How does one start their life over again? I have no idea. I guess I’ll start by continuing to find a way to breathe. By getting out of bed every morning and putting one foot in front of the other. By caring for myself with bubble baths and kitten kisses and hopefully one day all that was will be but a lovely memory of some vaporous dream.

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 son’s hands. From the music series. Again special thanks to Rachael Allen.

Please see more of my photos here in the Gallery. Also you can find my photos on Facebook, Flickr, andGoogle+

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 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.

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

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.