Focus

"Never again clutter your days or nights with so many menial and unimportant things that you have no time to accept a real challenge when it comes along." 

- Og Mandino

Model, Joan

Its been easy to lose track of time as of late. I didn't even realize it had been so long since my last post. So what's been going on in the land of Photo Anthems, you ask? Well, I've recently closed down my deviantART account. Well, I guess I should say, I've taken down my images. I've more than 300 images up and I've put them all in the sites "storage" feature. For the most part, there's just an ongoing ill feeling I've been having of late. Its been cool getting to know people on dA, but there's more and more non-artistic nudes in the ARTISTIC nudes section. Mixed in with the great work of masters of the trade are more and more pollution nudes that just contaminate the good stuff simply by association. I can't peruse the art nudes without being inundated with tasteless porn, specifically more and more male close-ups that have no merit or warrant to being categorized as art. Yeah, I know...then you get into defining what art is. I'm not splitting those hairs, but those who post what they post know their intent and I am certain I could safely wager, artistic expression is far from their purposes. I got rid of my MySpace a while back too but that was more for lack of use.

Model, Dana

And that goes with many things on my agenda and regular rituals. Especially in these times, I've found it necessary to trim back things that don't contribute to my goals as well as eliminate those things that hinder them. I have to admit to focusing issues as of late. Sometimes, its hard to get mind mind trained on any one thing or task and then do it well. Like I said, I didn't even realize how much time had elapsed since my last post. So my goals right now are to begin the week more productively and get done what I need to get done despite how I feel. If I have to slap myself in the face, then so be it. I've got to gather my thoughts and execute my plans. I am better than this. Og Mandino once advised people to repeat to themselves, "Day by day, in every way, I am getting better and better." I used to have my kids say that in the mornings. I need to take my own advice.

"I will act now.

I will not avoid the tasks of today and charge them to tomorrow for I know that tomorrow never comes. Let me act now even though my actions may not bring happiness or success for it is better to act and fail than not to act and flounder. Happiness, in truth, may not be the fruit plucked by my action yet without action all fruit will die on the vine." - Excerpt from "The Greatest Salesman in the World - (The Scroll Marked IX), Og Mandino