The Path Ahead

In business and in life, it’s always a good idea to have in mind at least an idea of the path you want to take or how you see life evolving going forward. Of course that shouldn’t take away from experiencing life as it’s happening now. And, we also need to realize that there is much unknown about the path ahead. Life is going to throw us curveballs and we have to be ready to adjust.

For me, there is much uncertainty in the year ahead. My husband and I are still living in temporary quarters and expect to move into our new home before Christmas. We are currently living a half hour drive from our new town, so don’t yet feel a part of it. My husband is in school until next May and doesn’t know what the job market will hold for him. I am still getting used to the idea that the people that I spent the most time with over the last seventeen years now live far away. And family and friends that used to be far away are now much closer. It’s all a bit surreal. Since my December will be focused on moving, I am in the throes of planning where I will go with my business next year.

First, a look back.

This year I have been exploring contemplative photography through my 365 day photo project, Bringing Contemplation Back – day 319 today. I strongly recommend doing a 365 day photo project with the intention of just noticing your life, not having to create the perfect picture. This is my second such project and I can honestly say that photographing every day has become an entrenched habit. It has helped me become a better photographer and to appreciate my life. It doesn’t have to be a daily photography project either. You could paint or write. Or, you could develop a habit of daily meditation or a walk.

This year I studied the book, The Practice of Contemplative Photography (paid link), and had the opportunity to attend a Miksang workshop in Boulder, Colorado with one of the authors of that book. My time in Boulder was transformative. Not only did I fall in love with Boulder, I now have a much deeper sense of what it means to bring awareness to perceptions and how to remove the filters or baggage that we normally bring to them.

I try to attend a workshop of some kind every year if possible. Getting away to learn something new is like a jolt of energy in your life.

This year I facilitated five Photo By Design online workshops, with more than fifty participants. I had 10 wonderful people at my first weekend workshop, called “Seeing with New Eyes,” at Bethany Spring in New Haven, Kentucky.

Looking ahead to 2013

I am hoping you will join me in either a workshop or my community contemplative practice next year.

Contemplative Practice and Community Project – A Year with Rilke

Rainer Maria Rilke was a contemplative poet and I wanted to learn more about him. So, I decided that my daily practice for 2013 will be to read the book, A Year with Rilke. Each day highlights an excerpt from one of Rilke’s poems. I will reflect on the excerpt and create an image and/or writing based on my experience each day.

Online Workshops

Photo By Design 1 and 2, my workshops in visual design for photography will be combined into one 9-week class. This workshop will be offered three times in 2013. Learn more here.

Adventures in Seeing is a new 9-week online workshop focusing on the 9 habits for living a contemplative life. It is about developing contemplative habits and uses photography as a tool for exploration. This workshop will also be offered three times in 2013. Learn more here.

In-Person Workshops

April 19 -21, 2013 – Seeing With New Eyes. I will again be offering this workshop at Bethany Spring in New Haven, Kentucky. Space is limited to 10 participants.

What do you have in store for 2013?