"A Human Doing vs. A Human Being...

Why is it so hard to just be?  As in "be still".  To be present in the moment, instead of looking to what is next. To exhale.  Stare out a window.  Lay in bed and clear my head.  To realize being alone is  not the same as being lonely.  I am conditioned to feel guilty about that kinda stuff.  Doing, doing, doing.  "To Do" lists to check off.  Places to go.  People to see.   Crap-ola galore.  My days usually start off with the Better Half inquiring "So whatcha got planned today, what's on the agenda?"  And I'm off and running to make sure I got something done today.  I'm more of a Human Doing, than a Human Being.

But I've come to realize all this Go-Go-Go can be counter productive.  Because there is always guilt associated with it.  Why?  At the end of the day, 9 times outta 10 I didn't git 'r done.  There is self-imposed pressure.  And after awhile thoughts, words and creativity slow dramatically...sometimes they stop. Photography block.  Writer's Block.  House cleaning block (thought I'd just throw that one in there because it COULD happen!).  Instead of getting ANYTHING done, I find myself escaping to Facebook, Buzzfeed, Trivia Crack, Houzz.  Even when I'm doing nothing, I'm doing sumptin' sumptin'. I guess you could say instead of the need for speed,  I have a yen for zen.  To be still.

"Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still."

- Dorothea Lange

"I Should be Cleaning - Still Life #1"

To be still does not mean to not move.  It means to move in peace.  To move quietly and with intent.  To simply "be".  Ain't so easy in this always on, instant access, over communicated world of ours.  Without defining it as such, it is probably one of the main reasons I've always been drawn to photography.  The ability to take a moment in time, and holding it still.  Capture it.  Relish it.  Yes...be at peace with it.  When I am present in the moment it's kinda amazing what I notice without distractions or commotions. To take the time and observe from a different perspective.  A different angle.  A different light.

"I Should be Cleaning - Still Life #2"

There is a liberation to quiet time spent alone.  Stillness has it's own set of gifts.  When I made time for it, I found there is beauty all around just waiting to be found.  Be still.  Breathe.  Slow Down.  Capture the quiet.  Be still.

"I Should be Cleaning - Still Life #3"

"I Should be Cleaning - Still Life #4"



Still Life  (n.) - a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter,
typically commonplace objects.

When I am still, I notice there are bits of lovely everywhere.  There's beauty just waiting to be found in the ordinary.  Yep, much to the chagrin of the familial unit who already think I can find anything AND everything to photograph, and STILL find it interesting.  And they are probably right. But now?  I think I'm gonna to find even MORE.

"I Should be Cleaning - Still Life #5"

I'm embarking on a year long still life photography course called "Be Still - 52" with Kim Klassen.  It's outside my comfort zone.  It forces me to take some time to BE, instead of always DO-ing.  To be aware of my surroundings.  My every day.  The beauty that goes unnoticed.  To be in the moment.  You'll see posts every now and then with some of the Still Life captures.  It's gonna be fun to be a Human Being for a change.  AND...to get even LESS housework done.  I hope Buzzfeed and Houzz will survive without moi!

Be Still.

Here's where I "link up" today.

(click on image for description of Song-ography)

Next Tuesday's Song-ography title suggestion is "End of the Line (It's Alright)" by the Traveling Wilburys.
Come back and link up!