tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931418706173758172024-03-12T22:44:40.078-05:00Earth to NadineUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger269125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-37478219814016176432013-08-09T07:00:00.000-05:002013-08-10T23:40:16.486-05:00Day 105: Recycle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gllKl0jhmCk/Uf8s2Od-S6I/AAAAAAAACds/Jum2Ef-0wX4/s1600/Picture+9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gllKl0jhmCk/Uf8s2Od-S6I/AAAAAAAACds/Jum2Ef-0wX4/s1600/Picture+9.png" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-13323901226291819872013-08-08T07:00:00.000-05:002013-08-10T23:40:16.484-05:00Day 104: Bringing It Back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NVu4vHzvo1E/Uf8slKo3niI/AAAAAAAACdk/6FGxsI0JuZA/s1600/Picture+8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NVu4vHzvo1E/Uf8slKo3niI/AAAAAAAACdk/6FGxsI0JuZA/s640/Picture+8.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-41044585760418294072013-08-07T07:00:00.000-05:002013-12-03T17:36:19.482-06:00Day 104: Virus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-153s4V3L9ys/Uf8rXC8u9MI/AAAAAAAACdQ/vwfY8d5CkZM/s1600/Picture+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-153s4V3L9ys/Uf8rXC8u9MI/AAAAAAAACdQ/vwfY8d5CkZM/s640/Picture+6.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--qHvYa5IDo0/Uf8rW0VJbxI/AAAAAAAACdM/a9aaDsjLWnI/s1600/Picture+7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--qHvYa5IDo0/Uf8rW0VJbxI/AAAAAAAACdM/a9aaDsjLWnI/s640/Picture+7.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Water Bottles = </b><b>Terrible Invention</b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-63594084843897643982013-08-06T07:00:00.000-05:002013-08-10T23:40:16.492-05:00Day 103: Potential<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KVVzxPseiDc/Uf8qwtkpjHI/AAAAAAAACc8/RCo9AoXLac0/s1600/Picture+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KVVzxPseiDc/Uf8qwtkpjHI/AAAAAAAACc8/RCo9AoXLac0/s1600/Picture+4.png" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-41509852450289164332013-08-05T07:00:00.000-05:002013-08-10T23:40:16.490-05:00Day 103: Coil<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-glbTZiopwpo/Uf8qZ1drS8I/AAAAAAAACc0/m-ZhMexMmSg/s1600/Picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-glbTZiopwpo/Uf8qZ1drS8I/AAAAAAAACc0/m-ZhMexMmSg/s1600/Picture+2.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oglesby, IL</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-91416479295698776832013-08-04T23:30:00.000-05:002013-08-10T23:40:16.494-05:00Day 103: Drowned<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q1nF2Q3JktY/Uf8p99gcQyI/AAAAAAAACcs/jeD5IlpJxnI/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q1nF2Q3JktY/Uf8p99gcQyI/AAAAAAAACcs/jeD5IlpJxnI/s1600/Picture+1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oglesby, IL</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-35384948400136416552013-06-28T18:20:00.000-05:002013-08-10T23:39:53.930-05:00Trip: Paradise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SvW35WJCqLY/Uc4Z28Iy6aI/AAAAAAAACXE/Tzbdoclh0J0/s728/Picture+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SvW35WJCqLY/Uc4Z28Iy6aI/AAAAAAAACXE/Tzbdoclh0J0/s1600/Picture+3.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3915bb4vtLM/Uc4Z4EupxfI/AAAAAAAACXM/UgnZ2DTODBc/s729/Picture+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3915bb4vtLM/Uc4Z4EupxfI/AAAAAAAACXM/UgnZ2DTODBc/s1600/Picture+6.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QIRFyPJ8CTs/Uc4Z4CMH7OI/AAAAAAAACXQ/mRTZslGWbkU/s730/Picture+7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QIRFyPJ8CTs/Uc4Z4CMH7OI/AAAAAAAACXQ/mRTZslGWbkU/s1600/Picture+7.png" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-16213900848681126732013-06-27T16:42:00.001-05:002013-06-27T16:45:04.092-05:00Trip: Free to Roam<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T1W8JN-nfCw/UcyxM1ymoRI/AAAAAAAACW0/VgRox0x_Or4/s683/Picture+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T1W8JN-nfCw/UcyxM1ymoRI/AAAAAAAACW0/VgRox0x_Or4/s1600/Picture+5.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dominican Republic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-76551826875999532522013-06-26T22:35:00.002-05:002013-06-27T08:06:35.258-05:00Trip: Perspective<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ayi_qWYKMOo/UcuvIQZZOyI/AAAAAAAACWk/3h_c9h0HsHc/s1600/Picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ayi_qWYKMOo/UcuvIQZZOyI/AAAAAAAACWk/3h_c9h0HsHc/s640/Picture+2.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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My recent trip to the Dominican Republic really gave me some perspective. I had a 6-8 month lull with photography but was able to snap out of it after my visit to the country. For one, it's almost impossible to not take any photos in a country like the DR. But also, there is something to be said about stepping out of your routine for a while and seeing everything in a new way.<br />
<br />
It's similar to how a painter works on his art work. With an empty canvas, he'll make a few strokes with his brush. But, instead of continuing, he steps away and analyzes his strokes in relation to the rest of the canvas and then continues. He doesn't stay zoomed into his canvas the entire time because if he does he loses perspective and clarity of his overall painting.<br />
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In any event, I'll be posting more photos this week of what I saw during the trip!<br />
<br />
Onwards and Upwards,<br />
Nadine Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-12532279569583815242013-06-24T18:06:00.001-05:002013-06-26T22:37:02.809-05:00Understanding Mastery as a Life Long Relationship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0PWSyHvKl0/Ucc-0KJvqjI/AAAAAAAACWQ/qWznjt6HD3A/s1600/Picture+6.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0PWSyHvKl0/Ucc-0KJvqjI/AAAAAAAACWQ/qWznjt6HD3A/s640/Picture+6.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“It took me a lifetime” – Pablo
Picasso</i></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you attempt to
master a skill, you are essentially committing yourself to a life long
relationship with that skill. And just like a personal relationship, mastery
relationships come packed with a wide range of feelings and emotions; from passion and excitement to longing and dissatisfaction. </span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These up-and-down
feelings that are experienced in both relationships are absolutely normal. But
what separates those who succeed in their relationships and those who fail
comes from the ability to understand one simple, but hard to implement,
concept: <b>all relationships require both
parties to adapt to the ever changing circumstances around them</b>. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ll explain my
theory by presenting my mastery relationship with photography. While you read,
replace photography with any skill you’ve ever started to master and perhaps
quit for one reason or another. It will become evident that a personal and
mastery relationship are one in the same. </span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>First Date</b> </span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Initially, I decided
to get into photography because my friends told me I had an eye for it and
should give it a shot. Although hesitant to jump into unknown territory, I took
their advice and purchased my very first DSLR camera.</span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I remember bringing home m<span style="font-size: small;">y camera from the store</span> and holding it in my hands. After snapping a few test shots,<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>I made a promise to myself <span style="font-size: small;">that I would <span style="font-size: small;">work </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">diligently</span></span> </span></span>to learn t<span style="font-size: small;">he art of photography<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I did just that – and
then some. I began taking pictures everyday on my way to work, during my lunch
break, and when I got out of work. I was an explorer in<span style="font-size: small;"> my own city; the Magellan of my <span style="font-size: small;">block</span></span>. </span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the midst of
all the excitement, I also wondered about how the camera was engineered to take<span style="font-size: small;"> pictures. </span>Questions like, “What <span style="font-size: small;">is it inside a camera that creates a photo</span>?” and
“Why does changing the aperture do <i>x</i> and
changing the shutter speed do <i>y</i>?”
began to infiltrate my thoughts.</span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was mystery hidden in photography and this mystery was all I needed to propel
me into the next phase of my mastery relationship with it.</span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Honeymoon Phase</b></span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Within a week of
having my camera, I setup a photography blog to showcase my journey to becoming
a professional photographer. I also joined a photography meet-up group, took a
photography class, and went on a man-hunt to find
any and every great photographer in my town.</span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Centering my life
around my camera, </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I <span style="font-size: small;">cons<span style="font-size: small;">idered the p<span style="font-size: small;">ossib<span style="font-size: small;">ility that photography could become some more than <span style="font-size: small;">just a happy. I would</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> having fantasies about working as a wildlife
photographer for the National Geographic or even being a photo-journalist for
activist groups. </div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And why not? I hadn’t
had a dull moment shooting since I picked up my camera and I was getting good
at it.</span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This was what I call<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>the honeymoon phase of my mastery relationship -- all rationality is no
where to be found and idealism, lust, and emotion is all that rules. </span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The First Fight</b></span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was getting some
great traction on my blog and I could see my photography skills quickly
growing. </span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The feedback from
friends, family, and co-workers was also positive and I finally started to
think that I (for the first time) was a ‘natural’ at something. Although receiving this positive feedback <span style="font-size: small;">was</span> comforting, I felt a pressure to perform…to
please my audience. The problem was, I didn’t know what I
was doing right or wrong. I just went out and let my instincts guide me.</span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Taking photographs
with this pressure in mind did not feel the same as when I first started. It
was no longer all about learning and having fun. I<span style="font-size: small;">t</span> wasn’t about keeping it
simple and trusting my gut. It became a cycle of second-guessing, nit-picking,
and doubt. I would take bad photos, but couldn’t get out of my head to try and
learn how to fix mistakes and grow from them.</span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With my idealism
about my mastery relationship officially ruined, I set off feelings of
disappointment, frustration, and doubt.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Rough Patch</b></span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you ever heard from ‘relationship experts’ that a lasting
relationship has five good encounters for every bad one? Whether it’s true or
not, this 5:1 ratio used to be the normal for me in my mastery relationship but by the time the rough
patch had set in, the encounter looked something like 1:5. </span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was bored. After only year of consistent shooting, I
told myself I had learned enough and somehow ran out of places to shoot. This was obviously false<span style="font-size: small;">.</span> There was infinite
amount of information to be learned about photography that I had not yet
discovered and I lived in one of the largest cities in the country so finding places
to shoot was not the issue.</span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What’s worse is I would judge the photography profession
as a whole. I would tell myself the odds were small that I could
change the world or make a difference taking photos. Furthermore, everyone
now-a-days can take great photos with their cell phones without any formal
training so what was the use in spending all of this time learning it? </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I<span style="font-size: small;">nstead of trying to determine <span style="font-size: small;">why I felt at a dead end and figure out a way to fix it,<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>I turned it around and let photography <span style="font-size: small;">take the blame for "not being worth it". </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Th<span style="font-size: small;">is </span>rationalization would soon cost me over six months <span style="font-size: small;">with my camera. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Turning Point</b></span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With my camera gathering dust in my closet, my mastery
relationship was essentially over. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The<span style="font-size: small;"> relationship <span style="font-size: small;">didn't end without some <span style="font-size: small;">feelings of</span></span></span></span></span></span>
disappointment, sadness, and guilt<span style="font-size: small;"> for being a quitter.<span style="font-size: small;"> But I removed these feelings by preaching the same rationalizations: </span></span>“There
are better careers out there” and my favorite, “Photography probably wouldn’t have
amounted to anything anyway”. </div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It wasn’t until a trip to the Caribbean where I’d realize
what a big mistake I was making. During the trip, I brought my camera just to
have a memory of the trip – no plans to practice photography in any serious
manner. About 300 pictures were taken of the areas great beaches, people, and
culture. </span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I traveled back home and upon a request of a friend, put
together an album of everything I saw. As I was reviewing and editing the
photos, I noticed something: these photos were pretty good. This was not in any
way arrogant, but a realization that I did have an opportunity with something
that I had to take advantage of quickly. </span></span></div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Within <span style="font-size: small;">the few minutes of <span style="font-size: small;">glancing over my photos, I realized the mistake I was making. I<span style="font-size: small;">t was not photography, it was me that was at fault<span style="font-size: small;">. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>I had to correct the mistake I had made.</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>A Lifelong Work in Progress</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since my 'aha<span style="font-size: small;">' moment<span style="font-size: small;">, I'v<span style="font-size: small;">e made photography (and <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">writing</span>) a part of my daily life.<span style="font-size: small;"> This has been driven by four things I've learned about mastery relationships<span style="font-size: small;">:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Unlike most personal relationships, <span style="font-size: small;">it only takes one to rui<span style="font-size: small;">n a mastery re<span style="font-size: small;">lationship</span></span></span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">. For most of a mastery relationship, you<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>are the giver <u>and</u> the taker<span style="font-size: small;">. You will be the one putting in the 10,000 hours <span style="font-size: small;">of work<span style="font-size: small;"> and dealing with the feelings of difficulty, uncertainty, and <span style="font-size: small;">frustration. <span style="font-size: small;">If you set your values and goals in order, your <span style="font-size: small;">"master sp<span style="font-size: small;">ouse" will (with the addition of luck) finally allow you to reap the rewards of your labor.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>But if you never reach this point, remember <span style="font-size: small;">there is only one person in th<span style="font-size: small;">e relationship to blame</span>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Remember that honeymoons <span style="font-size: small;">don't <span style="font-size: small;">last forever</span></span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">. Th<span style="font-size: small;">e <span style="font-size: small;">intense feelings of excitement, passion, and determination at the beginning of the mastery relation<span style="font-size: small;">ship are great in that they<span style="font-size: small;"> jump start <span style="font-size: small;">yo<span style="font-size: small;">u into the skill. But it's downside is that is spoils you <span style="font-size: small;">- it makes you want to quit at th<span style="font-size: small;">e first sign <span style="font-size: small;">of distress. These high expectations of a mastery relati<span style="font-size: small;">onship full of lifelong happiness and passion are irrational and a recipe for d<span style="font-size: small;">is<span style="font-size: small;">aster. <span style="font-size: small;">Proceed with caution.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Even if it's bad for you, your body will always try and revert back to the familiar</span></i><span style="font-size: small;">. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">It<span style="font-size: small;">'s only been a s<span style="font-size: small;">hort time and I still find myself</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> wanting to resort to my old habits<span style="font-size: small;"> even though those habits don't help me progress</span>. <span style="font-size: small;">This is due to our body preferring the 'known' to the <span style="font-size: small;">'unk<span style="font-size: small;">n<span style="font-size: small;">own'. Reaching into <span style="font-size: small;">unf<span style="font-size: small;">amiliar territory <span style="font-size: small;">is not your body's default setting so it's important you try to fight it<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>M<span style="font-size: small;">astery relationships require a<span style="font-size: small;">dventure, <span style="font-size: small;">bursts of passion, and excitement</span></span></span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">. When you feel <span style="font-size: small;">comfo<span style="font-size: small;">rtable with the skill you're attempti<span style="font-size: small;">ng to master, be para<span style="font-size: small;">noid. Y</span><span style="font-size: small;">ou have reached a lull in your relationship<span style="font-size: small;">. <span style="font-size: small;">Have a mastery relationship which contin<span style="font-size: small;">ues to strive into unknown but exciting territory. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Realize when an opportunity has presented itself to you, <span style="font-size: small;">take ac<span style="font-size: small;">tion when you've made an error, and work furio<span style="font-size: small;">usly <span style="font-size: small;">towards <span style="font-size: small;">success in your <span style="font-size: small;">relationship with your skill. An<span style="font-size: small;">d alway<span style="font-size: small;">s remember<span style="font-size: small;">: </span>you are not the only o<span style="font-size: small;">ne who loses from quitting. It is the world who will miss out on the master that could have been, the one that coul<span style="font-size: small;">d have made <span style="font-size: small;">a significant change to their society.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Don't let your mastery relationsh<span style="font-size: small;">ip down -- it is <span style="font-size: small;">there waiting <span style="font-size: small;">with <span style="font-size: small;">your reward and year<span style="font-size: small;">ns for you to s<span style="font-size: small;">hare it with the world</span></span></span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Onwards and Upwards,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nadine </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-67434306541430499352013-06-20T22:47:00.001-05:002013-06-20T22:47:24.908-05:00Day 102: Early Bird<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tqE3tkLn2PI/UcPMVcZOt7I/AAAAAAAACV8/V5k2Vdb0URc/s1600/Picture+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tqE3tkLn2PI/UcPMVcZOt7I/AAAAAAAACV8/V5k2Vdb0URc/s640/Picture+4.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ju91QHCywtk/UcPMTEj-fAI/AAAAAAAACV0/jvyiVkKNpzc/s1600/Picture+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ju91QHCywtk/UcPMTEj-fAI/AAAAAAAACV0/jvyiVkKNpzc/s640/Picture+5.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-58210637284748885992013-06-19T23:52:00.001-05:002013-06-19T23:52:50.024-05:00Day 102: Dignified<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xoc5PcxxtZE/UcJ3d1ajQrI/AAAAAAAACVg/hsUD3qypOP0/s1600/Picture+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xoc5PcxxtZE/UcJ3d1ajQrI/AAAAAAAACVg/hsUD3qypOP0/s1600/Picture+3.png" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-54320358017768995172013-06-19T20:46:00.000-05:002013-06-19T20:47:40.392-05:00How Being Indifferent Destroys Progress<blockquote>
<i>“The
man who refuses to judge, who neither agrees nor disagrees, who
declares that there are no absolutes and believes that he escapes
responsibility, is the man responsible for all the blood that is now
spilled in the world. Reality is an absolute, existence is an
absolute, a speck of dust is an absolute and so is a human life.
Whether you live or die is an absolute. Whether you have a piece of
bread or not, is an absolute. Whether you eat your bread or see it
vanish into a looter's stomach, is an absolute.</i><br />
<br />
<i>There are
two sides to every issue: one side is right and the other is wrong,
but the middle is always evil. The man who is wrong still retains some
respect for truth, if only by accepting the responsibility of choice.
But the man in the middle is the knave who blanks out the truth in
order to pretend that no choice or values exist, who is willing to sit
out the course of any battle, willing to cash in on the blood of the
innocent or to crawl on his belly to the guilty, who dispenses justice
by condemning both the robber and the robbed to jail, who solves
conflicts by ordering the thinker and the fool to meet each other
halfway. In any compromise between food and poison, it is only death
that can win. In any compromise between good and evil, it is only evil
that can profit. In that transfusion of blood which drains the good
to feed the evil, the compromise is the transmitting rubber tube.” </i><i>― </i><i>Ayn Rand</i><i>, </i><i>Atlas Shrugged</i></blockquote>
<span href="https://www.quora.com/Nadine-Sebai/Posts/How-Being-Indifferent-Destroys-Progress#" id="__w2_b1187gd_toggle_link"><span id="ld_I5qldU_4421"><span id="ld_I5qldU_4422"><span class="inline_editor_value"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span href="https://www.quora.com/Nadine-Sebai/Posts/How-Being-Indifferent-Destroys-Progress#" id="__w2_b1187gd_toggle_link"><span id="ld_I5qldU_4421"><span id="ld_I5qldU_4422"><span class="inline_editor_value">I
stumbled across this passage from Ayn Rand and immediately had a
flash-back to something I had read about in Martin Luther King Jr.'s
biography. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span href="https://www.quora.com/Nadine-Sebai/Posts/How-Being-Indifferent-Destroys-Progress#" id="__w2_b1187gd_toggle_link"><span id="ld_I5qldU_4421"><span id="ld_I5qldU_4422"><span class="inline_editor_value"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span href="https://www.quora.com/Nadine-Sebai/Posts/How-Being-Indifferent-Destroys-Progress#" id="__w2_b1187gd_toggle_link"><span id="ld_I5qldU_4421"><span id="ld_I5qldU_4422"><span class="inline_editor_value">In the heat of the civil rights movement, MLK
realized that the road-block for civil rights was not from the White
Citizens Council or the Ku Klux Klan, but "the white moderate who is
more devoted to 'order' than to justice". He emphasizes by saying, "A
shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than
absolute understanding from people of ill will".</span></span></span></span><br />
<span href="https://www.quora.com/Nadine-Sebai/Posts/How-Being-Indifferent-Destroys-Progress#" id="__w2_b1187gd_toggle_link"><span id="ld_I5qldU_4421"><span id="ld_I5qldU_4422"><span class="inline_editor_value"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span href="https://www.quora.com/Nadine-Sebai/Posts/How-Being-Indifferent-Destroys-Progress#" id="__w2_b1187gd_toggle_link"><span id="ld_I5qldU_4421"><span id="ld_I5qldU_4422"><span class="inline_editor_value">But the question is -- why was MLK right then, and why would he still be right about it now?</span></span></span></span><br />
<span href="https://www.quora.com/Nadine-Sebai/Posts/How-Being-Indifferent-Destroys-Progress#" id="__w2_b1187gd_toggle_link"><span id="ld_I5qldU_4421"><span id="ld_I5qldU_4422"><span class="inline_editor_value"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span href="https://www.quora.com/Nadine-Sebai/Posts/How-Being-Indifferent-Destroys-Progress#" id="__w2_b1187gd_toggle_link"><span id="ld_I5qldU_4421"><span id="ld_I5qldU_4422"><span class="inline_editor_value">In
other words, why do the majority (and not the minority) of people
remain indifferent, decide not to get involved, or hope to maintain
status quo?</span></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-17858594006898056852013-06-18T00:04:00.000-05:002013-06-27T18:27:50.121-05:00When Realizing You're a Speck in the Universe Works in Your Favor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dv1wMKt_u-M/Ub_CjihSeSI/AAAAAAAACVQ/g40EZUjD7hE/s1600/Picture+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dv1wMKt_u-M/Ub_CjihSeSI/AAAAAAAACVQ/g40EZUjD7hE/s640/Picture+5.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but
rather must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is
questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his
own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible.” </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>―
Viktor E. Frankl,
Man's Search for Meaning</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Assuming you knew nothing of Viktor E. Frankl and his book, <i>Man's Search for Meaning</i>, I would say you'd be tempted to read what was inside just from reading the title. Well, you wouldn't be alone. Over 10 million copies of Frankl's book have been sold and it was named one of "the ten most important books in the United States" by the Library of Congress. As of today, <i>Man's Search for Meaning</i> is the #1 top selling book on Amazon's book selection on Counseling.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The question that stands is --why? I could guess that aside from getting a glimpse into Frankl's time in a Auschwitz concentration camp, there is a greater reason for the book's success. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>All man, in one form or another, is on a quest to find the meaning of their life.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The sheer number of copies sold shows our yearning for meaning and purpose in our lives. And if you're anything like me, this thought of finding meaning in your life before it's too late (aka death) does not settle well in our minds. I can remember losing sleep countless nights thinking about where my meaning could possibly be hiding. Is being happy my purpose in life? But what about serving others? Or suffering for a cause greater than yourself?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What is the meaning of life?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I still don't know. But after daydreaming, reflecting, thinking, over thinking, and stressing over this question for months on end, I've finally come to an understanding of how to deal (instead of answer) this question. And it comes from understanding...astronomy?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
When times are tough, I use basic astronomy to get myself of out the funk. First, I lay quietly and recognize where I am in relation to my current location, like my house. Second, just like zooming out on a Google Map, I see where I am in relation to my city block. Then, the entire city, state, country, and the globe.</div>
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But the beauty comes when I imagine myself floating in space, looking back at Earth. I look around me and all I see are stars, planets, and darkness. And in that moment, I utter the words of the outspoken astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, "We are all stardust".</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I realize in that moment that I truly am nothing but a particle with thoughts. And the problems I face, which seem so large and overwhelming, also begin to look microscopic in relation to the galaxy.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Take a minute and imagine if you could physically hold the burden of finding meaning in your life on your shoulders. How heavy would it be? Would it be so heavy that it could literally make you fall over? Now think about this 'meaning matter' in comparison to the rest of the universe. It's simply becomes just another floating particle in space.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Once you see yourself as a speck in the universe, you can begin to make it work in your favor.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
When you zoom out of your life, you see that the burden to find meaning and purpose is present (in that it exists in your mind) but it is physically non-existent. You realize that meaning is not something to be found, but is something that is readily available whenever the mind decides it is ready to see it.</div>
<br />
As Frankl states,"...man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but
rather must recognize that it is he who is asked".<br />
<br />
You hold the power to determine how to live your life and what the purpose of that life will become. Don't let the suffering and problems disguised as giants fog up your mind. In relation to everything else, you will see them for what they are -- simply stardust.<br />
<br />
Onwards and Upwards,<br />
Nadine<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-26793200494406880462013-06-16T22:32:00.000-05:002013-06-16T22:32:13.328-05:00Day 101: Friendly Neighbors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vJYcY8JUBxI/Ub5_mVnsWYI/AAAAAAAACUg/LM7WJIFv_oM/s1600/Picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vJYcY8JUBxI/Ub5_mVnsWYI/AAAAAAAACUg/LM7WJIFv_oM/s640/Picture+2.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ef2f3Kj5Idw/Ub5_lgAscsI/AAAAAAAACUc/UPugFqpGbNI/s1600/Picture+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ef2f3Kj5Idw/Ub5_lgAscsI/AAAAAAAACUc/UPugFqpGbNI/s640/Picture+3.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
I really wanted to spend some time focusing my shots on wildlife. Why? Mostly because (1) it's difficult to do because the object your shooting is terrified of you and is constantly in motion and (2) it's really fun to explore and look for animals like birds, squirrels, and rabbits.</div>
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Unfortunately, I'm using a standard kit lens which doesn't allow me to zoom into the animals as much as I'd like. So, as the saying goes, I zoom with my feet. But as you can imagine, a giant human with a large black object that makes a strange sound at the click of a button does not make these little guys very comfortable. But these two gave me the pleasure of getting this close to them (for a second, before running away).</div>
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Birds are proving impossible to shoot which is a bummer because there are so many beautiful birds in Chicago. Who would've thought? But it's true -- the Common Starling, American Robin, Red Winged Black Bird, Northern Cardinal, and so many others that I'm definitely missing.</div>
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I'll find a way to take close shots of these birds -- and it's probably going to have to involve food :)</div>
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Onwards and Upwards,<br />Nadine</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-11413215758229904672013-06-15T16:26:00.001-05:002013-06-16T16:34:25.260-05:00Do I Say Yes or Do I Say No? Deciding What's Worth Doing in Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wuObQhcZQ1A/UbyngcNWXrI/AAAAAAAACUM/Dt94Ah2OL-0/s1600/Picture+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wuObQhcZQ1A/UbyngcNWXrI/AAAAAAAACUM/Dt94Ah2OL-0/s640/Picture+4.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>
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<i>"<span class="st"><i>The difference between successful people and very successful people</i> is that <i>very successful people</i> say 'no' to almost everything.” - <i>Warren</i> Buffett</span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
I'm not sure if I've been intentionally looking out for it or not, but this concept of saying 'no' as a key to success has appeared to me constantly in the past few weeks. I've taken a time management course, read some questions posted on Quora about being successful, and have reflected on Seth Godin's book <i>The Dip</i> and understanding when to quit.<br />
<br />
Everywhere I turn, experts say the same thing: if you want to make anything of yourself, you must say 'no' to almost all other opportunities. But which opportunities do you choose and which do you let go of? When do you continue and when do you quit? What if you pick the "wrong" opportunity? Is there even such a thing?<br />
<br />
I could literally go on writing questions like these for next few hours (perhaps Quora could make some use of them) and I bet you could too. But what's the use? If you truly reflect on it, these are all concerns about uncertainty and other aspects of life that are completely out of our control. But in the moment, understanding that really doesn't bring us any real relief.... we still have to make choices at the end of the day.<br />
<br />
Making a definitive choice about, well, your one chance at life and saying 'no' to almost everything else makes me anxious...really anxious. My history of 'career choices' since I was a young child have been many and for one reason or another I've abandoned almost all of them. Here are the ones I can remember, starting around age 10 to today at age 25:<br />
<ul>
<li>Olympic Gymnast</li>
<li>Singer/Dancer</li>
<li>Waitress (don't ask)</li>
<li>Paleontologist</li>
<li>Inventor</li>
<li>Owner of my own grocery store chain (I had a name for it too: Nay Dixie)</li>
<li>Artist</li>
<li>Attorney</li>
<li>Accountant</li>
<li>Fund Manager</li>
<li>Forensic Accountant</li>
<li>FBI Agent</li>
<li>Fraud Investigator</li>
<li>Creator of a magazine</li>
<li>CPA</li>
<li>Fraud Blogger/Writer</li>
<li>Documentary Filmmaker</li>
<li>Photographer</li>
<li>Photo-journalist </li>
<li>Writer</li>
<li>Investigative Journalist</li>
<li>Activist (of what? That requires a whole new list)</li>
<li>Humanitarian</li>
<li>Social Worker</li>
<li>Medical Counselor</li>
<li>Nurse</li>
<li>Entrepreneur</li>
<li>Researcher</li>
<li>Interviewer</li>
<li>Programmer</li>
<li>Environmentalist</li>
<li>Biologist</li>
<li>Zoologist</li>
<li>Teacher</li>
</ul>
There were many career choices on this list that have been 100% eliminated as choices of what to do with my life. So the list begins to look something like this now:<br />
<ul>
<li>Inventor</li>
<li>Creator of a magazine</li>
<li>Documentary Filmmaker</li>
<li>Photographer</li>
<li>Photo-journalist </li>
<li>Writer</li>
<li>Investigative Journalist</li>
<li>Activist </li>
<li>Entrepreneur</li>
<li>Researcher</li>
<li>Interviewer</li>
<li>Environmentalist</li>
<li>Biologist</li>
<li>Zoologist</li>
<li>Teacher</li>
</ul>
All of these options are the "survivors", the ones that irk in my brain on a consistent basis. The feelings that arise at this level are similar to the one's you have when you're answering a multiple choice question and you've narrowed it down to 2 possible answers. Is it A or is it C? It's C. No wait, it's A. Crap, I don't know! *&$^%!<br />
<br />
<br />
This situation reminds me of the Buridan's ass story. Never heard of it? I hadn't either but here's the gist of it:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>An ass
that is equally hungry and thirsty is placed precisely midway between a
stack of hay and a pail of water. Assuming the ass will
always go to whichever is closer, it will die of both hunger and thirst
since it cannot make any rational decision to choose one over the other.</i></blockquote>
The moral of this story is obvious but is worth emphasizing: <b>we must make choices in order to avoid being frozen in endless doubt</b>. <br />
<br />
Here are a few thoughts I'm going to keep in mind while I try to make choices or, in other words, say 'Yes' to some things and say 'No' to almost everything else:<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Act on your dreams or accept they'll never become reality.</i></li>
<li><i>Make life about serving others, not yourself.</i></li>
<li><i>Be patient! It's the only way everything in nature has ever been created so don't try to outsmart the process.</i></li>
<li><i>Take notice of what you daydream about. If there are any thoughts that are more pure and true, it is those that occur when we don't even know we're doing it.</i></li>
<li><i>Reach out to others! If you're uncertain, ask someone with the experience and knowledge you need to learn more.</i></li>
<li><i>Explore, Explore, Explore. This is an area where saying 'yes' is vital. Do not forget about the inner curious child that has been slapped out of you as you turned into an adult. Explore every avenue, be curious, and be ruthless about it.</i></li>
<li><i> Focus on what you can provide to the world instead of what the world can provide for you. Take your skills (we all have them) and see how you could make use of them.</i></li>
<li><i>Don't judge. Don't radicalize. Don't be arrogant. </i></li>
</ul>
This is helping me and I hope it helps you if you are going through some similar dilemmas. I will say that the most important thing in deciding that one thing you will ultimately say 'yes' to is to be a creator, innovator, and visionary. As you continue to explore, your arsenal of skills and knowledge will grow, and so too will your abilities to connect the dots later in the future. Be cognizant of opportunities when they are provided to you and act on them immediately. <br />
<br />
Quiet down your inner human that over thinks, over feels, and places judgment. Instead, be a fox: an opportunist, a creative, a creature of action.<br />
<br />
Onwards and upwards,<br />
NadineUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-68172790626668716762013-06-14T20:52:00.003-05:002013-06-16T16:34:35.723-05:00Day 100: Buddy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-75791760994160742272013-06-14T20:44:00.000-05:002013-06-16T16:34:48.231-05:00Day 100: Shingles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-15132960585069574602012-12-21T22:23:00.000-06:002012-12-23T22:50:28.217-06:00Oh, Aristotle. How I Wish You Lived in My Time...<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hi there--</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So, I was having one of my "web surfing" attacks (yes, this is what I do on Friday nights) and stumbled across this philosopher from way back in the day, like 120 AD back in the day. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
His name -- Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus aka <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutarch">Plutarch</a>. Plutarch was a philosopher, Greek historian, and biographer. His most famous works were <i>Parallel Lives</i> and my new addiction, <i>Moralia</i>, which I will cite here. <i>Moralia</i> is a collection of seventy-eight essays and transcribed speeches where he discusses everything from moral virtue to the intelligence of animals. There were so many essays to choose from (see <a href="http://www.attalus.org/info/moralia.html">here</a>) that I settled on reading a few that caught my eye:<i> How to Profit by One's Enemies, On Love of Wealth, </i>and <i>On Talkativeness. </i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Although all essays I've read thus far are good reads, I'd like to share an excerpt from <i>On Talkativeness </i>that literally made me laugh out loud and wish Aristotle was alive today so I could be his home-girl. Just for some background, <i><a href="http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Moralia/De_garrulitate*.html">On Talkativeness</a> </i>discusses, well, those who speak too much and should shut up. So, with that very detailed summary, here we go!</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>-----------------</b></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>On Talkativeness, Plutarch</b></i> </div>
<i> </i><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But if, however, we are resolved to leave no means untried, let us say to the babbler,
</div>
<div align="center">
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><div class="verse">
<br />
<i>Hush, child: in silence many virtues lie,</i>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="justify">
<br /></div>
<div class="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
and among them the two first and greatest, the merits of hearing and
being heard; neither of these can happen to talkative persons, but even
in that which they desire especially they fail miserably. For in other
diseases of the soul,
such as love of money, love of glory, love of pleasure, there is at
least the possibility of attaining their desires, but for babblers this
is very difficult: they desire listeners and cannot <span class="pagenum"></span>get them, since every one runs away headlong. <a class="Tsubsec" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3093141870617375817" name="T502f"></a>If
men are sitting in a public lounge or strolling about in a portico, and
see a talker coming up, they quickly give each other the counter-sign
to break camp. And just as when silence occurs in an assemblage they say
that Hermes has joined the company, so when a chatterbox comes into a
dinner-party or social gathering, every one grows silent, not wishing to furnish him a hold; and if he begins of his own accord to open his mouth,
</div>
<div align="center">
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><div class="verse">
<br />
<i>As when the North-wind blows along
</i><br />
<i>
A sea-beaten headland before the storm,</i><br />
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
suspecting that they will be tossed about and sea-sick, they rise up and
go out. And so it is a talker's lot when travelling by land or sea, to
find volunteer listeners neither as table-companions nor as tent-mates,
but only conscripts; for the talker is at you everywhere, catching your
cloak, plucking your beard, digging you in the ribs. </div>
<div class="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<table class="verse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><i>Then are your feet of the greatest value, </i><br />
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
as Archilochus
says, and on my word the wise Aristotle will agree. For when Aristotle
himself was annoyed by a chatterer and bored with some silly stories, and
the fellow kept repeating, "Isn't it wonderful, Aristotle?" "There's
nothing wonderful about that," said Aristotle, "but that anyone with
feet endures you." To another man of the same sort, who said after a
long rigmarole, "Poor philosopher, I've wearied you with my talk,"
"Heavens, no!" said Aristotle, "I wasn't listening." </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>-----------------</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now, I love Aristotle for many other reasons aside from his clever humor (which I was naively never aware of) but he has an extra check mark in my book for being a smart ass :P. </div>
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<br /></div>
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That's all for now!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Onwards and Upwards,</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Nadine</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-45359348163428630992012-12-18T21:18:00.002-06:002012-12-23T21:03:12.886-06:00Day 99: Grey Diamond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Grey Diamond</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ilya Bolotowsky<i> </i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-10443324349737319802012-12-18T21:13:00.000-06:002012-12-23T21:03:12.882-06:00Day 99: Virtue Over Vice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Allegorical Group of Victory Supported by Valor</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Francesco Bertos</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> </i>The subject is winged personification of Victory sitting on a unicorn, the symbol of purity, and supported by Hercules as Valor. Below are figures representing riches, prudence, agriculture and abundance, and honor overcoming deceit. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-78253584342009863142012-12-10T21:09:00.001-06:002012-12-23T21:47:10.317-06:00Day 98: Organization<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-2663790971645218872012-12-10T21:04:00.001-06:002012-12-23T21:03:12.883-06:00Day 98: Abyss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-66048256854523919462012-12-05T23:08:00.002-06:002012-12-23T21:11:40.287-06:00Think with Your Feet #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi there. </div>
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I've decided to start a new segment on <i>scatterbrained </i>called "Think with Your Feet".</div>
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The concept is simple -- to document my progressions toward becoming the first ever real life super-hero (preferably Catwoman because she's just as badass as it gets).</div>
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But seriously, I've realized in these past few months that having complete control of your time is hard. Think about it, there is no one telling you what to do -- ever! Seems like bliss, right? Not so much at first. When lazy days turned into lazy weeks and bad moments grew into bad days, being told what to do was what I began to dream of. </div>
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But things have changed.</div>
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Over the past couple months I've realized the power of taking action (hence, thinking with your feet). And not just action for the sake of action -- but action geared towards a quite foggy and perhaps distant goal. I've been able to get up every morning at a time I'd rather not wake up at, get work done at a coffee shop I'd rather not see five days a week, and go to bed so exhausted that watching an episode of The Daily Show seems like a chore. This, to me, is progress towards my goals. </div>
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What is my goal you ask? Beats me. I'm not the person who came out of the womb knowing what they wanted to do and frankly, I'm glad. It's allowing me to tinker in different fields and experience a way of life I would have never seen sitting behind a desk. So my goals aren't crystal clear but the passion to learn and prosper have never been more bright. </div>
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And although these goals aren't clear, I've created a few ground rules on my way to discovering them:</div>
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#1: Do not live life for yourself. Instead live your life for something greater than yourself.</div>
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#2: Do not let convention break you. Question everything and that will be easy to overcome.</div>
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#3: Do not pigeon-hole yourself. Delve into anything and everything you can get your hands on. The best ideas come from the scattered yet focused (oxymoron, I know) mind.</div>
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In any event, I'll complete each segment with a quote (huge sucker for them) that describe my beliefs but are stated much better then I could ever say them.</div>
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Onwards and Upwards,</div>
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Nadine</div>
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<i>I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.</i></div>
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Albert Einstein (aka <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNzu5dGVbwU&feature=relmfu">The Mack</a>)<i> </i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093141870617375817.post-62771062408824223402012-12-05T23:08:00.001-06:002012-12-23T21:03:12.887-06:00Day 97: Uprise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Johnny's got skills.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3