Get with the flow

Dan and I are getting ready to celebrate our anniversary with a 10-day vacation in the Midwest (we’re so excited!), but I wanted to pop in before we left to say, why hello there!

I have been feeling out of sorts and directionless since my 365 project is over. Then last week, I was unexpectedly let go from my main freelance gig because of budget cuts. My co-workers showed much sympathy and outrage that I would be forced to find a new job, but for me, the biggest shock is that I have let an entire year go by without moving my career in any meaningful direction.  Shame on me.

I spent most of the weekend watching this amazing food photography class online taught by Penny de los Santos via CreativeLive. She photographs for Saveur and National Geographic, and I learned so much in the few hours I watched and it was free! In the course, she suggested that everyone should have personal creative projects. You may never land your dream assignment, she said, but you can create it for yourself.

I also have been reading this book called Flow which argues that the key to happiness is being fully immersed in an activity—whether it is writing or running or gardening—with intense concentration and focus that you get into a “zone” state. I have to say that I agree with the concept because the times of my life I have felt most at peace are when I am so immersed with something that time just passes by and the feeling of accomplishment that comes afterwards.

I am kind of sick of being so passive in my life and "waiting" for something to happen. I am looking forward to the mental break of vacation and then coming back to spend the summer energized, inspired and ready to work. Maybe this was the wake-up call I needed.

My friend Chris came to visit me this weekend and we had a nice evening walk on The High Line. These pictures come from there.