more as well. The
following goals are in no order other than what is in my head.
Finish this website. Streamline it and make it professional again.
Organize, once and for all, the Archives.
Shoot more film. My Holga is collecting dust and I am neglecting her.
Re-define who I am as a person and then translate this to my photography
What is the purpose of my photography? I’ve asked and received mixed results.
Add emotional impact to my work.
Continue to share my knowledge, to learn and to grow from my peers such as the Texas Shooters and Shots photography groups
Just like my Groundhog Day resolutions, I need photography goals. I know that I shoot from the hip but a part of me needs more as well. The following goals are in no order other than what is in my head.
Finish this website. Streamline it and make it professional again.
Organize, once and for all, the Archives.
Shoot more film. My Holga is collecting dust and I am neglecting her.
Re-define who I am as a person and then translate this to my photography
What is the purpose of my photography? I’ve asked and received mixed results.
Add emotional impact to my work.
Continue to share my knowledge, to learn and to grow from my peers such as the Texas Shooters and Shots photography groups
I need a muse to help influence and inspire my photography. Someone who understands and supports my creative vision, even if I don’t. This muse would inspire my creative vision. Someone that will allow me anything and everything. Fearless. No comfort zone because of the trust. Find the limits and then cross them anyway. Every photographer needs a muse, not just a model. A companion, my biggest fan and maybe even my biggest critic.
This muse will help guide and instruct my creative process with trial, error and success just by being there. The muse will be honest, free and open with me to unleash my creative flow.
They will fill up my photo card, drain my batteries, use up all my film because the inspiration will not stop. You are hers and she is yours. That connection between her, my camera and me is magic. My muse won’t care for other’s work, just mine. And hers, because she is a work of art herself.
I need a muse to help influence and inspire my photography. Someone
who understands and supports my creative vision, even if I don’t. This
muse would inspire my creative vision. Someone that will allow me
anything and everything. Fearless. No comfort zone because of the trust.
Find the limits and then cross them anyway. Every photographer needs a
muse, not just a model. A companion, my biggest fan and maybe even my
biggest critic.
This muse will help guide and instruct my creative
process with trial, error and success just by being there. The muse
will be honest, free and open with me to unleash my creative flow.
They
will fill up my photo card, drain my batteries, use up all my film
because the inspiration will not stop. You are hers and she is yours.
That connection between her, my camera and me is magic. My muse won’t
care for other’s work, just mine. And hers, because she is a work of art
herself.
