camping

I just spent the last few days camping. It's been a while since I've had good quiet camping time. Not beer-drinking, road-tripping camping, but sit-still, think-and-listen camping.

Several revelations have formed from this brief sojourn:

(1) My contentment is inversely proportional to the amount of time I spend on a computer every day.

(2) I am addicted to thinking. When I want to take a break from work, I will go on the internet and click through links, scanning useless information and speed-reading articles - anything to keep my mind moving. This is worse than useless time - it's actually draining my energy.

(3) When I am looking at a computer screen, I have a lessened ability to form complex thoughts, lengthy threads-of-conversation, and unique points-of-view. In short, I am not using my mind to its full potential when I'm sitting at a computer.

(4) Drawing is meditative and recharges me.

So it's pretty obvious that I need to spend far less time on the computer and more time drawing.

(5) I am going to wake up at sunrise, and stop work at sunset. By doing this, I will be awake and aware at the two most magical parts of the day. My daily routine will be timed by looking at the sun, rather than the clock. So the winter will be a slower time, and the summer will be more active. As it should be. This kind of plan rarely lasts long, but maybe the act of writing it out will give it some solidity.

Onwards!