10 on 10 Restarting

We are back! All six, maybe seven of us with a fresh 10 on 10 series for January in the theme of restarting. This is part of an ongoing series that happens on the 10th of every month and was spurred on after our collective thoughts during our trip to Tofino, late last year. If you follow to the end you will be rewarded with a link to the next 10 and so on and so on, so grab a cup, settle in and enjoy a little diversion from your day. But first a little back story about what has happened since my last 10 on 10 and why this space has been so quiet.

Over the holiday break I had every intention of digging out my massive wall calendar, grabbing a bunch of highlighters and plotting a path for the new year. But when I unearthed it from under my coffee table my heart sunk it was still on October without one single box filled out. Boy this is turning into a really expensive scratch pad I thought to myself. And who am I kidding I have never made proper use of a calendar or any planning system for that matter. I am also the queen of the one page journal. I placed so many hopes and dreams on that small window of time. I failed to realize that kids still need to eat and have something to do and holing yourself up in your office while your kids watch hours upon hours of Disney channel isn’t healthy for anyone. I decided I don’t need a calendar or a list or an app, all I really needed to do was to get shit done. And thus my “one word” or mantra for 2014 was born, and I even found a mug with a not so gentle reminder.

Fix What’s Broke

When my plans for a trip to the snow after the holiday were cancelled (it was 80 degrees on Christmas) I decided to leave the ski clothes packed and go do something I have been putting off for a year. Replace my computer. Now to some this may seem inconsequential but to me it’s like repeating grades K through 6 all over again. My computer nearing its sixth year had begun to show its wear lately. I wasn’t processing photos or working on projects because my equipment wasn’t allowing me to. Editing a photo became a daunting task filled with expletives and non responsive programs.  I just stopped shooting altogether with the exception of a few Polaroids. I knew if I was to save my craft and my sanity I was going to have to pull the trigger.

I replaced my system and not a day to soon either as my computer in its final days gave me the proverbial finger as it failed to start one last time so I could retrieve files. Oh yes, everything that could have gone wrong did.  Almost two weeks later I still don’t have all my old emails and I am not sure where all my old documents live but I am embracing the restart.

Go Outside

After one particularly long session of migrating programs and files my daughter suggested that we go visit our favorite park. I need to follow her lead more often.  Hanging out on an oak that has been on this planet three times as long as you have and will be here long after you are, is a great place to find yourself.

Dine in

I couldn’t be more tired of or more uncomfortable in my jeans due to the amount of take out that has crept back in my life. If my mom can manage to get up at the crack of dawn, fly 5000 miles, change planes AND roast a chicken for dinner that night, dammit so can I.

Try Something New

Rent a paddle boat, enroll in a college class (coursera), learn to knit.  I’ve done 2 out of 3 this year already.

Savor the age

I love this photo for so many reasons. If you spent a few minutes with her you would see how she really is 7 going on 17. I’m also motivated beyond measure to dust off my cameras and shoot more film because of this shot. It’s funny how it just takes one shot to pull me back in.

Slow down

I stopped along the bike path and watched a woodpecker extract bugs with the precision of a dentists drill.  We listened to his call as he jumped from tree to tree. I sat there in the warm sun and felt grateful, wishing this long stretch of warm weather would travel east and help thaw out the rest of the country.

Meditate more

“The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.” – Anna Quindlen

Spend time alone

Anything that helps to remove the veil of delusion I welcome.

Say Yes

I watched the movie Yes Man! over the holidays and it made me realize how comfortable I have become with the answer “No thank you” or “No, I can’t.” Blah blah blah.  Saying yes is like getting to see what’s behind Door #1 every time.

share yourself

With each day that passes I realize more that the collective is much stronger than the whole and in coming together we can ALL do great things.

Let’s make 2014 a great one together. Shall we?

Next up Tamar’s post on restarting… go give her some love.