I’m a sucker for packaging. I can’t help it. One of my favorite fragances is philosophy’s amazing grace. Besides being a lovely scent, philosophy also included the following text on it’s package. I remember it whenever I wear amazing grace. I want to share philosophy’s philosophy with you:

My G+ profile description reads: Writer. Photography saved my life. The photography statement sounds rather dramatic doesn’t it? Despite the supposed histrionics, I believe the statement to be quite true and when photographer Helen Sotiriadis suggested I write a post about it, how could I say no?

As is usually the case with big profound statements such as this, it’s hard to put into words exactly how the story and emotions support the premise. But as a word weaver sewing the fabric of tales or a surgeon wielding his blade, I will attempt to share with you how it came to be that the magic of a lens gave me the ability to discover a new life and breathe deeply for the first time in years.

I spent many hours in my basement over this last weekend (a place which kind of creeps me out) pursuing a new photo essay which I titled the Wicked Witch of Westbrook. It’s been a valuable learning experience which has been not only tons of fun but it  also found me dealing with many different lighting situations. In fact, there were several aspects of the project which challenged me.

Because I’m just starting out with photography, I have no real lighting equipment and so was forced to make do with what I could find available. Dealing with compositions which require making photos from a dark basement into the light of the noon day sun and vise versa was a challenge. Working with animals, where I don’t just make a photo of them sitting around passively, but trying to get them to “pose” was considerably less difficult than I expected (maybe because my cats actually listen to me? Or maybe because they really are my familiars).

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

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

Phyllis Theroux’s The Journal Keeper – A Memoir is a delightful read. Like having a relaxing sitdown with an older more experienced writer, like talking with your mom or a beloved friend on a spring morning with a cup of tea. In fact, I find her words to be so inspiring that it’s difficult for me to read the book . . . each time I start, I’m inspired to rush to my laptop to jot down words of my own.

On page 40, Theroux writes about a trip to Charlottesville:

We walked around the University of Virginia quad designed by Jefferson. It is winter now, stacks of wood lie by each student’s door. The ivy on the serpentine brick walls is withering, the garden, laid out in pie-shaped triangles, are bare. Something in me doesn’t like to take the time to describe what I’m looking at: the slender student bent over her book in Starbucks, the little snow-suited baby waiting patiently to be scooped up by its mother in the restaurant, the bundled-up Tibetans downtown sitting before their table of trinkets and prayer flags. But another part of me wants to develop a more physically observing eye. This sabbatical from writing has given me the space and time to cultivate my eye for its own sake.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AIGA CONNECTICUT

CONTACT:
Lisa Mikulski – Director of Communications and Public Relations
Email:  communications@connecticut.aiga.org
Web:   www.connecticut.aiga.org
Phone: 260.227.5472

Calling all designers, artists, entrepreneurs and students . . . check out our upcoming events at AIGA Connecticut. From a warm breakfast to Living Principles, we’ve created a blizzard of activity to inspire your winter days. All events are open to the public.

So here it is, the third and last installment of Things I Love, Things I Hate, and Things of Which I Aspire. Having completed this first round of exercises for my journal, I see there is a lot for me to look forward to. It was kind of nice to see all these positive things written out on paper . . . it seems to make it more official in some way. I’m pleased to know that the things I love and the things of which I aspire far outnumber the things I hate.

As expected, renewing my vows to keeping a daily journal has been really fulfilling (in many ways) and even in only 3 weeks of daily note keeping, I’ve gone to new places of knowing. I’m also happy to report that several of the items on this very list are now goals and tasks that are in the works. So far, I’m writing well over 1000 words a day and while I haven’t hit that 20 hours of reading per week, I’m feeling pretty good as a writer and won’t give up on the reading part of the program (I just need to target the time better and maybe get up a bit earlier in the morning). Do you keep a journal? What are your aspirations and how do you plan on making them come true?

Happiness is not a right. It must be pursued.