23:365:2011

I am beginning to feel a resurgence... seems like in most all my waking moments I am thinking about/ designing/ working on... art.

I took this photo back in November... and re-discovered it today. Looking at it, and being mindful of it... inspired a whole series of ideas based on circular motifs. WoOt!

Part of focusing on the word "mindfulness" for this year... encourages me to be more observant when I come across scenes such as this. Of being aware of your surroundings... and in this case... allowing the inspiration to hit and bloom.


What inspires you?

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

4:365:2011

From sunrise (above)... to sunset (below)... I am trying to be more mindful of my surroundings. With being sick... it has been doubly hard, in the sense that my sleeping hours are really jumbled... and when I am awake... I am exhausted... so I don't always get much of anything done. It can be very frustrating... especially on those days when I feel like my only accomplishment for the day is feeding the dogs...

This morning, however, I was up early-- as I wanted to say "so long for now... and safe travels"... to a dear friend who is moving out of state. I wish him the very best life has to offer. And while I will miss him; it is incredible to me how he is taking life "by the horns" ... and moving to a dream location... no job, no preconceived notions, no phone, and very little money... and traveling only with what he can stuff in his car. I have complete and utter faith that he will not only be OK... but that he will somehow blossom.

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And in other news... I was contacted by a fellow 365 Project photographer... and thru a series of emails... am featured on this blogpost in recognition for completing my 2nd Photo-A-Day project.
How cool is that?!

Rest well my friends... and safe journeys wherever you roam...

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

2:365:2011

A friend got me started on the idea of picking a word to focus on each year... and last year my word was potential. I thought it was an innocent word... one that could only highlight the good in life... and it did... but like so much in life... it was very, very much more.

Potential... was me realizing that no matter the situation (good and bad)... that I could survive...perhaps even rise... above whatever was going on.
Potential was... getting acknowledgement of my photography... and my "coming out" as an artist.
Potential was... almost a "letting go" of everything I had learned or experienced... and making way for the new and different.


This year... my word is mindfulness.

According to Wiki... mindfulness is:

*bringing one’s complete attention to the present experience on a moment-to-moment basis
*or involves ... paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally
*or involves... a kind of non-elaborative, nonjudgmental, present-centered awareness in which each thought, feeling, or sensation that arises in the attentional field is acknowledged and accepted as it is
*and always invites... curiosity, openness, and acceptance

And so... with a thought towards mindfulness and being more aware of one's surroundings... the daughter and I headed off to Old Towne late at night... to absorb all that it is. The cold... the crisp air... the cooing of sleeping doves... the sacredness of the San Felipe de Neri church.... the whiteness of the holiday lights glowing in the darkness... the sound of the older man walking his dog in the park... the rush of traffic on Route66 only a block away... the smell of snow in the air...

*photos by Elaine A. Russell