1. December Studio
2. Time.
3. December Links
4. Wrap-Up
You may not have noticed that I hadn't put a newsletter in your inbox for three months...but I let myself get wrapped up in "everything" and think that I didn't have time to write one for the month. Then the next month came, and...I had the same excuse. The next month too. As I was thinking about that, I was also hearing my friends and colleagues say the same thing: "When am I going to have time to do that? I don't have time as it is!" It seemed interesting to me that, not only do we all seem to have the same worry coming from different situations, but that seems to be a constant worry. Sometimes we do have a lot going on for a period of time, but not constantly. So when WILL I have time to write a newsletter? I'm 24 years old. I don't have any kids. I live on a Caribbean island. Honestly, how can I complain that I've got no time in my life for a new relationship, a new project, or a new adventure? There's a bundle of others reading this right now that have more demands in their lives than I do. My case for not having time is, essentially, pretty weak. Therefore, I bring you my December newsletter. I bring it with warm wishes for a splendid holiday shared with all those whom you cherish. I'm still wrapping my head around the fact that there's Christmas lights and fake snowflake decorations all around...and it's 85 degrees. It's bittersweet to be here, the first Christmas away from my family. But being able to celebrate in a new way with new loved ones is also exciting, so that's where I'm going to put my attention.
May you have a fabulous holiday with long-time traditions and also some new ones!
It’s hard to believe that this one thing can cause so much anxiety in our daily lives, but it does. Having enough time, or rather, not having enough time seems to be social, professional and personal stressor for many people. This one thing, Time, can ruin friendships, cause breakups, cause able people to worry and fall far short of their potential, ironically lead to pandemics of procrastination, and even destroy people's peace of mind through retirement and old age.
Where does all of our time go? On a daily basis, I am surrounded by my own worries about “having time to do everything” as I hear others complain about the very same thing. Whether single, married with a family, wealthy or not wealthy, old, young, American, white, black, brown…the complaint is the same. Have people always worried about this? Did my great grandfather stress about trying to be here, do this, go there and get that finished before picking up his kid to take him to do that, get that and be home in time to get dinner and sleep before getting up and going out again? Or is this the result of improved technology, increased opportunities for constant communication and exposure to more media than ever before?
Whatever it is, it seems like we’re wasting the [ahem] time of our lives as we try to do and be so much. At the end of our lives, are we really gonna care if we got that project finished, went to that meeting, catered to that many clients and made that much money? I think we all inherently know that what will matter will be our relationships, our experiences and our spirit. If we’re not spending the time in our lives endulging and enhancing these three things, then what’s the point?
Obviously, there are situations when we really are pressed for time and the stress is par for the course. Becoming financially independent, starting a new job, getting married, having a baby, caring for an elder…all these demand a lot of attention for awhile. But once you’re making enough money to cover your expenses, you’ve gotten familiar with your new responsibilities, your child can begin to care for herself or whatever—beyond that, it becomes a personal choice. Or, perhaps, a personal habit. I know that for myself, there’s three hundred things I want to learn and try and read and to at the same time that I’m trying to work my rear off doing what I love to be able to make a living doing what I love. But I also know that I have obsessive-compulsive tendencies, I am ambitious, I am motivated and energetic. So, naturally, there are three hundred things I want to do at the same time I’m doing three hundred other things. Once my essential needs are covered, I’m making a comfortable living with some financial stability, it’s a matter of choice and priorities if I’m working 90-hour weeks and feel like I can’t start a relationship or take a vacation. (Of course, what one feels is a “comfortable living” is relative…but that’s another newsletter.!)
I haven’t written a monthly newsletter for the past three months. Why? “I don’t have time!” What am I doing that I can’t take 45 minutes? Or, for instance, if there’s a new software program I want to learn or a new sport I want to try, how can I adjust what I’m currently doing to allow myself to be able to explore something else that might be a better way to spend my time? That’s when it becomes a matter of choice and time management skills. Choices and time management skills can allow you to do all that you want to do—or need to do. Once you’ve got those needs covered, it’s up to you.Paul Zdepski
The website of a fellow artist/friend/professor located in Northern VA. Paul's just added some dynamic illustrations that deserve a peek, if you have time.
http://www.zillustration.com/
Savant Media Group
The renovated, diverse site of my buddy/colleague Andy Clausen,
who I am proud to work with here on St. John...
http://www.savantmediagroup.com
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Asolare Design
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Illustration Studio