The Why:

You know how we so often hear about being in the now… being present… being still?

Have you ever wondered how to actually, you know, DO IT in real life?

Yeah, me too.

So a while ago, I started wondering how I could really bring myself to be more present in the moments of these days that just keep flitting away…

How I could be more awake, and notice more of the beauty that surrounds me, all the time.

I knew that being more aware, and taking the time to actually really notice my self (and my Self) as well as my surroundings, would really increase my sense of satisfaction with my life.

But every time I tried to figure out a way to incorporate a deep noticing into my daily life, I couldn’t figure out anything really workable…

I mean, I can’t meditate 24/7… I’ve got a husband & kids, run two businesses, have a household to maintain, and all the other ‘normal-life’ type of stuff that you likely do.

But I just couldn’t stop wondering… “what can I do to bring more awareness into my life without eschewing my responsibilities and running off to an ashram?”

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Then, an epiphany…

I love taking pictures… and when I say that I love taking pictures, I mean I’m snapping photos on my iPhone (or digital camera) every single day. There’s rarely a day that goes by when I’ve not taken at least one snapshot of something or someone. I love documenting things that I find interesting, or beautiful, or meaningful (because… it’s all about the meaning here… ‘women finding the pieces of their most meaningful life’. Yeah. That.).

I realized, in snapping yet another photo, that this is my way of being really present. Of deeply noticing.

I’m always on the lookout for something to catch my eye… for my next picture.

In that way, I tend to pay pretty close attention to my surroundings and all the little things that are happening in the course of a given day.

How interesting…

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The What:

What if you also had a way to deeply notice your life… in a way that fits in neatly with something you’re already into..

What would happen if you received, via e-mail, three specially chosen words per week with the assignment to find a way to capture each word visually (via a snapshot)?

What if each of these words were defined in a way that gave some structure, and yet allowed for freedom and movement?

What if there were two sessions available to give yourself the time and space to really dig into this practice deeply (though neither session was required for the other)?

What if the focus was kept squarely on the noticing, and the meaning from that noticing as well as the meaning from the pictures themselves… and how they affect both the photographer & the others in the group, with whom they’re being shared?

What if you found that by diving in to taking these snapshots, you began to more deeply engage with your life? (By the way, this is not a stretch. In case you haven’t noticed yet, all the parts of your life are actually tied together… Think I’m wrong? Try working on an issue in one area of your life and see if it doesn’t affect another.)

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What you might be wondering:

Is this going to be easy?
Nope, it’s actually not likely to be easy. It’s going to require just a bit of thought, but more than that… it’s going to require you to pay attention. Close attention. (Pssst! Isn’t that the point?!)

Do you need to have experience with a camera, or have a fancy-schmancy DSLR or something?
Nope, anything you’ve got that can take a picture will do just fine (if you’re able to upload and share at least some of these pictures, that would really rock… but it’s also not mandatory).

Is this going to be someone judging my photography skills, and/or helping me to improve upon said skills?
Hell no, this is not a photography course. This is a life course. You want to learn how to notice and be present in your life (in a way that’s not gonna put you to sleep), I want to show you how.

What is actually the point of this thing?
So the entire point of this is to dig deeper into yourself and listen to your number one best advisor…. (That post talks about you being your own best advisor, and about finding your gift, and about living in the moment.) This experiment will help you tune in to that advisor… to really dig in and begin to listen… to notice. This is where the rubber meets the road.

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The How:

Session 1:

Begins – TBA

Cost – $25

You’ll receive:

• An e-mail M-W-F of each week. Each will contain a concept word (for example: ‘meaning’… different set of words from session 2), as well as a definition of the word (which is open to your interpretation!). You’ll receive instructions for searching out your snapshot… the way you’re choosing to represent that particular word visually.
• A link to a secret Flickr group (separate from Session 2) where we can all upload our photos and comment on them as we feel led to.
• An invite to a secret Facebook group (separate from Session 2) where we can carry on with the discussion & sharing of what we’re finding from the taking of the pictures, as well as what we’re getting out of snapshots others are taking (remember, life has many ways of speaking to us).
• A concrete way of connecting with life and opening the dialog (the real point, and the real gift, is right here).

 

Session 2:

Begins – TBA

Cost – $25

You’ll receive:

• An e-mail M-W-F of each week. Each will contain a concept word (for example: ‘trust’.. different set of words from session 1), as well as a definition of the word (which is open to your interpretation!). You’ll receive instructions for searching out your snapshot… the way you’re choosing to represent that particular word visually.
• A link to a secret Flickr group (separate from Session 1) where we can all upload our photos and comment on them as we feel led to.
• An invite to a secret Facebook group (separate from Session 1) where we can carry on with the discussion & sharing of what we’re finding from the taking of the pictures, as well as what we’re getting out of snapshots others are taking (remember, life has many ways of speaking to us).
• A concrete way of connecting with life and opening the dialog (the real point, and the real gift, is right here).