I remember when I first discovered blogs. I spent an entire week, nearly 18 hours a day, reading. I was giddy with the discovery that somehow I had tapped into a previously unknown online world of intelligence and talent.  I was hungry for knowledge and expression and it seemed that with the discovery of these new writers, a whole new world opened. It was all quite exhilarating and exhausting.

I always become very excited when I meet someone who has a brilliant mind or an incredible talent. To me the most complimentary thing I can say to a person is “You’re interesting”. And just like in the old days, I’m once again smitten with brilliant interesting minds that I’m discovering in a truly global arena. I’ve circled writers and photographers whose thoughts and visions encourage me to raise my own bar higher. Not only do I like that, but I had forgotten that I need it.

I’ve been on Google+ for exactly one week and have logged some pretty serious hours learning and experimenting so that you don’t have to. While the platform is still in BETA and is fairly simple in scope, the more I got into it the more compelling it became and the more there was to learn. Much of this was due to some of the extraordinary content being published there by members. I’m sure I’m going to have to post a follow up (or two or three) on Google+ but here are some of my thoughts so far and hopefully a bit of info to get those of you new to Google+ up and running.

Let’s start by explaining what Google+ is. It’s Google’s roll out of a new social media platform. A bit like Facebook, but cleaner. A bit like Twitter but more expansive. By invitation only, G+ is growing like crazy. As of this post, estimates are that G+ has amassed 18 million members. It still doesn’t compare to Facebook’s 500 million members, just announced by Zuckerberg yesterday, but considering G+ has only been available since June 28 and is not yet available for public consumption, it’s numbers are pretty impressive.

Google+ is a suite of several different start up products, with more to come. At present Google+ offers, of course, a newsfeed. Sparks culls together various recommendations based on your interests…art, design, fashion, photography etc.  Hangout is a video chat service where you can chat with one friend or hold a conference with up to ten people at a time. Huddle is an sms/text messaging service, which I’m hoping will save me lots of dollars on my international sms fees. The main cool feature is called Circles which is how you organize your friends and deal with some pretty slick privacy features which neither Twitter or Facebook can compare. There is also intergradation with Picasa, Google’s photo platform.

Living a life of art and design doesn’t just mean hanging a new canvas in your living room or designing a great new logo. We can bring creativity and beauty into our lives in many ways. Here are 40 tips on how you can live a more inspired life.

1.    Surround yourself with color – enjoy it, play with it, experiment with it. Put it on your walls, your couch and your body.
2.    Clean House – A clean house is inspiring and sexy. Get rid of clutter.
3.    Design your home or apartment – For me, my house is the place I work and where I retreat from work. Because it holds these dual purposes, it is important to separate the two. Good design creates a transition. Fill your space with the things you love.
4.    Organize your financials. Free your mind to think about other things.
5.    Take the weekend off – ‘nough said.
6.    Try aromatherapy. Good smells inspire creativity.
7.    Design yourself – Have fun.
8.    Draw or paint even if you think you suck at it.
9.    Subscribe to an art or design magazine.
10.    Join an art or design organization.
11.    Visit a museum – Great place for learning about so many things, plus they are filled with beautiful objects.
12.    Attend an art opening
13.    Visit an artist studio – Artists love to share their work. Call in advance, just in case.
14.    Find a new hobby – creativity = creativity
15.    Learn about art/design/fashion – take a class, watch a dvd, ask questions
16.    Keep a journal
17.    Listen to a wide variety of music, and dance!
18.    Garden
19.    When buying art, buy only art you love.
20.    Daydream – every chance you get

For years, I helped artists, designers, and photographers create their artist statements. It was always something they hated to do. Now a page has turned for me and I found myself creating my own artist statement. I share it with you.

My journey into photography literally started because one day I announced that “I’d like to give it a try.” In the past, I was the gal who when taking photos at family vacations would cut off the heads of my children, or compose a picture so that people appeared teeny tiny amidst a background of confusion. Not knowing of my past debacles with photography, my editor encouraged me to take the foray into digital imagery. Due to three blizzards in the winter of 2011, I found myself house bound and snow bound with two old cameras. Things seemed to work out pretty well and people responded to my photos in amazing and supportive ways which I never imagined.

I love what I discover through the lens of my new Canon. My sensibilities are drawn toward color, texture, line, light and shadow… always light, but sometimes also the lack of light and how that can effect the subject. I attempt to design my photos within the lens and usually do very little work in post production. I can’t explain how I went from being that gal who would cut off the heads of my loved ones to someone who is able to capture a moment, or a surprise in time, and share it with a community. It must be love.

My friend Natasha Lee, recently posted a quote of courage and strength on her facebook status. Natasha often leaves us with snippets of good will and encouragement but I was so taken and inspired by the quote that I went in search of other wisdoms. Here are some of my favorites:

In life at some point we all run into a personal hell, however we each personally hold the strength and the courage within our character to fight. Remember that. – as posted by Natasha

“Come to the edge,” He said. They said, “We are afraid.” “Come to the edge,” He said. They came. He pushed them…and they flew. – Guillaume Apollinaire

A few months ago, I discovered that writer Erin O’Riordan at Goodkin selected Lisa’s Blog as one of her top choices for Queens of the Blogosphere. Wow! I was, and still am, truly flattered. I don’t know why I didn’t share this news with you all sooner but as I was freshening up my blog this morning I came upon the post once again and the screen capture I had saved of it. O’Riordan places my logo right along with those of (le gasp!) Hoffington Post, The Gawker, Debbie Weil, The Mommy Chronicles and BoingBoing. That’s some impressive company.

There are people I know, people I love, who have mistaken the Internet and it’s accompanying technologies as life. Social media, and back in the day, programs such as ICQ and AIM, are indeed mighty applications. I’ve seen them bring people together from around the world. I’ve seen relationships crushed by them. I write today to remind one and all that these things are tools. Only tools.

The carpenter who builds a house doesn’t blame his hammer for the mishap that blackened his thumbnail. But if looked at from a different perspective, the mishap might reveal something about the carpenter’s skill. And if the carpenter blames the tool… it reveals something about his mental health.

From the series, Music. June 2011
You can find more of my photography here at the Gallery as well as on my Facebook page, Flickr and 2sweden4love.com