Procrastination Creation.

I’ve been on the road for 13 months (and counting). My car tires have covered the entire perimeter of the United States; starting in SoCal, across east through Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, down to south Florida, back up to Washington D.C., to Vermont and back east through Wisconsin, Montana, Wyoming, Utah back to SoCal for the holidays then finally back up north to NorCal.

I packed all of my camera gear with this amazing day dream that I would chronicle the entire trip through the lenses of my camera. That wasn’t the case. I don’t know if it was inadvertent procrastination, lack of motivation or…the reason doesn’t matter. It didn’t happen.

I am disappointed at 13 months of missed opportunities. But, I was in it. I was in these moments. That said, I was also obligated to so many things. I was obligated to the stress of wondering where we’d go next, the dogs, logistics and the day to day demands of overlapping priorities.

More thoughts on the trip, later.

What brings me to jot down my thoughts, today, is: Today.

I fell in love with my today, again. In an ideal world, we’d all fall in love with every day we take a breath. But, this is life and that doesn’t happen…not to most. But, for myself, I have felt so obligated to so many things that demand so much of my emotional, mental and literal time that I had nothing left.

Many nights, I wondered where my own personal time went. I have been giving it all away without boundaries.

For the past 6 or so months, my work calendar has been booked SOLID from the moment I woke up until the moment I leave my monitors - always more than 8 hrs on any given day. Then you add the demands of the day-to-day home life…by the time I rested my head on my pillow, I had only gotten the privilege of a 2 hr Sex in the City binge as my only means to zone out and shut off.

I didn’t feel…fed.

So, I took a “day off” of work. (What that really means is I canceled all internal meetings but still am obligated to my afternoon client-facing meetings.) I gave myself permission to come back to myself.

I took myself on a solo hike out in Jack London Historical State Park about 45 min away from where I’m staying.

The drive was nothing short of - perfect.

I spent 1.5hrs on a hike that would normally take 45 min. I put my headphones on, put on my favorite playlist and took out my camera and just snapped photos.

I saw Jack London’s Wolf Den Ruins (more photos to come).

The drive back was an exhale that I also needed.

Why am I bringing this up?

Because I was overwhelmed by so much my surrounding has to offer. Photography is such a gift. I don’t consider myself versed in photography. But it is an absolute hobby of mine. That said, I am grateful for the gift of photography.

• It forces you to be in the moment.

• It opens up the built in lens in your eyes to see the world so differently…so many shapes and patterns. It’s so overwhelming in the most heart-filled ways.

It was the meditation I needed and I was finally brought back to myself. And, I’m realizing the contrast of what my world has been to what it was today. Understanding this contrast, I can better fine tune my time and efforts to be the person I want to be in the world…again. Today’s shooting play list was Andrew Belle Radio. I hope you enjoy as much as I do. It’s one of my go-to’s and favorite playlists.