Experience {Happiness}

Why does it feel great to learn? Dopamine. Check out this article, Learn something new - your brain willthank you, where Dr Gary Marcus discusses why it feels good for your brain to learn a new skill.

However, you don’t need to pick up a new musical instrument or learn any knew skill to experience the dopamine rush that learning will give you. Get out and experience the world! It has become quite apparent to you, I’m sure, through reading my posts that I have a lot of interests: lots of DIY projects (haircoloring, making over my bedroom, earrings, and crafts), traveling, and I guess it’s inherent that I love writing also (poetry included).

Steps to make getting new experiences easier:

Make a List

I know I harp on this idea a lot, but list-making . . .  well, it makes life easier. Make a list of places you would like to go and things you would like to see. For example, on my list I would include bands I want to see, like Florence + the Machine, Punch Brothers, Neko Case . . . , cities I have never visited, such as New York and Chicago, as well as National Parks I want to see yet.

Set a Date

Decide exactly when you will do the things you want. Get your planner out now, load a new tab and do a Google search, make the necessary texts to invite friends. Go on. Do it.

Execute

Actually follow through with your plans. Your friends dropped out on you? Go anyway, make new friends while you’re there. An event got cancelled? Find a new one. Go through with your plan. Execution is key.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain

Decide For Yourself

A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read. - Mark Twain

I once got into an argument with a friend about the nature of art, and what can properly be classified as art. We were talking about one guy in particular who uses the exact same subject matter in everything and really treats it as a logo. I argued that it was really design because he wasn't taking advantage of all his skills with the medium, but instead focusing on the design of his works. My friend said his subject didn't matter as much as how successful he is with his work and that it was art because of the methods he was using to create it.

I brought up an analogy that ended the conversation pretty flatly: knowing how to make art and not using your skills in producing, is like knowing the Bible and ignoring everything it tells you about life. Maybe it was a jump, but it did exactly what I wanted, ended the convo.

To me, there is a certain level of discernment that should happen when acquiring knowledge, all the information in the world can't help you do anything if you can't make a decision about it for yourself. But it seems like some people are rather pleased with their views to begin with, whether solidly founded or not. I personally can't live that way. At what point does a person say, alright, that's everything I'm willing to learn and experience in my life?

It is crippling, to me at least, not to use my knowledge and my decisions about the world, and equally not to gain knowledge and experience. Sometimes our society will put certain people on a pedestal for seemingly no particular reason, as the guy in the aforementioned story is in my opinion. You can use your energy fighting that, give up, or you can focus on yourself. I can spend my time criticizing the guy, or I can accept that people don't see that same way I do, make a decision about what that means for my art, and move forward. I hope I can always choose the latter option.

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society. - Mark Twain

Drawing Eyes

First of all, my cousin just had her baby yesterday and I cannot wait to get back to Arkansas and go see her and my precious baby cousin, Piper! Congratulations! I love y'all! I can't wait to hold her :)

Something else also happened yesterday. It's not nearly as exciting... but... I drew an eye. I know. Brilliant. Actually, the better part is that I drew an eye and took pictures step-by-step for you so you (possibly) can try my method. Here we go:

Once again, I turn to this guy for a great quote: You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. - Mark Twain

But also: Art, like morality, consists in drawing the line somewhere. - Gilbert K. Chesterton

Smoking Hott Men

Lately, I have noticed a trend in my men's fashion pins on Pinterest. Obviously suits are displayed there profusely because a man in a suit is to a woman as a woman in lingerie is to a man. Suits are sexy. But I have noticed something else catching my eye recently, and it took a great article on AllWomenStalk.com to make me realize it.

The article was about common fetishes. While I would not call this a fetish, it definitely has a draw for me. I have always been drawn to photography of people smoking, but because of my upbringing had always avoided hanging out with smokers. Now that I don't give a hoot who does what as long as they have integrity in their lives, I have found that I really enjoy watching people smoke.

A while back I told my guy that it was a shame he was trying to quit because I would love to take pictures of him smoking. Well, the pictures never happened, but I am still apparently drawn to photography of men smoking and just think it is sexy. Don't judge. I also am beginning to do some deep meditation on whether or not I find tattoos attractive (this is sarcasm, of course I do).

So, in case you also enjoy the smoky men, here are my pins I have spoken of. What do you think of guys smoking? What about women?

One great man on smoking: As an example to others, and not that I care for moderation myself, it has always been my rule never to smoke when asleep, and never to refrain from smoking when awake. - Mark Twain