on the 7th day of chookooloonks ... simple pleasures
I make no secret here of my love of journaling: in fact, I journal every weekday morning I can. The way I do it, it's more of a brain dump: just a way to get all my thoughts out on paper, and clear my head.
And in this same vein, someone on twitter sent me a link to this: why you should have a weekly appointment dedicated to thinking time. An excerpt:
Being an indie software developer, developing products and running the business, takes lots of time. I work during normal working hours and then often have a "second shift", when the family, or at least the kids, fall asleep. Still, I have enough planned stuff to do, when I'm near my Mac, to fill months of work. And most of this better be done sooner than later.
I'm pretty sure that if you're an indie software developer, a designer, a business man or almost anything where you have some control over your time and work, you know what I'm talking about.
In this state, we may become so reactive to the tasks that need to get done that we just don't stop, take a step back and reflect on the whole situation. We may just forget to think deeply, strategically about the business and even about the work tasks themselves.
Be sure to read the rest of the article -- in defense of just unplugging and thinking. It's a great reminder that sometimes just getting back to simplicity is the best way to reinject our lives with awesome.
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Happy Sunday, friends, and welcome to Day 7 of The 12 Days of Chookooloonks! Today we're giving away the work of a photographer who clearly gets the simple things in life.
Photograph courtesy of Sage Brousseau Photography
When Sage Brousseau contacted me to contribute to the 12 Days of Chookooloonks, I have to admit that I was unfamiliar with her work -- but man, I do love what I saw. Sage's images are crisp and clear, and leave you feeling like you're witnessing a moment that perhaps wasn't meant to be seen -- something fleeting and perhaps even insignificant, yet undeniably beautiful. So I was happy to accept her offer to giveaway an 11x14" print of any one of her images on her site -- she does beautiful work.
Artist's statement: Sage Brousseau is a Boston-based creative lifestyle photographer and artist. Inspired by nature and the beauty of the ordinary, she strives to create images that are simple and evocative, derived from memory and personal history. Her work can be viewed on her website: sagebrousseau.com and on Flickr (www.flickr.com/sagebrousseau). She can also be found on Twitter (@sagebrousseau) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/sagebrousseauphotography).
You'll also receive a signed copy of The Beauty of Different, inscribed to whoever you'd like, and
A 2012 Chookooloonks desk calendar (comes packaged in a fold-out CD case), featuring 13 of my favourite images from 2011.
For a chance to win these prices, simply leave a comment below, saying whatever you'd like, before 12:00 a.m., Monday, December 19th, US Central Time. Please leave only one comment. Also, it doesn't matter where in the world you are. I'll choose a winner at random using Random.org, and update this post when that person is chosen.
(For the duration of the 12 Days of Chookooloonks, please note that there is no guarantee that you will receive any items before Christmas.)
Good luck!
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AND THE WINNER IS: According to Random.org, the winner is Jen, who said "Love this today! Me & my husband are in the process of filling our house with original art-and Sage's work is precisely what I love! It gives me a sense of the moment that I adore." Congratulations, Jen! Please keep a lookout in your inbox for an email from me with instructions on what to do next.
Thanks for participating, everyone -- we're halfway through, and still 5 more days to go!