April 2020 Archive

Better All The Time

2020-04-04 14:11:51

I know I feel better after reading a good book, practicing meditation, conversations, a good nap and some contemplative writing. Who needs a pandemic?

Routine Maintenance

2020-04-05 04:59:32

While a pandemic is going on during the few weeks before Holy Week it is starting to feel like Lent around here. The forced discipline of slowing down and stepping away does have its benefits though.

Self-care

Because a lot of my external inspiration such as museums, book stores, libraries are closed, I am forced to find alternative but still helpful ways to inspire, entertain myself. Slowing myself down and finding contentment is more accurate. Small acts of self-care are happening as well. Routine maintenance if you will. Here we go:

Take A Walk

Living so close to the office, there are times when I will take a 20-30m walk to work. There are not too many people walking around in the dark at 6am. Sure I can count it as exercise just to get in my daily 10,000 steps but it is also reflective and therapeutic. It gets my blood flowing. I enjoy the cool wind on my face and the fresh air unspoiled by commuters. It’s a great way to shift into second gear as my work day starts.

Stretch

It doesn’t happen every morning but when I have the chance to do a quick yoga or stretch time it does have the power to change my day. I find that if I set my alarm to wake 15m earlier, I will spend that time on the mat.

Wash Up

During the pandemic we are told to wash our hands for twenty seconds. Choosing to use warm water and soap is soothing. I could see this as an inconvenience in my busy day or I could appreciate this small time of reflection, to breathe and appreciate this self-care. With this mindset I am well over 20 seconds. The same for prepping dishes for the dishwasher. I could see this as a chore or I can be grateful for this amazing resource.

The Great Outdoors

I have been spending a lot of reflective time on the front porch lately. A bit of an informal meditation. My eyes are open and I take in everything around me. And usually there is a lot to take in. From there I will close my eyes and feel the elements. Birds chirping is good. Phone vibrating with texts is bad. I find myself doing this when I am in nature. The most recent time was a visit to Arkansas. Warming sun, water flowing, wind with a bit of a chill. Refreshing.

Make Soup

One of the best things in life is soup. It is world-renowned for its simplicity of nourishment.

Spontaneous Napping

Naps are always a good idea. A few years ago I would have disagreed with this. I needed to stay awake, be productive. Don’t waste the day! Don’t waste the precious time off. Times have changed. I don’t protest a good nap anymore. I don’t even fight it. I won’t get upset if I intend to close my eyes for just ten minutes but woke up two hours later instead.

Anti-Media

I am grateful I have dismissed the need to scroll through the news sites or social media. I cannot imagine the hype, finger pointing and misguided opinions from opposing sides. And I don’t care to see bored people creating auto-tuned singing or dance moves at home either.

Mobile Devices

2020-04-05 05:21:56

As everyone who partakes in this activity already knows, walking is the easiest exercise around. It improves the body and mind equally. Until martial law is enforced, walking is still available to those of us not wanting to stay indoors. But why wait for a deadly virus as an excuse? These examples below are all do-able. Ask me how I know.

Frequent walks
Weather be damned, just do it.
Leave the phone
Take the phone, bring headphones
Music, podcasts, audio books
The right sock & shoes for the right path
Take the different path. Get lost. Adventure time.
Do it for the steps.
Don’t do it for the steps. Not everything has to be quantified.
Turn on autopilot and think/solve the problems you are working on
solvitur ambulando
Have fun by taking photos, listening to surroundings, stomp in puddles
Enjoy the solitude
Bring a companion
Walk & talk
Take a hike
Bring a notebook and document something/anything/everything

Apple Books vs Amazon Kindle

2020-04-05 21:28:06

I have never owned a dedicated reading tablet such as a Kindle. Thankfully, Amazon has created the Kindle app that can be used on every device. Using this app for years on both the Android and iOS platforms has been great because my purchases have followed me around regardless. While practicing my social distancing, I’ve been reading more than usual and have been looking at some book purchases. Well, the process of buying a book from Amazon while using an iPad is a no-go. Some BS competition and licensing thing apparently. I have to log on to the Amazon website and order there as opposed to doing this in-app.Then it hit me like a stack of digital books over the head: why not purchase through Apple’s Books app instead? I have gone all in on everything else Apple, why not books? Amazon started out as an online book distributor. As a charter member myself, I remember receiving books in the mail that even included free bookmarks and magnets. Amazon has innovated the books industry ever since. They are the best and the Kindle software follows. Having said that, I reinstalled Apple Books to the iPad and looked around at all the redesigned changes. It is pretty and sports the usual customization standards for individual needs. Both Amazon and Apple have this feature, both have a big store to shop your books. Both can be synchronized and read on multiple devices. I don’t listen to audiobooks but they are available. Apple’s is built in. I am even allowed to listen via my watch if I desire. May have to give audio books another glance soon. Even though Amazon bought Audible, I am surprised they don’t build that into their app. Both can read the PDF format. But from here they go their separate ways. I have said it before and I will say it again. When paying for digital content, we do not own it. We are only buying the license to use it in the walled-off gardens we bought them from. My Kindle purchases stay with Amazon and that’s it. I learned this the hard way when I killed off my Google account. Goodbye purchased music, books, videos. It has’t changed and it will not change. When and if I decide to use Books over Kindle exclusively, I will not have access to my titles unless I re-install Kindle. And I just remembered that Kindle has a $10 monthly reading program called Kindle Unlimited. These titles are not on anyone’s bestseller list but they are a great way to read a lot of books. Apple does not have this yet. Apple does make use of the ePub format however. With the wonderful people at the Project Gutenberg website digitizing and archiving the world’s literary classics, I download a lot of titles at no cost. Why pay a publisher money when these titles are now in the public domain? Kindle must have some partnership with local libraries too because I can borrow bestselling titles through the library/Kindle. Apple doesn’t have this yet. Grr. Both platforms are amazing and I am glad to see that book lovers are getting the best of both worlds. It is a shame that everything has to be proprietary and profit-driven so I suppose I will find a healthy balance between. But for now, I will take some time and see how well Apple Books can be for my reading needs.

4/4 Check In (Wuhan Virus Edition)

2020-04-04 17:28:13

On 2/2 I began my year long journey to create life long habits for myself and throw in some fun intentions as well. The plan is to check in every month to monitor my progress. How did I do since my last check in on 3/3?

Nutrition & Training

Thanks to COVID-19 and quarantine, I have been eating at home more. Eating out has decreased (not by much, but it counts.) However, since I haven’t been walking to work the cardio has been limited. I’m feeling it. I re-gained two out of the five pounds lost. The bicycle has helped a little bit.

Yoga & Meditation

Another benefit the work from home situation has is extra sleep in the morning. I haven’t been waking up in the 5am hour lately and I have time to workout here at home. Mainly yoga and stretching. Amazing how much that kicks my butt. Meditation and breathing is a big part of this so I am on track with both of these. Namaste at home.

Photography & Writing

Slow progress in organizing the decades worth of photos in the archives. The Vault is setup and the images now need to be culled. After that, I can begin the process of further organizing and printing. I received negatives from the print lab and some scans. Why did I not spring to have prints made? What am I going to do with these negatives? Yes they were a test but I can’t fully see the results. Duh. The only writing I have been doing is here and in my journal. Nothing contributed to the novel or short stories. Not even micro fiction.

5/5

Despite this friggin’ virus I do believe I am picking up the pace for this year long journey. Looking forward to sharing this month’s results on 5/5.

Nutty Buddies

2020-04-07 17:58:29

While working from the home office I’ve had the chance to shoot squirrels. They were just as curious about me as I was of them.

Look Out

2020-04-08 19:08:44

The window that is

Thought Control

2020-04-09 18:37:23

"Ultimately, the only way to truly be in control of your life is to be in control of your thoughts." - Somebody

What If I Am Wrong?

2020-04-09 18:42:05

“It’s not the existence of beliefs that is the problem, but what happens to us when we hold them rigidly, without examining them, when we presume the absolutely centrality of our views and become disdainful of others.”

-Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience

I was hinting at something similar on my Practice vs Belief post

Ramble On

2020-04-12 12:10:15

Reminders (Wuhan Virus Edition)

2020-04-12 21:27:29

Human brains are fantastic. We can process the stress of a pandemic and we can find creativity and beauty during a pandemic.
Remembering what I said I would do if I had the time to do it in. Well, now is the time.
Turn that fantastic brain off and use my hands or feet instead.
Make some comfort food. Soups are always a good idea.
Take it outside and walk.
What would a Stoic do? Those disrupted vacation plans? Let it go. Now is all we are offered, enjoy it.
Find a work-around and hit the road anyway.
Finish that photo project. Write in the journal.

Tsundoku

2020-04-12 21:50:07

Tsundoku? It is a Japanese word for all the unread book piles waiting to be read. Since distractions are limited, now is the time to reduce that pile. After a quick glance at the digital pile, it seems like I am on focused on a specific genre.

Peace In Our Time

2020-04-12 22:20:43

During this time of isolation and retreat while in a pandemic, there is also loneliness and distraction.

OR, it is a time for mindfulness and reflection, like modern monks. I am choosing not to retreat into despair but it hasn’t been easy.

There were too many distractions before the pandemic and there may be even more currently- Netflix, social media, depressing newscasts, etc. Nothing wrong with a little of each but as they say, everything in moderation. I choose to read, meditate, write, journal, walk. The choice is mine: choose despair or choose to practice peace.

I take these stressful times and then reflect on my feelings during meditation. Sit down, shut up, slow down. This way I can organize my thoughts and feelings and process them better.

I can watch Youtube or read virus memes (I don’t do these, honest) OR, I can practice compassion and peace.

I am in no way a modern monk and don’t plan to hide away in a monastery but for now, I think this practice is productive and a good use of my time.

In Or Out?

2020-04-13 08:45:44

Men seek for seclusion in the wilderness, by the seashore, or in the mountains – a dream you have cherished only too fondly yourself. But such fancies are wholly unworthy of a philosopher, since at any moment you can choose to retire within yourself. Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul; above all, he who possesses resources in himself, which he need only contemplate to secure immediate ease of mind – the ease that is but another word for a well-ordered spirit. Avail yourself often, then, of this retirement, and so continually renew yourself.

Marcus Aurelius (AD 120 – 180), Meditations (4.3)

iPhoneography

2020-04-15 18:44:29

I just got back from a quick road trip and took almost all my camera gear in one backpack. It was fun but exhausting.

The simplicity of the iPhone camera brings back the same happiness and exploration that made me love photography. I rediscovered the joy of every day life and documented it. Even the mundane. The camera’s limitations force me to focus fully on the subject I am shooting. That child-like wonder wakes up and the mind opens to the possibilities.
I get to discover new surroundings and re-discover the familiar. How did I miss that before? Snap.

The phone can fit into tighter spaces better than a DSLR because of its size. No worries here about apertures, ISO or shutter speeds. Shooting from the hip is possible as opposed to holding up a camera to your face all the time. Brilliant.

Adding some unique character to the photos through a wide variety of apps helps as well. It is fun to play with settings and adjust color, light, shadows and more all without losing the original image. These adjustments can alter the mood or expression as needed. It can be crisp and digitally perfect or go old-school analog photography. Mobile photography has massive creative potential compared to traditional photography.

While we are experiencing a world-wide contagion and the weather is pleasant, it is good for me to get out, remind myself to look for new perspectives and remember the creativity and joy of mobile photography.

Both

2020-04-26 09:13:17

There is peaceful. There is wild. I am both at the same time.

Changes

2020-04-30 18:28:22

“Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise so I am changing myself.”

Be Quiet

2020-04-30 18:28:49

“The quieter you become the more you are able to hear.”

No Sense

2020-04-30 18:29:33

“The world today doesn’t make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?” - Pablo Picasso I like this idea and maybe need to rethink some of my photography.