Growing up a Star Wars fanatic, I became obsessed with the idea of “the Force” at an early age. The idea that there exists a mystical energy field that controls my destiny was one that I felt compelled to explore. So when I later discovered Daoism and its promise of absolute principle underlying the entire… Continue reading Religion of the Mind
Tag: philosophy
On Contemplating Death
We Westerners don’t have a very good relationship with death. We avoid talking about it. Children are shielded from it. Lots of folks try to pretend it doesn’t even happen. And then it does. And we’re left devastated. The cycle of life has uprooted me several times over the years, and I am always left… Continue reading On Contemplating Death
But What Does It Mean?
We humans beings are always trying to make sense of our surroundings. We want to know why things are the way they are and once we know that, then we want to control those things. This is one of the reasons why we have myths — as a way to explain things. It’s also why… Continue reading But What Does It Mean?
Fear, Fighting and Fear Fighting
Since October of last year, I have been participating in a live portrait painting group that meets twice a month at the Conroe Art League. And every time on cue, about an hour before we meet, I am overwhelmed with deadening fear. It’s the type of fear that convinces me to make other plans, to… Continue reading Fear, Fighting and Fear Fighting
Fish Out of Water
Human beings did not evolve to live in the 21st century. Our instincts are to be among the wild. To hunt. To forage. To migrate. We were meant to be one with our surroundings. I don’t think Mother Nature found it necessary that we know the opinions of a million strangers simply by looking at… Continue reading Fish Out of Water
Purpose
Purpose has been on my mind lately. What is my purpose? Do I have one? Does everyone have one? For the last decade, as a trainer, I woke up every morning knowing exactly what my purpose was: to help others be as physically fit as possible. Everything I did in life revolved around my identity… Continue reading Purpose
You See, But Do You Really See
One benefit to practicing in the visual arts is that it allows for becoming a keen observer. The moment I was able to connect all that I see with the idea of shapes — and that every single thing we see is made of shapes — was the moment I knew limitations are only bound… Continue reading You See, But Do You Really See
Sober October
I first heard of “Sober October” many years ago while listening to the Joe Rogan Experience. It was something Joe and his friends did once a year where they abstained from drugs and alcohol for an entire month while also making it a requirement to work out every day. Meant as a reset for the… Continue reading Sober October
Influences
Like anyone else, artists are complex, so for me it is fun to peel back the layers and discover more about the artists I admire most. Often times I can see one’s influences in his/her work directly, but not always. In that spirit, I thought it would be fun to share my influences and provide… Continue reading Influences
The Illusion of Pure Bliss
As we all navigate through the media drenched world of the 21st century, one thing to keep at the forefront of all thought is that social media is highly curated. What we see is not always the complete story. In fact, I’d argue that it’s just a fraction of the story — a tiny slice… Continue reading The Illusion of Pure Bliss