The Art of Living
The Art of Living
Let’s make our lives a living work of art. If you decided to live each day like it was your last, what would you do and how would you spend your time?
I choose to start my day off with a hike in nature, finding myself on the edge of a cliff, looking out beyond the horizon. When I stand at the top of this cliff, I zoom out, and look at myself from a third-person perspective, recognizing how connected I am to this world, gazing down on me from the heavens.
Philadelphia is Paradise
There’s an art to living in Philadelphia, and thriving here in this city. First and foremost, Philadelphia is the most walkable city in the United States of America. This means you do not technically need to own a car. Everything is accessible via walking. Also, public transportation is very easy to use, and today I decided to take the bus to the Wissahickon Forest. The greatest upside to living in Philadelphia is our green spaces, not just our parks, but our forests. The city has various parks and green spaces throughout the concrete jungle, from Rittenhouse Square, Washington Square, Logan Square, and Franklin Square. We also have two beautiful rivers with walking trails from Penn’s Landing at the Delaware River and the bike trail along the Schuylkill River. Around 5 miles up the Schuylkill River is Manayunk, the area where I grew up, with the Wissahickon Forest just in our backyard. I’m currently walking along the dirt path, on a random trail, surrounded by the tree canopy. You wouldn’t even think you’re in a city anymore when you surround yourself in the Wissahickon.
Why does this matter?
I think natural and green spaces promote human thriving. As much as I love society and being around urban life and other people, there’s peace and solitude to be had surrounded by nature. There’s the perfect balance in Philadelphia between urban spaces and green spaces. This matters and is a really big deal. Also, the fact that everything is so walkable is one of our biggest upsides, as there is really no need to be stuck in traffic. I believe that spending too much time in cars, sitting down, promotes anxiety and frustration generally. As much as people view the vehicle as a key to freedom, I see it as more maintenance, something to keep up with, and actually more burdensome owning a car than not. I’ve never needed one, nor desired one. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll change my mind, but for now, I’ll stay walking, enjoying the forbidden drive.
I was just reading a plaque along the trail, discussing how this path I’m walking on is called Forbidden Drive. Apparently, in the late 20th century, they banned automobiles from driving along this path and built a turnpike instead. Since then, they gave the name of this path Forbidden Drive.
Philadelphia is so rich with history. It is the birthplace of America, after all. What I love most about my city is that you can walk around and learn something new each and every day.
Well, our summer is short and our winter is long. Perhaps Philadelphians appreciate the summer more when it’s here. There are so many people swimming in the creek, enjoying the sun, but I actually enjoy the change of seasons. There’s something about the change of seasons that feels right to me. There’s this yearning you feel when it’s summertime for the fall. When it’s fall, you’re looking forward to the winter. When it’s winter, spring is around the corner, and the change of colors upon the trees provides the viewer a beautiful tapestry to admire.
The point is, I love Philadelphia, and honestly don’t ever see myself wanting to leave this place. If you’re a street photographer, it’s paradise. You step outside onto the grid and have the perfect number of people on the sidewalk. It’s not like New York, where it’s completely overcrowded, congested, overwhelming. Philadelphia is just small enough, and just big enough, where it feels like a small town. You can make the same rounds each and every day, covering the most bustling areas to practice your street photography. I have a really great route, and always find success when I’m out there shooting. I know what to expect when I head out with my camera because the city is just big enough where I can cover all the areas I need to. This is perfect for a photographer like me who enjoys consistency while striving to make a long-term, committed, 50-year archive.
Die Every Day
By remembering that we must die, we shed our skin, let go of our attachments, and desires. Through embracing change, I metaphorically die each day, enabling endless transformation.
Laugh in the face of chaos.
I recently finished reading Epictetus – The Discourses. There is this notion of equanimity that he describes, where you are undisturbed and unbothered by strife, facing life’s challenges openly with resilience. This state of calm is critical in a world of chaos. By embracing daily askesis, or training, I not only fortify my body but also my mind. Currently, my daily discipline involves walking with barefoot shoes and a 40-pound plate carrier on my chest and back. By removing my shirt and my shoes every day, I embrace the maximally minimalist and frugal approach to life, reminding myself that simplicity is king.
Maintenance Thoughts
Our bodies are like a battery, and the adipose tissue beneath our skin and around our organs stores the energy. When you consider fat as energy, it reframes the way that you think about health in general. Nowadays, you often hear people discuss notions of calories, burning calories, storing calories, eating for calories, etc. I think that this is extremely foolish because it is not a matter of intaking lots of calories to store energy, but being more critical about the actual food itself that you consume.
If a person loads up on 2000 calories of lettuce, carrots, and beans, will this person store as much energy as somebody who eats 2000 calories of red meat and eggs?
Obviously, the person who’s eating the meat will store more energy, satiating their body, similar to fueling a car with premium gasoline. Eating a plant-based diet is the equivalent of filling up a car with vegetable oil.
Our body is the vehicle
Around a month ago, I was carrying a hose, but held it in a very unfamiliar way, while flexing my bicep. I did this because it fell off of my shoulder, and after holding it for only a minute, I strained my bicep. I can still feel the strain when I wake up in the morning. It’s nothing serious, but definitely noticeable. I’m in no pain at this point, but it reminds me of how fragile our bodies truly are, and how mindful we must be engaging physically with the world. I think I’m going to start doing more yoga, making sure I stretch my muscles and my body more. I only do a few different stretches with my legs, but I need to engage the rest of my body and become more flexible.
Also, I recently have been finding myself frustrated with my bike. Firstly, it’s actually really dangerous when commuting in the city. I don’t recommend biking in Philadelphia unless you are only going out there for leisure along the trail. The streets are filled with glass and potholes and all sorts of stuff that has been popping my tires left and right. Two weeks in a row I popped my tire and it was extremely frustrating to deal with the maintenance. Also, after a year, I had my brake pads replaced, which is probably normal. However, these situations have reminded me of that famous quote from Fight Club.
“The things you own end up owning you.” – Tyler Durden
The other day, when I received my flat tire, and was pushing my bike home, I was so fed up with it. I remained calm and was thinking to myself that maybe it’s time to move on, and that I should just leave it on the side of the road and forget about the bike, as it becomes more of a burden when using it daily. I literally left it overnight, through a storm, woke up the next morning, went for my walk, and found it along the trail still there, untouched, and perfectly working. I rolled it home this morning, and will figure out how I’m going forward with transportation. I’m most likely going to rely on the bus for going to Fairmount Park where I work, which will only take me 20 minutes in the morning and afternoon. Honestly, the streets are just tragic, so much glass, it’s a disaster! I think I’ve learned my lesson at this point, though, and will definitely only be taking the bike out onto the path trail for leisure rather than transportation. There’s too much risk and headaches involved with biking for transportation.
Friendship and Solitude
I’m certainly one who thrives on his own. When I was a Peace Corps volunteer, or even a volunteer living abroad in Israel and Palestine, I’ve always been on my own. I’ve always traveled from place to place by myself and prefer it this way as a photographer and artist who is extremely focused on making work.
What I’ve realized when traveling from place to place over the past decade is that there really is no time for friendship or making relationships with other people. It’s a byproduct of the adventurous spirit, of hopping around, with wanderlust. Now that I’m home, I’m really glad because I get to spend time with my two friends that I’ve known ever since we were around four or five years old. I’m very fortunate and grateful to have held onto friendships for this long and feel like the real friends that you make are the ones that you’ve made from childhood.
Why I Thrive in Nature
As I walk through the Wissahickon Forest right now, I’m reminded of my time spent as a kid. I would explore the forest, building teepees with sticks, sharpening spears, attempting to hunt deer, building bridges with stones, riding bikes, exploring caves, and fishing. I spent a lot of my youth in this forest, many times exploring with friends, but a lot of the time I spent here alone. I think that nature is infinitely novel due to the randomness of the way that trees and plants grow. The feeling of uneven surfaces, gravel, dirt, the running water from the creek, the sounds of birds and insects, and the different colors of leaves provide the explorer with infinite ways to entertain themselves.
Also, when in nature, it feels liberating to take off your shoes, walk through the grass, remove your shirt, and feel the sun kiss your skin. I enjoy walking through the forest this way, primal, but with technology, such as a camera, the world becomes a canvas, and all of the randomness within the unknown forest becomes my subject to draw upon. It also feels nice being in nature, without the constraints of societal norms, and the typical mundane routine of walking around the street, observing people walking around, looking at their phones. Even when I took the bus here today, I noticed how every single person on the bus had their head down, hunched over, engulfed in whatever media they were consuming on their phones. It was actually extremely unsettling, and reminds me of why I love nature, and disconnecting from all of this technology. I actually believe that this technology is going to morph the way the human body evolves in the next 10 to 15 years. You’re going to see way more people with bent spines and hunched backs.
I think that as much as technology connects us, it disconnects us more than ever. Some simple ways I thrive on my own:
- Walks in nature
- Street photography
- Make videos and podcasts
- Writing and reading
- Weightlifting
Let’s continue skipping to my our own beat, without a care in the world, unbothered by societal norms and how others perceive us. Let’s become living works of art.
Video Archive
Laconic Sayings
Certainly! Here is a list of famous laconic sayings attributed to the Spartans:
- “If” – King Leonidas’s response to the Persian demand to lay down their arms at Thermopylae: “Come and take them.”
- “With it or on it” – Spartan mothers to their sons about their shields, meaning come back with your shield in victory or on it as a corpse.
- “We are but warriors, so we should be obedient to the law” – A Spartan’s response when asked why they did not engage in long speeches.
- “The walls of Sparta are its young men, and its borders the points of their spears” – King Agesilaus in response to someone who wondered why Sparta had no walls.
- “Then we shall fight in the shade” – Dienekes, a Spartan soldier, when told that the Persian arrows would block out the sun.
- “Come and take them” – King Leonidas at Thermopylae in response to the Persian demand to surrender their weapons.
- “Because we fight close to the enemy” – A Spartan’s response when asked why their swords were so short.
- “Eat well, for tonight we dine in Hades” – Leonidas’s words to his men before the Battle of Thermopylae.
- “Spartan women are the only ones who give birth to real men” – Gorgo, Queen of Sparta, when asked why Spartan women could speak so freely.
- “Return with your shield, or upon it” – Another version of the saying about returning from battle either victorious or dead.
These sayings exemplify the Spartan ethos of brevity, courage, and duty.
Become your own hero
Become the Übermensch
Become your own hero.
In a world of mediocrity, it is time to give birth to the Overman, the Superman, the Übermensch.
In Friedrich Nietzsche’s book, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, he introduces the concept of the Übermensch, or Overman, as a call to action for humanity. The Übermensch represents an individual who has transcended the limitations of conventional morality and societal norms to create their own values and purpose. Nietzsche urges us to overcome our basic and weak nature, to rise above mere survival, and to strive for greatness through the development of our creativity, power, and individuality. The Übermensch embodies the highest potential of human existence, living life with strength, courage, and authenticity.
Perhaps God is dead, but now is the time for us to give rise to Zarathustra.
Overcome Yourself for Yourself
I start each morning on a walk, in nature, as a hike up the cliff, behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I stand on the edge of the cliff, gazing at the horizon, watching the waterfall and the ripple of the waves in the river. I stand on the edge; the wind could push me off, a bee could sting me in the back of my neck, a spider could startle me, or even an eagle could swoop down and push me off. Consider an eagle, the apex predator in the sky, the symbol of America, and the way in which it kills its prey, a goat on the cliffside. The eagle needs to use zero force, simply nudging the goat off its balance, allowing it to fall to its death, by simply nudging it, and then feasting on the meat at the bottom of the cliff. The eagle is clever, strategic, and knows how to pick its battles. Like the eagle, humans too have ingenuity, we have wits, and ways of using technology or tools to kill our prey, and to show dominance amongst the animal kingdom. So, with this in mind, let us strive to become the eagle, the apex predator, the new king of the streets.
Show Me Your Body, Show Me Your Soul
Our bodies are our souls. With this in mind, how should we treat our bodies? How should we elevate this human, physical form, to a transcendental height?
I believe that when you look at somebody, you are looking at their soul. Our bodies are merely a holographic projection of our human experience, decisions, and choices we make along our journey. Our soul is on display, so let’s treat our bodies this way, by making it the strongest and most beautiful version that it can possibly be.
During my recent trip to Florence, I found admiration for the sculptures of Hercules, Achilles, and David. When you gaze at these sculptures, these heroes, both biblical and in ancient Greek mythology, it prompts the viewer to strive to become like the demigod. When I look at the sculpture of Achilles dead in the arms of Ajax, it reminds me of the permanent nature of life, and death can be a beautiful aspect of our human existence. When I see the physical form of Hercules, it prompts me to strive to become strong, hard, and courageous as Hercules during his 12 labors, overcoming my own personal challenges.
Think of Hercules as he came to the rescue of Prometheus, who was wrestling with the eagle. Prometheus was punished by Zeus to have an eagle eat his liver eternally. Hercules, during his labors, came to the rescue of Prometheus, conquering the eagle, and freeing this immortal god. Hercules, son of Zeus, was a demigod. I say, let’s become the demigod in the flesh and give rise to the Übermensch. The only difference between us and Hercules is our labors are our lives, our mundane world, our banal existence in modernity. We overcome nihilism through the pursuit of greatness and conquer ourselves instead of the eagle.
Tune Out the Noise
Most chatter is radio static, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Tune it all out—all of the gossip, celebrity news, media, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Focus on the moment right here, right now. Listen to your heart, the sound of the heartbeat, the churning of your gut, and trust your instincts.
Let’s focus on our passion, photography, and our creative pursuits as our ultimate aim in life. Art gives life meaning and affirms the moments that are fleeting. However, we must recognize that strong street photography requires discipline and long-term commitment. How can we focus to the maximum on this passion of ours?
The street photographer requires a free schedule with no distractions. The ultimate goal is for us to have no social obligations, to focus all of our efforts on our creative pursuits, and to tune out the noise. Just tune it all out, turn the channel onto your own heart, and follow the beat of the street. The noise of chaos, cars honking, people screaming, and urban life becomes music to our ears.
Sunlight and Testosterone
If you’re a depressed man, what should you do?
I remember during the COVID-19 lockdown pandemic, I was working from home, working in Zoom calls, and doing tedious computer work. It was very tiresome, to be honest, and put me into a bit of a depression for a while. I basically never saw sunlight throughout the day and was eating processed junk from the store nearby because it was the quickest way for me to get food and go right back to work, as time was of the essence, and I basically had no time to live my life. I was a slave, and through being stuck inside, in a box, staring at a box all day, it certainly messes with the hormones of any man. Think of a man, as we have testes, two balls, that dangle between our legs. We must be most critical about the hormones that we possess as men, our testosterone. If you ever feel yourself depressed, anxious, or mentally uneasy, believe me, I’ve been there, and it’s normal. It’s very easy for mold, depression, because when our testosterone levels are low, you’ll instantly feel low. However, we can elevate and go higher through increasing our testosterone levels. It’s actually very simple. If you feel depressed, just don’t do anything stupid, stop moaning and groaning, and get some sunlight. Spend the maximum amount of time you can in the sun, eat red meat, and get good sleep. It sounds so simple, but it is true. If you’re a depressed man, let’s pull ourselves up from it, and go upwards, endlessly, recognizing the importance of testosterone and sunlight, and how we can focus on our hormonal state of being.
Make Things for Yourself and One Other Person
When it comes to our creative pursuits, whatever they may be, we should create for ourselves and one other person. Don’t worry about an audience or any external validation for your work. Just focus on the process itself and continue producing each day. This is my way of overcoming myself, through creating for myself and challenging myself each and every day. Even by writing right here, right now, I’m challenging myself to make something, to write something, just for the sake of doing it, so that I’d become in tune with this process and improve over time. If one other person finds anything I say useful, so be it. If not, I will still be pushing onwards, doing what I love, simply because I enjoy the process itself.
Have you ever seen that episode of Black Mirror where everybody is running on treadmills, locked into this strange compound, grinding to get points so that they can finally go onto the show, which was essentially like American Idol or America’s Got Talent, called “Hot Shot,” to prove themselves to the audience so they can finally be famous? It was called “Fifteen Million Merits.” You would see these outrageous scenes where these fat guys are running on treadmills, watching pornography, and actually even one of the characters, when she finally gets to the show, and has a really talented voice and is a good singer, is pressured to become a porn star instead.
I think we’re living in that right now, in a very funny way, and it can be drawn metaphorically to the current landscape of social media use. If you remember the outcome of the episode, that one man grinds all of his points just to go on and threaten himself with a shard of glass to his neck while on the show, giving a monologue about how exploitative and oppressive the system is, and trying to motivate everybody within the system to wake up. The irony is, at the end of the episode, the judges coerce him to continue giving his monologues about the explicit and oppressive system, by making him have his own show, as he now lives in luxury as a part of the system.
What if we can use our voice to break through the glass ceiling, or to smash through the wall of the Truman Show? Just get a GoPro, and start using your freedom of speech, stop censoring yourself, and become your authentic self. Let’s be like the protagonist in that episode of Black Mirror, but not sell our soul to the oppressive system.
Have you ever seen the first video on YouTube that was ever published? It’s titled, “Me at the Zoo.” It features one of the creators and founders of YouTube, simply filming himself for 15 seconds, describing how he’s at the zoo, next to an elephant, and how they have really big trunks. The video ends abruptly, and that’s it. It’s the most simple and rudimentary video possible. However, if we were to return to the ethos of the creator’s vision for YouTube itself: sharing your authentic and unique perspective through unfiltered, raw videos, sharing memories and thoughts. I find that YouTube is becoming stale and stagnant, with the same old creators popping up, feeding the algorithms with these clickbait titles, and stupid videos about camera gear and the drama of photography. It’s so obvious that people are making things for views or money.
Let’s assume that everybody on the internet is a bot. Would you want bots commenting and liking your videos? No, if you are to make things, simply make things for the sake of making things. Disable all analytics, all likes, and all comments. We are going into a future that is unknown to us, with the wake of artificial intelligence. I believe in a future of social media being backed by the Bitcoin standard itself, where individual users must make a deposit of satoshis, a fraction of a Bitcoin, to verify that they are a real user. This way, there is skin in the game for each user, and we can trust and verify the authenticity of internet users. Think of the 2016 election, and the infiltration of bots and fake accounts promoting all of this news, and causing division, throughout Facebook comments and other social media platforms. We should go forward assuming all of the content on the internet is fake until we adopt a new standard for the internet. We finally have the capability with the advent of Bitcoin.
No More Complaining
Yesterday, during my walk, I was speaking to some youth on the top of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps. They were smoking weed and, after a conversation, complaining that they cannot buy anything, buy property, or even own a house one day. They were saying that BlackRock or Vanguard owns all the properties and were pretty pessimistic overall that they will never own anything in their lifetime. In this capitalist society, we must find our escape hatch, our life raft, to get us out of these dire situations. Don’t be pessimistic, but be bullish and optimistic, realizing the potential of technology and how we can wield the future in the palm of our hands.
I’ve been spending the last few months studying Bitcoin. I remember during my walk on Market Street, at the beginning of this year, January 2024, seeing the announcement from an electronic billboard promoting the Bitcoin ETF, which you can purchase now through your bank. After hours of research and reading, I’ve realized that Bitcoin may be the answer to the problem our generation is currently facing: ownership. The banks own the homes, and we basically own nothing; this is obvious. However, think of the immigrants coming from Europe to Ellis Island in New York City, probably some of your ancestors, and how they pulled themselves up from these situations, going from the bottom to the top. Think of the men and women who purchased property in New York City, and now have long-standing generational wealth. Isn’t that what we want, generational wealth? Imagine if we could buy property like this, a block in Manhattan? If we could, and it was easier than ever before? Just buy Bitcoin.
Let’s face it, the economy is obviously on the decline, but maybe instead of sitting around and whining about it, we can do something about it and invest in the future. I hear people talk about how they’re never going to have a family one day because they cannot afford to be comfortable while raising a child. It’s becoming really sad to me when I hear these things, and it’s such a nihilistic and pessimistic view. Let’s do whatever we can, and put whatever small amounts we can into a true scarce asset: digital property.
Think about gold and how it used to back our United States dollar. This is no longer the case, as we can print money to infinity. It’s obvious that the currency is basically fake at this point, as the government has control over how much they can print out whenever they feel like it. Also, if someone were to announce today that an ounce of gold will be worth $1 million, obviously legions will form, people will get together, and go out there into the world, mining for gold all day. We will infinitely find more gold. Gold is not a real scarce asset. There’s bound to be gold out there somewhere on this earth. You could keep finding it, making it not a true scarce asset.
Also, imagine traveling from place to place, with a suitcase full of gold bars. This is such an old and outdated form of wealth or capital that we must move on from. However, Bitcoin is a true scarce asset because it is cryptographically sound. Humanity has finally reached this evolution, this point in technological history, where we even have the capability and supercomputers to create such a technology. This is why most people don’t understand Bitcoin, because they think of it like video game money, but the irony is, our fiat currency is the same thing. The only difference is, Bitcoin gives the power to the people, and nobody can control your money; it’s the first time in human history that you can actually own your own property without any intermediaries.
Visit hope.com, or michael.com, and watch the 17-part series on what is money. Also, read The Bitcoin Standard if you’re interested.
So what’s next for us?
Let’s strive to become the real life embodied Übermensch.
“I am a god. Even though I’m a man of God. My whole life in the hand of God. So y’all better quit playing with God.” – Kanye West
If you haven’t already, read Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Buy a weighted vest, barefoot shoes, and start walking early in the morning, as a way for you to increase your strength. Think of Goku, and the way that he trained with weights, sprinting with the vest on. Let’s go super Saiyan, in real life, and give birth to the new pantheon of demigods. We the Hercules, the new Achilles.
Meet me in the center of the divine, in the middle of the Wanamaker Building, and listen to the World’s largest playing pipe organ with me. Bring an iPad, if you want feedback on your photos, or a free workshop on photography.
Just meet at the Eagle, any day except for Sunday at 5:30pm.
I love life *too* much?
My Achilles heel is my lust for life itself. One day it eventually must come to an end, and that’s quite a bummer!
Equanimity
Equanimity refers to a state of mental or emotional stability, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in difficult situations. It implies maintaining calmness and balance, regardless of external circumstances, and often relates to the ability to stay composed under stress or adversity.
Letters from a Stoic by Seneca
Summary of Seneca’s Letters from a Stoic
Overview:
Seneca’s Letters from a Stoic (also known as Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium) is a collection of 124 letters written by the Stoic philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca to his friend Lucilius. These letters provide practical advice and philosophical insights into how to live a virtuous and content life. The letters cover a wide range of topics, including the nature of happiness, the importance of wisdom, the value of time, and the principles of Stoic ethics.
Major Themes:
- Virtue as the Highest Good:
- Seneca emphasizes that virtue is the ultimate goal and the highest good one can achieve. Virtue is sufficient for a happy life, as it aligns with nature and reason.
- Quote: “The happy life is one which is in accordance with its own nature.”
- The Value of Time:
- Seneca stresses the importance of using time wisely. He argues that people often waste time on trivial pursuits and fail to realize the value of each moment.
- Quote: “It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.”
- Self-Examination and Improvement:
- Continuous self-improvement and introspection are central to Seneca’s teachings. He advises regular self-examination to understand and correct one’s faults.
- Quote: “The first step is the will to improve; the second is the conviction that one can improve.”
- Control over Emotions:
- Seneca teaches that one should strive to control emotions rather than be controlled by them. Emotions are seen as responses to false judgments and should be managed through reason.
- Quote: “If you wish to be loved, love.”
- Facing Adversity:
- Adversity and challenges are seen as opportunities for growth and the development of resilience. Seneca advises embracing difficulties as a means to strengthen character.
- Quote: “Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.”
- The Impermanence of Life:
- Seneca often reminds Lucilius of the transient nature of life and the importance of accepting mortality. Understanding the impermanence of life encourages living fully in the present.
- Quote: “Begin at once to live, and count each separate day as a separate life.”
- Simplicity and Moderation:
- Living a simple and moderate life is advocated as a way to achieve tranquility. Seneca argues against the pursuit of luxury and excess.
- Quote: “It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.”
Prominent Quotes:
- “As long as you live, keep learning how to live.”
- “No man is free who is a slave to his body.”
- “True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future.”
- “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.”
Conclusion:
Seneca’s Letters from a Stoic provides timeless wisdom on how to lead a fulfilling and virtuous life. Through practical advice and philosophical reflections, Seneca encourages his readers to cultivate inner peace, resilience, and moral integrity. The letters serve as a guide to living in accordance with nature and reason, emphasizing the importance of virtue, self-control, and the wise use of time.
VITALITY
VITALITY
Do you have the will to win?
There’s a field of possibility every morning we wake up. I believe that when we put our physiological power, or vitality, at the forefront of our lives, everything else will fall into place.
Why keep working without seeing results?
Every day I’m getting better. I’m honing in on the process, failing, and pushing onwards. I’m obsessed and know that I’m the new king of the streets.
SEAP – Sleep as early as possible
So I’ve been subscribing to this new notion I came up with, SEAP, to sleep as early as possible. Why is sleep so important and how can this increase our vitality?
I believe that our bodies are the battery, and the sun is the charger. Firstly, by absorbing all of the sunlight, the UV rays, and allowing it to be absorbed throughout my skin, my body, my eyes, I am increasing my raw and physical power throughout the day. I believe as much as we are animals, we are like plants, and require very simple natural things like water, and sunlight. The problem with modernity is, we have so many sources of artificial light, such as phone screens. By keeping the phone screen by your bedside, it will most likely inhibit your sleep pattern. Consider the iPhone, and plugging it in when it’s at one percent to charge. Getting proper sleep is similar to rebooting the iPhone from one percent to 100% charge. Let’s put our bodies first, and leave the phone out of the bedroom. You don’t need to be a slave to time, or the alarm, just set your body in tune with nature itself. Our circadian rhythm is our natural biological clock, and if you are in tune with this, you will no longer need the phone in your bedroom. My biggest suggestion is to stay in the sun as much as you can throughout the day, and when it’s starting to set, watch the sunset for a little bit, go inside, eat, and just get right to sleep. As the sun is setting, and it becomes darker outside, you will naturally feel your body start to shut down. You become drowsy, less alert, and ready for bed. The pineal gland in your brain will start to produce melatonin, a hormone that will regulate your sleep, and is also responsible for your elevated mood, and vitality throughout the following day. It is very critical that we are in tune with nature, and our bodies, so that our moods are regulated, and we are full of life, force, and energy, to push onwards. Think more critically about sleep, and how you can increase your vitality by simply resting. I personally go to bed around 8 PM, and wake up at 4 AM, getting a perfect eight hours of sleep.
Also, consider the sun, and how it is simply keeping everything on this planet alive right now. Everything alive is on fire. Metabolism is always burning, on fire. Let’s keep that spark with us going, keep the fire burning, and embrace the heat of the sun. Physiological power is everything.
Skin and sexiness
Tan skin is sexier skin. I always love getting compliments from people, who tell me I have such a nice tan, and ask if I’ve been on vacation recently. I find it funny because I’m simply walking around the city of Philadelphia, and haven’t traveled anywhere recently. I just spend the maximum amount of time in the sun.
This past year I visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art during the antique show. I remember going to the medieval section, looking at the medieval art, admiring some of the pieces of armor, swords, and weaponry that they have. I also saw some of the paintings, and was curious about them. I was with a friend, and was asking him, why is the skin of the people in the painting so pale and white, almost just pure white color? He told me that in medieval times, the royalty would powder their face white, with makeup, to signify their class or status in society, as they spent their days comfortable in the palaces or castles as the peasants toiled on the farm. I find the irony of this to be, the new privilege, or luxury, is having a full body tan. Tan skin is a sign of freedom, of maximum time spent outside, and perhaps the roles are reversing in modern times. Just think of the typical 9 to 5 office worker, they come outside, around 5 PM, sometimes even 6 PM I see, in the streets, and they are just so pale. They almost look like the royalty depicted in the medieval paintings. And I feel like this isn’t good, it’s a sign of weakness, and not something I would wish upon my worst enemy. To be honest, it’s kind of ugly, and startling, and looks like there is no life within them. This is a sad truth, and reality, as we know it in these modern times, where the free men, with full body tans, and the slaves, are locked away in the cave, or the castle, and they’re the ones who are truly toiling. Are we the new royalty?
Live like you could die tomorrow
We have a past, we have a future, but let’s revel in this moment, right here, right now. Let’s live like we could die tomorrow, and champion this day.
What if there is no tomorrow?
If you knew this was your last day, what would you do differently? How would you spend your time? What would you give your attention towards?
Maybe once you remove the fear of death itself, we are truly free. Whoever has gained relief from grief, fear, anxiety has gained freedom. People in fear are the walking dead, zombies.
So let’s go hardcore or nothing. Let’s use all of our vital force energy, and power, to pursue the things that we love. I think we should be more playful, like a child, throughout our final days on this earth.
Retirement?
I live in a building with 99% elderly people. Yesterday on the elevator, I heard some people talking about retirement, and if they are enjoying it. One lady said that she’s enjoying what she does for work and doesn’t want to stop doing it. Another man said that he felt the same way until he stopped doing it. This notion of retirement is funny to me, and something I truly do not desire. Why wait until you’re 65 years old, to finally be free, to do the things that you enjoy? I concur with the first lady, who said that she doesn’t want to retire, because she genuinely enjoys her life. I think this is where we want to be, to almost feel as though we are retired, right now. Don’t trade your soul for money. If you feel like your soul is being sucked out of your job, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it. We just have to find what works best for us and design the life that is perfect for yourself. I hear a lot of people complain about the work that they do in the city, and I completely understand why, because most of it just makes you feel like a cog in a machine.
What is a child?
A child is full of ignorance and inexperience. A child is every bit our equal in this regard.
Remaining in this childlike state, we have an endless opportunity to learn and grow. I never want to become a master at my craft, I want to remain an amateur, so that I can forever push myself, creatively, innovating, and do something new each day.
Who was your favorite Pokémon?
My favorite Pokémon was Cyndaquil, from Pokémon Silver on the Game Boy. He was one of the starter Pokémon, and my favorite, because he looks cute, but if you agitate him, he will become inflamed with fire and attack you. If you are also a member of Generation Z like me, maybe you grew up playing Pokémon, think about which one was your favorite, and why?
Serenity
Avoid the hobgoblins. If there’s anyone that’s unnecessarily anxious, fearful, and causing problems generally in your life, just remove them immediately. Find your inner peace, and stay away from the ghouls, and the hobgoblins. If you can feel someone sucking the energy from you, would you allow them to continue draining your energy?
Everything is going according to plan
I remember one of my favorite video games growing up for the PlayStation was Kingdom Hearts. In Kingdom Hearts, Sora and his friends start off on an island, Destiny Island. It is here where they decide to build a raft, and seek to go and explore other worlds. They look beyond the horizon, and wonder what is out there. However, darkness appears, pulling one of the friends into the portal of darkness, as Sora follows the light, and his journey is to defeat the darkness.
Maybe everything does happen for a reason, and we all have a predetermined destiny. We’ve all come here to fulfill something important, something meaningful in our lives. We have so many choices to make, and free will, but maybe through eliminating these choices, and honing in on that one thing that you truly deem to be your purpose, we can find meaning in our lives. Trust the process, and embrace your fate, and what destiny has to offer you.
Will you choose to follow the light or darkness?
Design the perfect life for YOU
I feel as though I’ve designed the perfect life for myself. I spend most of my time in nature, which I am certainly fond of, as since I was a young boy, I would spend most of my time in the woods, building trees and forts, sharpening spears, building bridges with stones, etc. Now I work in horticulture, tending plants, trees, clearing land, and spending the maximum amount of time throughout the day outdoors working on projects that I care about. I actually never spend any time inside other than when I go to eat and sleep.
After I work, I come home, by riding my bike, which is actually way faster than driving a car, as it takes me only 15 minutes, as compared to getting stuck in traffic for most likely a half hour, and hit the streets for 3 to 4 hours. I designed a life where I get the best of both worlds, embracing my childlike curiosity in nature, through physical leisure, or what I like to consider, play, and then also honing in my craft, my calling, my purpose in life, photography.
It’s better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.
Why work? Why not play?
I don’t like the idea of “work.” Think of it as play. When we were kids, and we would play games, we did so voluntarily. As we get older, society conditions us to view activities as work rather than play, which ultimately leads us to anxiety, depression, etc. If we treat everything we do as play, I believe we feel the best throughout the day. Stop considering everything as work, or something that you “have to do.” Voluntarily do what you deem worthy of your time, and play the game voluntarily.
I choose to sacrifice wealth for freedom. This is more important to me.
Fat is energy
Why the hell are there so many random late-night cookie places opening in Philadelphia?
I’ve noticed so many of these late-night cookie places, where you can order cookies, and have them delivered to your house, at any time of the night. This is so strange to me, as if we were becoming like little children, needing milk and cookies before we go to bed. I think this is a byproduct of the drunken culture, late nights, clubs, bars, etc., where people indulge in the weirdest hedonistic things.
Consider removing all of this processed junk, and eating the maximum amount of fatty red meat, we will be satiated throughout the day, from storing this fat as energy. Be more critical of the foods that you consume, or more importantly, what you do not consume. Think satiation, energy, and power. What foods will give you this? I think it’s quite obvious…
The physical world is transient and imperfect
The world is made of words?
Maybe we should only use our voice early in the morning, through writing, or speaking, during walks in nature, or through meaningful conversations with other people. I usually find myself chatting with myself, to my GoPro, with ChatGPT, as a way to learn, maybe a few strangers along my walk, on the streets, but other than that, I’m silent throughout the day. Maybe we should be more mindful of our chatter? Just speak as little as possible. Let’s start to only speak when we have something to really say.
The moments are transient, and so are our lives. Let’s make them count.
Become lighter
Let’s recharge our bodies. Let’s become lighter, and loftier. After going for a one-hour walk with my 40-pound plate carrier, and taking it off, I feel 40 pounds lighter! Let’s restore our bodies, become in tune with nature, and float through life on a featherbed, unscathed, through the strife.
Onwards and Upwards
Onwards and Upwards
Every click of the shutter gets me closer to my goal.
I treat every day like war. My camera is my sword, and my new weighted vest is my armor. Perhaps it’s most wise for us to sharpen our sword every day like a blade in the fire. There is no more land left for man to conquer, but we can dominate within the realm of art and photography.
HIGH ENERGY
Why do I wake up at 4 am every day to practice my photography?
Think backwards. Will you regret not going all in on what you love?
I want zero regrets when I get older. I want to know I did absolutely everything in my power to become the greatest photographer and artist I can possibly be. If I want to become the best in the world at what I do, of course, I’m going to be a bit crazy.
Name one genius that ain’t crazy – Kanye West
Do you have the will to press the shutter? The will to produce? The will to photograph? Fulfill your purpose now.
How to Achieve Rausch
Euphoria is very simple to achieve. Embrace SEAP – Sleep as early as possible.
The more sleep you get, the more power you will have the following day. Also, before you go to bed, pre-prepare your coffee, store it in your fridge, and just wake up and slam it right away. This way, you don’t have to sit around, waiting for your coffee to cool down, and do all this nonsense of preparing coffee in the morning.
Throughout the day, never sit down. If you feel tired or the need to sit, just go lay under a tree and take a nap. Spend zero time throughout the day indoors and only use your home to eat and sleep. Just stay on the battlefield.
Anytime you sit down during the day is a defeat. When you sit down, don’t you feel your body start to shut down? Your muscles become relaxed, there are no longer firing, and become more sagging and complacent. Let’s continue onwards throughout our day, and never sit still. Embrace ecstasy, and the euphoria of using your muscles and engaging all of your physical body from the moment you wake up until the moment you go to sleep.
The Body is Democratic
Anyone can stack money in their bank account and buy some loser car or fancy watch. There’s one thing that money can’t buy.
Money can’t buy you a demigod physique.
The body is democratic because everybody has one. However, not everybody possesses the willpower to become the strongest and most beautiful version of themselves. Why does this matter?
Our body is the ultimate vehicle that moves us through the world. Your two legs, your tall spine, is what keeps you upright, and gives you that ability to move onward. If you’re sitting around, consuming, eating junk, and allowing your soul to slowly die, that’s on you. You made the decision to live that way. Nobody’s gonna pick you up and force you to move. If someone held a gun to your head and forced you to sit down for eight hours per day to accrue money and numbers in a bank account, would you do it?
No, just let them pull the trigger. Don’t squander your potential, and stop making an excuse. Everybody possesses the ability to become a demigod.
Why Beauty is Important
Tattoos and piercings are ugly. Unless you served in the military and have a valid reason for marking your body, why are we tattooing ourselves so much? When I walk around the city, I can’t help but notice the trend towards ugliness.
Beauty is important because the more beautiful people are, the more willingly we will reproduce with each other, form families, and relationships. We are denying our physical bodies, damaging them, uglifying ourselves, and creating a population of damaged souls. Have you ever seen an elderly person that looked beautiful with tattoos? No.
Out with the Old, in with the New
Forgiveness is critical. It allows yourself the permission to move on. We must move onwards and remove all old traumas and negative emotions behind. To forgive and forget is the ultimate virtue.
What are You Paying Attention To?
I think we should all just go sit alone with ourselves and our thoughts for a bit. Through contemplation and spending time alone, you can find your calling or your purpose in life. Think about how you were as a little kid, as a child, and what you enjoyed doing. Maybe we should all go back to that kindergarten self when we wrote down in crayon what we wanted to be when we were older, and just become that thing.
The unexamined life is a life not worth living.
Constantly being bombarded with external stimuli in this modern world, and this is not good. Advertisements and commercials constantly change our hormones, and cause them to be imbalanced, provoking emotional responses from the viewer. All of the outrage, news, and media are pulling at our heartstrings. Remove all of this nonsense from your life, and stop paying attention to it. Pay attention to the leaves, and watch them wiggle. That is the ultimate television show.
If happiness lies in learning to perceive exactly what is in our power to change and what is not, perhaps we would be most wise to subtract all of this stimuli from our lives.
Amor fati
Let’s move onwards and live in harmony with God and nature. Subtract the noise.
Don’t Respond
If somebody is mad at you, don’t react. Just stare at them, directly in their eyes, and watch them walk away. Let’s stop feeding people what they want, stop reacting, stop responding, and just say nothing. All these weak people out there, raging around the streets, screaming at each other, honking their horns, and yelling and screaming through their car windows… let’s just ignore.
How to Unplug from the Matrix
Let us all take a moment to collectively reach for that cable that’s connected to the back of your head, and rip it out! Unplug yourself from this matrix world, and disconnect from these online services, whether it’s YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, whatever it may be. Is it really that simple to exit the matrix? Honestly, I think so. Remember how in the matrix movie Neo wakes up in reality and is covered with all that gooey stuff on his body? Think of the typical person in this modern world, waking up, and checking their phone right away. If you’re waking up, and have the urge to reach for your phone, and go on Instagram, it’s almost the equivalent of waking up, taking a poop, wiping with your hands, and smearing it all over your face and your body. Do you want poop all over your body? No, so let’s unplug, disconnect, and escape the matrix as soon as you can. Let’s do it now, and let everyone else get sucked in and become peasants in the future digital world that we live in. It’s not our goal to save others, to unplug others, as you must be willing to do it yourself, similar to that of acquiring a beautiful body.
Take the Road Less Traveled
If you’re anything like me, you are probably a misfit. Don’t force yourself to fit a triangle puzzle piece into a circle.
If you’ve ever felt voiceless or powerless, recognize the power of photography. Photography is a universal language, which allows the photographer to have a dialogue with the world, and give a voice to the voiceless. Maybe you’re shy, and don’t want to use your actual voice, and speak up, and that’s fine. Empower yourself, and use your voice, through the medium of photography.
We Are Not the Same, I Am a Martian
So let’s move onwards, and see how far we can go. Let’s strive to move upwards throughout our journey, but recognize that we are earthbound creatures.
Maybe the best photographs are the ones that remind us of how low to the ground we are, how bound to gravity we truly are.
While we are mortal, and in this world, perhaps we should not be of this world. Let’s reach upwards, and go beyond.
Take the road less traveled
If you’re anything like me, you are probably a misfit.
Don’t force yourself to fit a triangle puzzle piece into a circle.
GO BEYOND YOURSELF
Do things as way for you to overcome yourself, or challenge yourself.
My personal challenge is to see if I can make photographs, a video/audio podcast, write a blog post, make an essay, maybe a collage, a poem, etc. And finish my weight training, all before 7 AM.
Just prepare your coffee before you go to bed, and let it remain cool, so when you wake up, you can slam it, throw on your weighted vest, and just go outside. My goal is to get outside right away because I can’t do any of these things simply sitting in front of a computer screen.
Life is on the Street
Life is on the Street
Real life is on the street, in the unknown, in the chaos. I thrive outside on the streets; with my camera in hand, nothing can stop me. The streets are there to conquer this realm. Through street photography, I become closer to the moments that are fleeting, the essence of life itself, and find joy and meaning in the mundane.
Dream on
The other night, while asleep, I had a dream of myself on a small ship from a third person perspective. The ship crashed, the scene panned out, and I was looking down at the ship. It was just a small popsicle stick. I reached down with my hand, picked it up, and put it back in the water.
Remove all limiting beliefs
I prefer walking aimlessly without any destination in mind. I think we limit ourselves due to our external circumstances, depending on what camera we own, where we live, or even how we see the world. Let’s remove all limiting beliefs about what we deem a photograph should be, what life should be, etc. Let’s go boundless and limitless with our approach, freeing ourselves of any limiting beliefs we have about our location, gear, and remove all of our expectations. Just let go, let the chips fall as they may, and embrace the spirit of play. I can tell you, from my personal experience, after photographing for a decade, following a very rigid, traditional, and automatic approach to photography, that what I am doing right now, for the past two years, is the most liberating feeling I’ve ever had in my life. Just think, if I were to photograph the same way for the rest of my life, that would certainly be a boring and limiting way to approach making art. By removing these limiting beliefs I’ve had in the past about what I believe a “good” photograph should be, I am now free.
The call to adventure
I’ve had a call to adventure since I was a little boy, playing in the Wissahickon forest, crafting spears with sticks, attempting to hunt deer, climbing trees, building teepees, making bridges with stones, exploring the unknown. I remember when I first found the bike trail here in Philadelphia, and how much time I would spend simply riding onward, without stopping. I wanted to see how far I could go, and would push myself each day, from a very young age. Something about movement, and watching the trees pass you by from the left and the right of you, through biking onward. I feel the same sensation while walking on the street, walking in the trails, or in nature. I feel like this call to adventure has been bubbling up inside of me since I was a little boy, and now with the power of photography, I’ve unlocked this new form of creativity, that flows through me, and gives me an abundant and endless way to approach the multifaceted complexities of life. For the road is endless, there is so much to see, so much to do, you just have to go outside and recognize that every day is new.
Every day is a blank slate
When I wake up every morning, I treat it like a mini birth. Before I go to bed, and rest my eyes, I treat it like a mini death. I simply assume that I will not wake up in the morning.
Why do I do this?
Firstly, I believe it is important and critical for us to recognize the shortness of life. I believe that the shortness of life sets everything else into perspective, and helps me focus on the moment, the following day. Also, through waking up in the morning, and having another shot, this blank slate, this new day, I become very grateful for the simple things in life, such as walking, sunlight, and water. I find joy in the simple pleasures of life, and recognize these to be the ultimate luxury. I’m simply grateful to be alive, to have another shot on this glorious day, to bask in the sunlight again.
How to thrive on your own?
As an artist and a street photographer, I thrive on my own. A few simple ways that I’ve approached my life throughout the years have been by making photographs, obviously. However, I also believe that through filming my experiences using a GoPro, such as the past POV videos that I’ve made, throughout all of my travels, since I first started photographing, I find new ways to thrive. For the past two years, I’ve been using my GoPro Mini as a way for me to live stream my life. I enjoy sharing, openly and honestly. I also prefer the GoPro Mini because there is no LCD screen, where you cannot perceive yourself. This removes all the distractions, and simply allows you to share openly. It’s fun to just treat life like a video game, and using the super view on a GoPro, you can share your perspective, or your POV, similar to the FOV in a game. Also, maybe the goal of art is to simply share your perspective, or your POV?
I’ve enjoyed sharing my spiritual journey, philosophy, and creative ways of photographing. I’m finding that by live streaming, through making videos, authentically speaking my mind, without jump cuts, I’m thriving. I’m allowing my freak flag to fly, not really caring about what other people think. I’m enjoying this because it gives my life more meaning, and helps me thrive on my own. There’s something special about the joy of creation, whether I’m making a photograph, filming a video, recording my audio, writing a poem, or making a collage, etc., that helps me thrive. If you’re anything like me, you prefer solitude, and if so, my suggestion to you is to simply share, make a website, make videos, photos, etc. And just keep on pushing with your creative spirit. Honestly, I am very extroverted, love the bustling crowds, experiencing places, people, etc. However, I prefer to spend my days on my own, creating.
Focus on yourself
By focusing on myself, I’ve accepted who I am, and have found inner peace. I’m unbothered by others’ perceptions of me. I simply do not care. I absolutely love myself. I believe this is the path to freedom and authenticity.
Delete your Instagram
Using Instagram first thing in the morning is like waking up, taking a shit, wiping with your hands, and smearing it all over yourself, your face, and your eyes. So do you want poop all over yourself? No. Delete your Instagram.
Let us assume that internet users are bots. All the arguments and comments are AI bots. Now what? Are you going to actively give attention to people’s perception of you via likes, comments, etc.? No… so just disable them!
Just pick up a camera and go!
This is your call to action: just pick up the camera and go! Move your physical body more, and spend the maximum time in your day outside. First, isn’t this the goal of a photographer? To be out there in the world, exploring endlessly? Of course it is, so let’s do this more. Let’s move more, create more, photograph more and, think about ways that we can integrate photography into our daily lives. A simple suggestion is to purchase a compact digital camera such as the Ricoh GRIII or GRIIIx. It’s never been simpler to make photographs, just start now!
Life is too short to spend your time indoors
When people from the office come outside, after work, they always talk about he said, she said, office drama, gossip, group chats, comments, leaving notes, man versus woman talk. This is so strange to me. I think these people that spend the maximum time inside during the day are becoming sick in both the mind and the body. Air conditioning in the summer is so cold and bad for you. I always find it amusing when the office workers come outside, how hot it is, and complain. I just laugh to myself, and think about fire, the sun, and how without it, we would not even be here right now.
Honestly, I’m just so grateful to be walking right now, as I write this essay. I’m so grateful to be outside, moving, and embracing the sunlight. This truly is the ultimate privilege in this modern world. I prefer to start my day in nature at an elevated view in an open space. I enjoy watching the waterfall and the river flow. I watch the tapestry of leaves as they wiggle, and find this to be the ultimate source of entertainment in my life. Just observe life and light. There’s no TV show, movie, or social media that will provide you with the same joy as the great outdoors.
Walking becomes meditation. When you focus on the moment, examine life deeply.
The joy of creation
I saw a comedian on the street recently and asked him what he thought about society. He told me that this is the greatest time to be alive. He said, back in the 80s barely anyone had a car. He said that this is the only time where you can see people coming out of Planet Fitness, wearing beautiful yoga clothes, nice butts, and even if you’re overweight, the clothes will force it into your body and make you look skinnier or nicer.
As much as I critique modernity, I can’t help but laugh at this comedian, and see how right he is. For we truly do live in this abundant time, and we should be grateful for it. I think the problem becomes the instantaneous gratification of consumption, and people generally become consumers more than producers. I say because of this, let’s create more, and find joy in creation. I enjoy listening to the people of the streets, chatting with strangers, and simply making street photographs through a playful approach, remaining open, and see what experiences will come my way.
The goal is to increase your curiosity by one percent each day
My goal in life is to increase my curiosity by one percent each day because a curious person will forever remain evolving. Evolution is the goal of the human being, and creativity and curiosity will guide us there. Looking at the world with a camera and making a photograph of things, I’m saying yes to life, affirming this moment, and finding new ways to see the same mundane things. By reveling in the mundane, the smallest details become the biggest fascinations for me. Simply increase your curiosity by one percent each day and recognize this as the goal. If you’re continuously making photographs, going out there on the front lines of life, consider yourself a successful human being and photographer.
Obsession vs. discipline
I’ve been obsessed with street photography since the day I picked up a camera when I was around 16 or 17 years old. I remember taking a photography course in high school and needing to purchase my first camera. I remember going to a small mom-and-pop shop in Chestnut Hill, purchasing my first Nikon FM with a 50mm lens. From there, the rest is history. I learned that my uncle Bill had an M3, and he passed it down to me and taught me how to see. I think it’s funny, as much as people realize that I’m a digital photographer, what they truly don’t understand is that I’ve dabbled with many different cameras and formats, from 35mm film to 120, and spent my early years honing my craft on the streets with a Leica M3. I am very grateful, however, that towards the end of 2015, I learned about the Ricoh GRII and moved on from film photography. Ever since that day of transitioning to digital, my work has grown exponentially. I believe that was the moment when I truly became obsessed because I would go out, photograph, come home, import the photos, and continuously get my feedback right away. This made me more motivated to keep going out there, and I was no longer bogged down by the limitations of film. I truly became obsessed. Every waking moment for a decade, I spent on the streets, photographing. There truly hasn’t been a moment since I first picked up the camera where I didn’t have it in my pocket or on me. I believe obsession is very different from discipline.
I’m walking down the Philadelphia Museum of Art, carrying a 40-pound plate; this is discipline, as I wake up early, around 4:30, slam some espresso, throw the vest on, and go for a march wearing barefoot shoes. Could I walk without a vest? Probably. However, I’m disciplined in increasing my fitness, strength, and growth. The difference between obsession and discipline is that when you are disciplined, you’re doing something, overcoming the tension and friction between you and the thing itself. Being disciplined is about going out there and doing the thing, even when you don’t feel like it. Obsession is doing the thing when there’s nothing else in the world that you would rather be doing, when it completely takes over your life, and it becomes like breathing, second nature.
Fortune favors the bold
I remember photographing at Logan Square for eight hours straight, attempting to make a photograph on a hot summer day, as the children were playing in the fountain. I spent the entire day photographing around the edge of the fountain, taking off my shoes, diving in myself, getting soaking wet, falling, getting back up, continuously pressing the shutter again. I even told myself out loud, “I will photograph this rainbow!” I had the conviction and the willpower that I would make the photograph that wound up manifesting in the world. I believe you must be bold, daring, courageous to make a strong photograph. It is inevitable that fortune will favor the bold through your obsession and dedication to the craft.
Belief vs. knowing
I’ve been thinking about the difference between a belief and a knowing. Two years ago, I woke up, looked outside my window on Easter Sunday, and felt like the world was new. On this particular day, I felt like a kid again. There was something in me that started to treat the world like a playground. I remember I started to jump up on benches, leap off the trees, and just embrace this playful spirit generally. I don’t know what it was, but I think it was a byproduct of two years of COVID lockdown, being forced inside for so long. Contemplating my belief in God, I quit my job as a photographer because it was really unfulfilling, and decided to travel to Rome, where I spent two months, praying in the churches all day. I was looking at the images of Caravaggio within the churches, and found these to uplift my spirit. I think visuals and seeing things solidify your belief. Seeing a piece of the cross, the inscription, the nails, and the thorns from his crown in a church in Rome uplifted my spirit. I visited Old City Jerusalem and saw the tomb of Jesus. I traveled the road from Jerusalem to Jericho and saw the sycamore tree. I visited the Valley of Elah in Israel and saw where the battle between David and Goliath was. I no longer have a “belief” in God but a knowing.
Travel vs. books
The other day I helped a man named Isaac across the street. I noticed him reaching for a pole and photographed his hands. The way his fingers were touching the pole just looked so beautiful. He then asked me if I could help him cross the street when the light turned green. He walked extremely slowly. We actually wound up not being able to cross the street in time. I stood there and stopped the traffic with my hand in his. I waited for him to get on the bus. We waited, and I asked what he would eat for dinner.
“I don’t like food, I like to read books. I like to absorb all of the knowledge. This is my problem. I just read read read read.”
He said he likes to read history. He probably likes to read so much because he can’t really walk anymore? I think as much as we can dive our noses into books and absorb knowledge through reading, I believe real wisdom comes from embodied experiences in reality, in the physical flesh, and especially from traveling the world. If you want to read books, just read for pleasure. I don’t think reading is something that we should force upon ourselves, but something that we willingly engage in. I personally carve out at least half an hour each day to read in nature, just because I want to. If I don’t feel like it, I just won’t read that day. I’d rather go explore and embrace the spirit of play. That’s how I was since I was a little kid in high school anyway; I would always skip class and just go out and touch the grass.
Every day is a battle for your mind
Are we living in a spiritual war, and what does this mean? Perhaps our attention and what we spend our time doing will provide the battleground for this spiritual war or battle for our mind. If you’re spending too much time inside, on your phone, consuming, maybe you will find yourself inevitably in an emotional state, with hormones imbalanced. This is inevitable simply due to the way in which these algorithms work. Perhaps this war is for your mind, and you must free yourself from this enslavement of the mind. Just leave, stop distracting yourself with what’s going on, and embrace this moment right here, right now.
Always evolving
Digging and searching for the meaning of life is like carving through an endless pit to nowhere, like digging on a beach and never striking water. Stop searching, and just let it flow toward you.
I feel like I’ve downloaded an extra DLC expansion pack
Think of a video game, and how it comes to an end. You defeat the boss, and then what? Maybe a few months later, they release a new DLC, downloadable content, for you to upgrade your character and increase the longevity of the gameplay. The reason why I used to be so obsessed with Minecraft is because the game is essentially endless. The world is endless, and there are infinite ways that you can play. There is no endgame in Minecraft. Even if you defeat the boss, the dragon, you can go back and fight it over and over again. We should approach our life and photography this way.
Your next photograph is your best photograph.
When you think this way, that the next time you press the shutter is the best time to press your shutter, you will unlock this new downloadable content. You will recognize how truly infinite photography is, for you cannot make the same photograph twice.
Just start now. Break all of the rules. Let’s flip photography on its head and conquer this medium.