and now on to Madame S Leather!

Do you ever wonder if that reflection looks back?
Fragments of who you are, multiple selves throughout
every facet of your life– your past, present, and
all possible futures

At some point, as perceptions collapse and reality
is seen as illusion– you are whole
The sum of your knowledge– all of you

In that moment, everything is as you have made it
And you, the whole of who you are, are responsible
Where you go from here…
That is the better question

The world is spinning
Disoriented? No.
Everything is, at it is
We orient ourselves into illusions
Filters on the world
Mere bubbles of existence
Hiding the nature of things
In a state of delirium we often see
Unfiltered reality
I don’t know how I got here
And it doesn’t matter, it just is

“work to live” I heard them say

I never really knew what to make of that. I understand the idea: that work is merely the means to do the things you really enjoy– and if you’re not sure what you want to do, then go out and discover what makes life worth living.

Simple, if not a bit cliche. Most people I meet seem to work with a sense of anxious worry, not really happy enough about their career to qualify for a “live to work” mantra– or any mantra at all. Work, to them, is just something they do to pay their bills (or so they tell me). This to me, is an intolerable hell and I salute anyone that lives under such precept without killing themselves.

These people are different from the “live to work” crowd. I’ve met very few people who really “live to work”. To everyone else, I ask:

“Why aren’t you working on important problems?”

No, really, why not? I mean, if you’re going to work– work on something interesting, something worth working on. Maybe “live to work” would make more sense if you were doing something important. And if you are “working to live”, that’s great that you have a life, but are you working on anything important? Work should not be something that distracts you from the things you care about.

I know people who “work to live” and they hate their jobs, or at best spend less time than they like doing the things they love. Think of times when you loved what you were working on, it’s a great feeling– the problem happens the moment you decide you’re too busy amidst all the various interesting projects to take time for yourself (to travel, to explore, go back to school, etc). You’ll soon start to envy the “work to live” crowd, but before you run off to wait tables in Paris, consider the logical fourth option.

Work not just to enable you to live, but simultaneously live such that it enables you to work. Explore the world and find projects worth working on, something worth devoting your time to– if you’re going to truly live, then your time and effort (that is, your “work”) should be towards those things that make life worth living. We all have an internal barometer, use it! The moment you feel the pressure to travel (or skydive, paint, etc), do it! And likewise the moment you feel that lifeless boredom take hold, go work on something interesting– put your hands into something important!

Idealistic, I know, but it’s something worth living and working towards

On the train
There is something out of place
And out of time
The world rushes past
You’re left with little to worry
And you realize that
Sometimes it’s good to ignore
That which can be ignored

Encinitas, California
Near the towering golden lotus blossoms there is something quietly surreal as you walk through the meditation gardens

It is man and nature in harmony

Far away places off the edge of reason
Never been here before
You dislodge all comforts

Is it real or imagined?
The difference hardly matters
We let go either way

An amazing display at the San Diego Museum of Art, Itchiku Kubota’s (1917–2003) Symphony of Light — a series of Kimono’s spanning decades of work that depicts the changing seasons. Each piece was rich with color and detail, and the entire collection creates a breathtaking panoramic. I loved this as there was an entirely different world of detail depending on where you were standing

If you happen to be near the San Diego Museum of Art I would highly recommend viewing this exhibit. It is open until January 4th 2009

If you’re ever in Kauai, get as far away from paved roads as you can. It seems like every dirt road makes its way to an amazing beach. My desire for hiking has been betrayed by my desire to lounge in the water.

Nearly everywhere you go is the perfect hideaway to just relax and get away. Not a worry in the world; just soft sand, cool air, and a warm sun that makes you want to melt away.

And yet there is a bizarre sensation that it is unreal. The confines of a beautiful oasis constantly distracting. An amazing facade drawing you into a quasi-fulfilled state of happiness. The human spirit, I suspect, needs a little chaos to truly flourish. I wonder if that volcano will ever be active again?

Everywhere. The clucking makes for an interesting contrast while at
the beach.