Time to Be Fearless

These days, it seems like everyone has some sort of blog. And if not, then they almost assuredly have a Facebook. Each of these things give people a medium to do something very important: think, and post those thoughts.

But these mediums are not perfect.
They're censored, often public, and not always great places to discuss personal ideas. So then what happens to these non-conforming thoughts? Because certainly, people think up an almost absurd amount of things every day. But when they're not recorded, they just get lost.

For almost a couple years, I've been writing down anything that feels important or moving, in a notepad on my phone. And it has probably been one of the best experiences of my life. I went to a concert about a year ago and I lost my phone, where all the notes were kept. And it didn't bother me that I'd lost my iPhone. The thing that really shook me was that I'd lost my collection of thoughts. Luckily, when I bought a new phone, my old notes had been backed up and re-added, so everything was saved. But really, my point is that if everyone chronicled their thoughts, if people didn't wait to get home to write about their day, if they didn't censor themselves the way they do in public spaces, then we could all come up with some pretty revolutionary ideas and learn huge amounts about ourself and the world. And this is not to say that I'm cooking up an intellectual response to the Communist Manifesto. Most of my "thoughts" probably don't seem life changing. To be honest, I'm probably pretty average. But I give myself room to grow and analyze and understand by keeping a diary, not of my day, but of my brain. The little pieces that begin to morph together reveal so much to me about myself, the people I interact with, and especially, the world I live in. I'd love for other people to do this, too. If you don't have a notepad on your phone, then just carry around a small notepad. It's simple, but it's worth it. Let me know if you start. It'd probably make my day.

Now, on an unrelated note, here is the second installment of pictures from my recent trip to the Kansai region of Japan (which is much more Southern than where I live). The places we explored were...incredible. Temples so large that they made people look like ants, wild deer and monkeys roaming streets and mountain trails, greens and blues and browns like they only exist in Crayola boxes. These places are called Kyoto and Nara. Enjoy.

Camera: Nikon FM10
Film: Portra 400

Previous: Kansai Trip, Pt. 1

Some Jumbled Thoughts

I keep a notepad on me at all times to write down the random, unnecessary, distant thoughts that pop into my head. I've noticed that while in Japan, my thoughts are a bit different or focused in newer ways than when I was at home. But I definitely enjoy it.

1. [While looking out my kitchen window and seeing a huge bird searching for food/bugs in the rice fields] The plants exist for the bugs and the bugs exist for the bigger bugs and the bigger bugs exist for the birds and the birds exist for the cats and the cats exist for the bigger animals and the bigger animals exist as food for something even larger. And the cycle continues infinitely until the bigger animals wither and decay and eventually become the plants. And it might seem kind of sad that one's purpose is to be food for something else. But it's harmony; to form the continuation of life. So what then, is the purpose of human beings?
2. I wonder if Japanese cats speak a different dialect of Cat than other cats.
3. People are proud of their jobs in Japan, even if they work at gas stations or McDonalds. Everyone has a purpose here and people are proud of the till they create.
4. I kind of hate when people make fun of Mormons. They seem like the "go-to" religion to laugh about, but knowing a couple "fun facts" about a faith doesn't really give us the right to bash them as if we really understand them completely.
5. It's amazing how much communication you can do with someone without ever speaking the same language. Gestures, expressions, laughter...the universal languages of life.
6. Karaoke Culture: In a country that is very group-oriented, most creative differences get tucked away rather than being free to stand out. The biggest exception I've found so far is karaoke. In America, karaoke isn't all that popular...perhaps because there are so many outlets for self expression where I'm from. But in Japan, karaoke is huge! And the best part is that people aren't too shy to sing or dance and everyone does it. It feels like Japan's creative release.
7. Occasionally, I'll find a teensy little bug crawling on me and I kind of like it. It's like they want to explore me just as much as I want to explore them.

I think that's enough for now! To offset all the writing, here are some pictures from home. Thoughts from Japan and pictures from California...sorry, I have a hard time with consistency.












Spierrans :)














LA Artwalk + San Francisco + Sierra Barbecue + SPOP Talent Show + Mint Year Preview Night.

-MG