Thinking

So much of being aware is simply thinking. Just think. Notice something, a situation, a new fact, a thought process, and think about it. Mull it over, wonder why it is the way it is, try to understand it.

This seems to be a major key in practicing awareness. And something many people seem not to grasp very well. It is not enough to be aware that you stepped on your friend's foot while you were walking behind him. You should then consider why you did it. Is it because he walks slower than you? Because you didn't see his foot? Because you took a longer-than-normal-step to avoid a giant pile of dog shit? Or simply because you are a dickhead (read: good friend).

Understanding why you have done such a thing can teach you about your friend, your environment, and yourself.

One of my brothers (well actually all three of us) loves steak. Red meat is fantastic. But one of us swears he will never stop eating it. He wants to eat it as often as possible. Now I am no vegetarian, but I can see the positives to not eating red meat so often, if at all. Whether it be price, social/political/ecological beliefs, taste, health concerns, etc. there are plenty of reasons not to eat red meat every day. If my brother were to apply awareness and thought to his love of red meat, I posit that he might eventually change his mind. To understand that the only reason to eat red meat as often as possible is personal desire (at least for him) is important. Combine that realization with knowledge of the processes that are involved in bringing that meat to a table (and the above mentioned reasons) and it should be easier to understand why eating red meat so often isn't such a great idea.

But all of this, of course, requires a person to be a bit more humble and selfless than they might otherwise be. And that is a whole new topic of awareness.

Awareness

For my Graphic Design Senior Project, basically a thesis project but for design students, at Stout I did a conceptual graphic design piece on awareness. Aptly named Aware. I wanted to do something that might continue to be of use to at least some people after the gallery show was over. For years at Stout I witnessed students pouring their hearts and souls into projects that ceased to exist in any sort of constructive manner after that one glorious night.

So I tried something different.

Now, months later, I still contemplate awareness and notice interesting things every day. I plan to start posting observations and realizations here.

Finally, the project, and this blog get their due use.

Hopefully.

-Z

New posting starts tomorrow.

Cold + Stupid

So Ashley and I decided to go for a short bike ride this evening. Sounded like a fantastic idea to get my blood flowin and my muscles movin. And it was great, for 10 minutes.

Ashley has a pair of nice Pearl Izumi insulated pants for winter riding, and a pair of sweet deerskin mittens, so she wore those. I, on the other hand, had a pair of jeans and some gloves that are just about worthless (the only reason I still have them is because I can't afford a pair of these).

The plan was to ride down 26th from blaisdell (where we currently reside) to Lake of the Isles, around it, and ride back somehow, either via Lake Street or 28th. Here's a handy Google map. That, however, is not the way it played out. By the time we had ridden to the lake my thighs and fingers were numb and there was a sharp pain in my frozen thumbs. I made the decision then that there was absolutely no way I was going to make it around the lake and back without causing considerable harm to at least my fingers. So we headed back home.

The whole ride only took about 30 minutes, but I'd say it was a smart call to head back when we did. I was far past uncomfortable by the time we arrived at home. What really bothered me about it was the fact that I forced us to cut our ride short. I'm used to riding through pain, and pushing myself physically when need be. If it was just pain I could have done the whole trip. What stopped me from doing so was the cause of the pain -- COLD. I was afraid of frost bite. That had never really bothered me before. I've dealt with cold all my life living in the midwest, and this was the first time I took it more-than-seriously. Interesting learning experience.

At least I got out and did some riding for half an hour... right?

That's all for now.

zee

Update

Still being a bum.

Been struggling to motivate myself. It's quite easy to laze about and complete only the immediately necessary tasks. I've taken my sweet time in finishing my resumé, the plan was to have it finished by friday and start sending it out this coming week. That didn't happen. Though now that I've gotten paid a bit and have another paycheck coming my way, I think it is going to be easier to get some other things done (ie resumé), at least that's what I've been telling myself.

I've spent some time over the past week getting back into the groove of things - checking design blogs, viewing collections, reading up on things, and generally poking my head into things I'd either forgotten about or hadn't know about. It's been at least a little motivating.

Short update. That's all for now. I plan to start writing here again too, huzzah.

byes