If you find yourself overwhelmed with the busyness of life, read my latest essay titled Busy, found under the Musings tab. It helped me to better understand much of what consumes the mind.

I started writing an essay yesterday about the artistic and creative influence my mom has had on my life. As is most always the case when I write, recalling the events which lead to the point of my essay, I find that the recall of memories keep growing as I ponder.

When I started writing the essay, I had originally planned to publish by today, but then was reminded of a phrase that my friend Drew used to say…’How long does it take to catch a fish?’ The answer is, there is no answer. One doesn’t know. It happens when it happens. One cannot rush art. One should also not segment art, but that the act of segmenting art is for another post on a different day.

I therefore allowed myself after writing more about mom today, to save the Draft and wait until the essay itself is ready to publish. I cannot and should not publish the essay if it is not ‘ready’. I’m also careful to avoid perfectionism here because there is no perfect essay. However, setting something ‘down’ and allowing it to simmer is probably often a good thing for us all to practice.

So perhaps this is something we could all do today. Allow the simmering process to occur more often than not. Sounds to me like this idea could be a good entry point for a calmer day.

I read a good book years ago that included the phrase ‘Everybody, everything, and all the events in your life are there because you have put them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you’.

Faith aside, this phrase and the book’s overarching message got me thinking… a lot. Those around us, what we do, who we interact with, outcomes of our actions, everything, is an action result of cause and effect. Whether it be ‘self’ free will, or bestowed free will, we have choices in our lives that will work to shape an outcome.

Let me bring this to the here and now. What choices am I going to make today to help shape a desirable outcome? Now, focus that same question to yourself. The desirable outcome doesn’t always need to be for ourselves, and it shouldn’t be anyway. We have the opportunity to help and serve others, each and every day. That alone is exciting.

Everybody, everything, and all the events in your life are there because you have put them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you.

We live in an incredible time. Opportunity is everywhere and we have access to almost everything we desire. Computational technology is growing at an exponential rate, doubling approximately every 18 months. Astounding yes, this level of advancement, yet it is difficult to wrap your head around it. But I wonder what we will do with it all? I wonder where it will take us.

The future is exciting and frightening at the same time. I’m sure every generation has pondered the same sentiment, but not every generation has had access into potentiality of the human psyche as we are entering now. Where Will We Go?, a new essay found in the Musings tab, brings to light some challenges and ethical issues that our future selves will face.

I have always embraced technology, but I pause now and find myself thinking twice about where we will go with it.

My latest essay is located in the I Remember tab, titled Next Time, Drew. It is an essay with an important personal message, one that we can all learn from.

Most of the country right now is experiencing quite a wintry blast. In Southern California it rained a lot and the temperatures have dropped. During this time there were many beautiful skies to view. Navigate to the Sky page to see the before and after. Today, don’t forget to look up.

Love or Loathe. Either word is an extreme descriptor for my latest essay found in the Musings tab titled, Where Will We Go? But it does indicate an opposing dichotomy of opinion that raises many questions, many of which cross the line into the realm of ethics. I am a self-proclaimed techno-geek. Not in the sense of techno music, but in technology in general. I love what binary code has brought us, and it is mind-boggling to see where quantum computing will take us next. Love it or loathe it, virtual reality is here and is coming at us in full force. Read my latest essay on the implications that are potentially good and not-at-all-good.

While I don’t particularly like being out-and-about in the rain, I definitely enjoy what nature provides as a result. We need the rain, our foliage needs the rain. Like snow, it seems as if rain settles people to some degree. It makes us slow down. The sound of rainfall is relaxing, and sets the stage for much self-reflection. Typically after rainfall we are provided with yet another gift. This gift is visual. Take a look at the newest Sky post and you will agree.

There is new entry added in the Art Center drop-down titled Just Put a Band-Aid on It. It will probably make you cringe, but a fond memory to me nonetheless 🙂