Riding the Ups and Downs
Recognizing and accepting the ups and downs is tricky. I don’t have any trouble recognizing them and labeling them, but accepting them is a different story. By “accepting”, I simply mean that I’m always reminding myself that life isn’t always an upwards trend. However, unless you can look at all the challenges as kicks in the head that may make you aware of alternate paths that might remove you from habitual loop. Kicks in the head help you learn, and learning is progress… so I guess it IS an upwards trend. Huh!
Last week I went to the waterfront to listen to some music and get some sun, but within minutes a storm started to roll through. I saw it coming, so I quickly ran under a tree for shelter. Under the tree I was forced to hide my music away and just gaze at the darkened view of the lake as large drops of collected rainwater snaked their way around the leaves, dripped onto my head and ran down my neck. Eventually a certain peace came over me and I wasn’t concerned about being wet. I saw some people stressed out by being rained on, and yet others seemed to welcome the cooling wetness. After the storm passed I looked at my hand and noticed a small spider had joined me for warmth and shelter from the rain. I looked up through the branches and the sun appeared unusually sparkly. After a few minutes, I returned to my bench by the lake and relaxed in the silence. To exaggerate the dreamy state that I was in, the wet concrete was warm enough to steam, forming a light fog that crawled across the sidewalks and into the grass.
You can bet that I appreciated the sunshine more, after the rain came through.
The difficult part is keeping the energy up and remaining positive through the challenges. For me, it’s a matter of remaining optimistic or, better yet, just being grateful for where I’m at. I think it’s pretty easy to find these positive gems in nature… but it’s a bit of a pain when stuck behind a laptop.
There’s still much to do this month, but in thinking back to last week’s trip to the boardwalk, I can start to feel where something good might come of all this. I will make something good come of all this. Life is pushing me and I will roll with it to see what direction it’s leading me to.
*takes deep breath*
Temporary Diversion from Animation
The last few weeks have been a bit dizzying. Spent a little time waiting for potentials to open up. I made sure not to waste too much time, though my focus has certainly been diverted away from more visually creative endeavors.
That being said, I still make sure to sit down with a pen and practice some sketching. Proportions are always a little funky, thus showing my habit of focusing too much on the details.
Spending a lot of time reading business magazines and blog articles. I did this last year as well. I love seeing the abstracts of successful or failed systems. It validates or challenges a lot of my own opinions. So far, so good.
Here’s a pretty slick quote regarding innovations, by Dick Foster, author of Creative Destruction.
I’m convinced that for an existing company to innovate, they must first make the decision to get rid of something. Unless you get rid of it, it will always be more a more compelling argument to improve the old rather than commit to the new. That small decision over time adds up to a total deflection, and you are never as motivated to innovate as the unencumbered new entrant. I think this is enormously important.
The rest of the interview can be found at Forbes.
And now, back to the sketchbook so I can finish up some storyboard for my next animation… in progress.
No Fear
I’m not sure which one requires more nerves. It would be pretty epic just to witness this event. I cannot imagine what it would be like to experience it.
Career Choice
“Hey Jer, I have a student that is great with computers, a gifted artist and wants to do something in medicine. Ideas for career choices?”
- Shannon
Hey Shan,
I’ve put more thought into answer. Sorry if it felt like I was blowing you off. It is a difficult question that I am I’ve only been able to figure out during the last 3-4 years. What I’m learning is that when I label my “career”, I feel like I’m cursing myself. More specifically, I’m limiting myself.
As you know, I love to draw and I pretend to be a talented artist, so I kinda see where he’s coming from. I can give him advice, but I cannot list career choices. If he’s truly passionate about his art and medical, then he’s already in the communities where opportunities will arise. If not… well.. . slap him on the head and say, “Duh!”
Siggraph is going to be in Vancouver Aug 2011 (THIS YEAR!!). As you remember, even when I was jobless, I managed to make it to California twice for Siggraph. For me, it’s still the animation conference to go to.
To find some local meetups, there’s Michigan group called “SEMA FX”. I don’t have their info, but Google will provide.
And to finish up my original point, keeping your mind open is the best way to make opportunities arrize. I think the future “career” is adaptability. Sounds like he already knows what he likes, therefore he should dive into those passions. There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to fit your love into someone else’s classification. I’ve seen this burn too many artists out. The adaptable ones always survive and their passion remains charged.
That’s the opinion of a floater who shouldn’t have to look too far to find more work.
L,
- Jer
artist / teacher / student / technician / dancer
Bruce’s Wisdom
Was reminded of this, when I heard it quoted in some music recently.
It’s probably Bruce’s most memorable quote is , ”Do not concentrate on the finger or you will miss all of the heavenly glory!”
BlacKKawaru summaries it perfectly with,
“It means that you should focus on the meanings behind action and not the actions themselves.
If someone is pointing to the moon and you focus on the finger, you do not see the moon.
If the instruction is to kick with emotion and you focus on the command, you are listening to the instruction, not improving your kick.
Even if your kick gets stronger (i.e. through anger) it will not become better.”
Cooking for a Recession.
From Apartment Therapy‘s ”the kitchen” mailing list.
Even if it’s just a bowl of Ramen, to the bitter end I’m going to encourage you to borrow a sprig of cilantro from your neighbor, put the soup in a ceramic bowl, and use a cloth napkin, light a candle and give thanks.
Well said! So cheezy, yet inspiring.
Personal Organization
For some reason, I move away from the devices that I know will assist me. At the moment I’m speaking of the fact that I keep avoiding the creation of this blog.
The above, is an example of a useful random thought that is customized for me. It carries just the right words, and my brain interprets the connotations in just the way right way. Every once in awhile, I’m able to discover one of these “personalized power phrases” (or whatever you want to call them). It usually involves me ending a mental loop. A reliance that I plan to break, as I just need 15 minutes of complete focus and silence to prevent myself from running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I need some time outside of my environment.
Blog: This is my psychological evaluation. No doctor will be able to find the true secrets in your mind as it’s difficult enough for us to do it, ourselves. A doctor would require 100% cooperation of the patient in order to be successful and there are so very few of us are able to comply 100%.
So now starts the blogging. I’m currently using my underused tool of speech recognition*. A tool which I plan to soon purchase. I am seated comfortably at home, alone. Nothing to distract me. No one to distract.
I should first line out my plan, my “dream schedule”.
6 a.m. The CD alarm clock starts. Luckily, I am already awake and am able to turn it off before it wakes up somebody else.
6:15 a.m. I’m finishing my morning warm-up and putting oatmeal into water which is already boiling.
6:30 a.m. I’m out of the shower and eating my oatmeal with flaxseed, cinnamon, raisins & molasses (or brown sugar).
7:00 a.m. I am on my way to the bus stop with a magazine for the bus ride.
8 a.m. At the studio, I check and respond to e-mails. Based on all this information I quickly to plan my day, which is recorded (somewhere consistent).
10:00 a.m. 15 minute break. I must get away from the desk by either doodling by a window, going to the gym or going outside to play.
12:30 p.m. Cook/reheat meal after walk outside.
4:20 p.m. DS time or semi-supine/nap.
6:30 p.m. Waiting at the bus stop waiting to head home
This would be the schedule I would like to have for four out of the five days. On the fifth day of my “five-day workweek”I will be available remotely via a VPN e-mail and/or telephone. If an employer is unable to do that schedule form he I must insist that I give me a reason that makes sense, because for me to schedule makes sense and has been proven to work.
7 p.m. I should already be thinking about what I’m going to be making for dinner, and lunch the next day. Dinner can be simple, light and quick. Just stirfry vegetables which are lightly spiced.
7:45 p.m. After working out I’m getting rolling on dinner.
At least three days a week I need to stay away from the computer in the evenings, so says doctor Me.
11:00 p.m. I better be making my way towards the bedroom, after cleaning up my desk, picking up my miscellaneous shit & then brushing my teeth.
11:15 p.m. Collect thoughts at the end of the day. Spend quiet time with my journal and my mind.
11:30 p.m. falling asleep
*Dragon naturally speaking is an incredible speech recognition program. This entire blog entry was created using Dragon NaturallySpeaking, and about 25 keystrokes.
