Thursday, June 26, 2014

The Less I Did, The Less I Did

by Linda
 
 
 
 
 
Have you ever found yourself in a position of inactivity? Usually a result of injury or illness, neither of which can be avoided. Sometimes illness and/or injury requires a period of inactivity. A time of rest and recuperation before resuming normal everyday activities.

But what happens when the recovery period is over but you still don't resume normal everyday activities? Well, you sort of resume everyday activities but find the things that you were once so passionate about have lost their luster a little or maybe your just afraid to resume them. Ever happen to you?

Happened to me, and I have a dent on the sofa to prove it!

After a minor (but oh so very painful!) injury to my foot and a period of limited activity, I found myself almost paralyzed when it came time to resume my more active lifestyle. I found myself doing less and less.

I have to admit that I was spoiled a little by my family. They were oh so eager to help me and not let me do anything, which was oh so nice! But the more they did for me, the less I did for me. Then when I was all better, so much of what I once did seemed boring, uninteresting. So where was my motivation? My morning walks were a place not only for exercise for my body but for my brain. Clearing out all the cobwebs that had accumulated could only be accomplished while I walked and let my mind wander or use that time to ponder or remember or plan or just enjoy the morning.  My daily exercise had stopped and needed it to resume and I was struggling with that for a number of reasons that I won't go into here but if you want to meet me for a cuppa.....

anyway...

I was also struggling for inspiration with my photography. I was still taking a picture of something everyday but not doing anything really creative with the pictures I was taking. Nothing was inspiring me to try something new, nothing was interesting to me. Part of that was because I stopped browsing through all my old favorite galleries. I thought I needed to get involved in something to help push me through this creative rut. Kim Klassen offered Be Still 52 which I just knew would do it. I forgot that Kim would not be coming to my house, personally pulling me off the couch in her gentle way and setting up some beautiful shots for me and finding the perfect props for me and telling me the perfect texture and processing to use on each shot. I may or may not be a little behind in this class.

yeah, I'm a basket case....

What I needed was Jillian Michaels screaming in my face to "GET OFF YOUR ASS AND GET MOVING!!!!!"

"MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!"

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!"

"STOP CRYING!"

yeah, maybe not that

I am my own worst enemy and now it was time for me to be my own best friend. What got me off the couch was looking at the email I get twice a month from Photojojo. They send me some of the pictures I took last year.

Last year I taught myself to fly



Last year I went through the looking glass



Last year I saw this (or something equally beautiful) almost every morning



Last year I spent time learning and playing with apps on my phone and creating some pretty neat stuff.

huh, was that me?

I found my motivation right where it always was, within my soul, the satisfaction of creating something, the feeling of making something special was always there waiting for the right spark.

And the spark had to come from me.

So I'm back out for the morning show almost every morning, exercising my body and my mind, I'm having fun with apps and processing and learning how to Be Still. I will continue to seek inspiration from all that surrounds me and create some more pretty neat stuff.

Where is your inspiration coming from this summer?

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Don't forget we have a Phoneography Flickr group! You don't have to have an iPhone or be on Instagram to join! Maybe you have a favorite picture on your phone you just want to share! We'd love to see it!

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7 comments:

Sarah Huizenga said...

I found inspiration on vacation to my favorite place in the world, and got to spend two weeks there. Now the thing is to DO what I have been thinking about while I was there. Finding motivation at home when everything else is calling for my attention, including unfinished house projects that are constantly screaming at me, that is going to be the tricky part. Don't worry I may or may not be behind in Be Still as well :)

heyjudephotography said...

Yeah well I may or may not be behind in Kim's class too. You were speaking to me this morning. With the exception of my sons 5th grade graduation, I haven't picked up my camera in over two weeks. Unheard of for me, but can't find my groove. I just need to do it. Glad you're back in action Linda!!

leigh said...

Oh Linda…I remember those beautiful photographs! I think you and I are kindred souls and stuck in the same place right now. I even have a foot injury…guess I'm just trying to be more like you. I'm glad to see that you are feeling inspired again because I have missed your beautiful shots! and I'm way behind in be still too….it's not just you :)

terriporter said...

What a great post and one that is speaking to so many of us, I know. Photography is funny that way -- once you put your camera down it is hard to get motivated to pick it up again and the longer the time that goes by, the harder it becomes. I know for me summer is when that happens. It's too hot to do much outside and I only seem to take photos on vacation and not every day and when that happens, I miss it but I need something to get me going again. Usually what gets me going again is signing up for a class. I am excited to be in Kim's class because she is showing me how I can be creative and stay inside where it's cool at the same time, which in Phoenix in the summer is a real blessing! I'm sooo happy to see you out shooting the morning show again! I have missed your beautiful sunrises. And you are one of the most creative people I know when it comes to phoneography and I'm always inspired by what you do so I'm glad to see you back playing with your phone shots again. I hope it helps to know that we're all right there with you on this and it happens to all of us at one time or another.

Deanna said...

I may not have had a foot injury like you, but I certainly lost that zeal and inspiration over this (ugh) winter we had. It has taken some time for me to get back on the horse, so to speak, too. Glad to hear that you are back to your daily walks and re-inspiration!!

kelly said...

linda i'm glad to hear you're recovered from your injury and getting back out there. i've always loved your 'morning show' on IG and the creative way you use apps. sometimes life just has a way of sucking the inspiration and creativity right out of us. but it's helpful for me to know that this is something that happens to all of us at one time or another. the key is to just ride it out. looking forward to seeing your beautiful sunrises again. xo

Linda/patchwork said...

I'm glad your foot is better.

It does seem that the less one does, the less one wants to do. I'm in that place right now.

I've been taking the photo a day. But, most times lately, I've just grabbed the camera and rushed to get a shot....screeching in under the wire.
My reason for doing the 365, was to learn and grow. So far, I'm just doing the same old stuff, and not growing.

Glad you found a way to break the spell. Maybe I'll try your technique.

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