What if you just turned off the TV?

Just turn it off, Graffiti in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 2012, Nikon D600 with FX 28-300mm VR lens, 
32mm, 1/100 sec @ f3.8, ISO 400, 0 EV, no flash © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

No, really.  What if you turned off the TV?

    Not - watch less of it.

    Not - just keep it on "in the background".

    Not - save it only for your favorite shows.

    Not - play it back from a DVR and therefore skip through the ads, on your own schedule.

    Not - only catch up on the news.

What if you just turned it off, and never turned it on again?

    "Oh, that's just not possible.  Why in the world would I do that?"

Ah, but it is.  At first I didn't think so either.

I knew I never really liked watching the tube.  For me, it was all consuming.

My wife, however, really could have it on in the background, and still do other things, like quilting, embroidery, and amazingly to me, even read a book.  Right there on the sofa, while the TV is blaring away.

But me?  I just could not multitask in this situation.  If the TV was on, I was watching.  Even stupid shows.  Mindless, lowest-common-denominator stuff.

And then one day, it just happened.

The TV was turned off, and it was never turned on again.  I credit my wife for this decision.

The TV wasn't evil to her; just a tool, like the internet.  But I guess she too noticed it somehow had become a time sink.  And so, when I came home from work one day, the TV was off.  After dinner, the TV stayed off.  And it was never turned on again.

And instead, in the evening, after an unbelievable home-cooked vegan meal (I am such a lucky man), we tend to read now.  And during the day, and on weekends, we have more free time to pursue our interests, or spend time outside in nature.

So did turning off the TV profoundly change our lives?  I'd say, "yes and no".

"No," because all we did was turn off the TV.  Anyone can do it.  In fact all you really have to do is not turn it on.  So really, it is the art of just saying "no."

And "Yes," because we actually did it.  The intention was made, and the decision followed.  Bravo.

And what I realize is, this is something that can be applied to any part of your life.  You really are in control of your life.  In this case, where and how you choose to spend your free time.

And if you can control that aspect of your life ... what other changes do you long to make?  Perhaps with the additional quiet time now available to you, there will be more time for introspection and reflection.

And this can allow you to create the life that you have always wanted.  Or just follow your nose to see what the next surprising decision might be.

Just by turning off the TV.

On Fearlessness

Don't Fall, Tel Aviv, Israel, November 2012, Nikon D600 with FX 28-300mm VR lens, 
28mm, 1/500 sec @ f3.5, ISO 100, -0.3 EV, no flash © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Stop!  Don't Jump!  Or Slip and Fall!  Or get accidentally pushed over the edge!

Do you ever have that feeling of vertigo when you get near the edge of a top floor on a tall building?  What is that exactly?  I'm not sure, but it does lead me into my topic today.

And that is fear, and its alternative, fearlessness.  It's something I've been struggling with a little just under the surface of my everyday existence.  

Things going well, life arranged as one had planned, financial situation comfortable, family situation wonderful, etc. etc.  Pretty much the definition of happiness.  And yet there is the small tingle of underlying fear.  Nothing grave.  Just that lingering worry that at any instant, something beyond your control could completely topple your well organized life.  A major illness, or an accident, or a financial scandal, etc.  (I know, this is the kind of problem many people, facing real tangible crises and challenges, would like to have.)

I think these fears are common, but my sense is they are preventing deep, abiding inner peace and contentment.  This morning I received this article on fearlessness by one of my favorite spiritual authors, Thich Nhat Hanh.   My plan is to reflect on it and see to what extent I can work on addressing this underlying fear.  We'll see how it goes.

Oh, and have no fear ... no flowers were hurt during the photo shoot ;-)

Dancing Sunset

Dancing Sunset, Tel Aviv, Israel, February 2013, Nikon D600 with FX 28-300mm VR lens, 
300mm, 1/30 sec @ f13, ISO 1000, -0.3 EV, no flash © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

I'm not sure if you can easily see it in the photo, but look closely where the waves are crashing on the rocks, and you'll see the sunset dancing in the wave spray.  Cool.

But really I just wanted to use this photo to segue into this cool video I received a while ago of a sun that is truly dancing.  Now this is some amazing photography.  Note that this 17 second movie actually represents 4 hours of time-lapsed photography of this coronal mass ejection.

Before ... and After

Wild Stallion, Jaffa, Israel, November 2012, Nikon D600 with FX 50mm lens, 
1/15 sec @ f1.8, ISO 1600, 0 EV, no flash © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Now that is some impressive graffiti.  Certainly a talented artist made this mural on the side of a concrete bulding.  And I love how the artist ignored the depth and material changes in his "canvas".  I think it is really impressive.

Now if you take a look at the photo below, you will see what the building looks like without the mural/grafitti.

Now you might think this is a "Before and After" comparison, and it is.  However, the second shot is the "after".  Yes, for some reason, the building owner (I assume) decided to paint over the mural with this really attractive grey paint ;-)

Now I don't begrudge the owner doing whatever he thinks is needed.  Nor am I lamenting the loss of that great Wild Stallion mural/grafitti.  No, my point is that you must not assume things will always remain as they are.  Everything is impermanent.

That's not good or bad, it just is what it is.  So seize the day, and make your art while you still can.   Tomorrow, who knows?  Your mural may be lost, but everyone who has seen it will be the better for it.  And now look what you have -- another blank canvas.  What more could an artist hope for?

What is your gift?

It's a Gift, Tel Aviv, Israel, January 2013, Nikon D600 with FX 28-300mm VR lens, 
85mm, 1/80 sec @ f5, ISO 100, 0 EV, no flash © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Walking along the streets of Tel Aviv recently, and what did we come across?  Three colorful statues on a balcony appearing to sing to the folks on the street below.  Quirky?  Yes.  Unnecessary?  Perhaps.  Worthless?  Heck no.

It's a gift.  Something unique and compelling, that makes you wonder and think.  Why is it there?  What does it mean?

So what's your gift?  To the world.  To yourself.

No one else can say what it should be.  If you haven't found it yet, keep looking.  It's there, waiting for your discovery.  And the onlookers below are curious.  Just what are you all about?  Time to belt out your song for all to hear.

Spice things up

Spice Things Up, Carmel Market, Tel Aviv, Israel, October 2012, Nikon D600 with FX 50mm lens, 
50mm, 1/30 sec @ f1.8, ISO 140, 0 EV, no flash © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

In a rut?  Doing the same thing over and over again?

Maybe it's time to spice things up.  Try something brand new.  Surprise your partner or your friend.  They have expectations on how you will behave -- see if you can catch them off guard.

Life's too short to be boring or predictable.  And how will you grow if you never stretch the boundaries of your behavior.  Why not challenge your habits once a week?  I'm willing to bet some of the new things you try will become your favorites.

Not all of them, of course.  But that would be too predictable and boring too.  Gotta keep everyone, including yourself, guessing.

Enjoy the change.  You know what they say ... "Variety is the spice of life."  How true!

Eye Am Beautiful

Eye Am Beautiful, Art show in Jaffa, Israel, date, Nikon D600 with FX 28-300mm VR lens,
 34mm, 1/25 sec @ f3.8, ISO 3200, -0.7 EV, no flash © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

We were walking around Old Jaffa, and came across this enormous art show in a refurbished building in the Old Jaffa port.  The quantity and variety of art was impressive.

This one really grabbed my eye (sorry ;-)  It was much larger than life-sized, and created by zillions of little applications of color, making it look something like a grainy close-up photo.  Really cool.

And paired with this quote below, I think also quite meaningful:

"When you look and look and look into another person's eyes 

you are looking at the most beautiful jewels in the universe." 

-- Alan Watts

The Con

The Laundry, Zikhron Ya'alov, Israel, November 2012, Nikon D600 with FX 28-300mm VR lens, 
200mm, 1/250 sec @ f5.6, ISO 100, 0 EV, no flash © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

So what do you think of this photo?  Nothing special -- just some guy hanging out the laundry to dry, right?  I'm afraid you've been conned.

I looked closely at this photo, trying to remember where (and why) I took it.  It wasn't until I went back to my photo collection to find the adjoining photo (below), that I remembered that is not a real person -- just a life size photo.  Boy, look at those hands.  To me they look like the must be coming out of that window.

The Laundry?, Zikhron Ya'alov, Israel, November 2012, Nikon D600 with FX 28-300mm VR lens, 135mm, 1/250 sec @ f5.6, ISO 100, 0 EV, no flash © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

So what's the point?  Just this.

The Con game is being run everywhere.  And our senses are limited in what they can discern.  Particularly when we are expecting to see (or not see) something.  Can you keep an open mind as you go through life, and try to avoid (or at least identify) your own biased perceptions?

That person isn't who you think he is.  Nor is your neighbor.  Nor that friend that has gone off the political deep-end.  Check your own biases at the door, or the e-mail, and receive them with sincerity and honesty and openness, and then see what you can discern about their nature.  

Life is so much easier when we are not defending our positions, validating our preconceived notions, and trying to control the outcome of each interaction.   Just let it be.

Is this the best we can hope for?

Is there hope?, Jewish Quarter, Jerusalem, Israel, November 2012, Nikon D600 with FX 28-300mm VR lens, 
72mm, 1/800 sec @ f5, ISO 100, -0.3 EV, no flash © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Jerusalem is a wonderful international city.  With a Jewish Quarter, a Christian Quarter, an Arab Quarter, and an Armenian Quarter.  It's fabulous to experience all of those cultures in such close proximity, and to realize it's been like that for hundreds of years.

But then you see the barricades, the metal detectors, the armed soldiers and the barbed wire. And it just makes me wonder:  Is this the best we can hope for?  Is this the best we can do?

Clearly, we are an afflicted species, and conflict has been in our history since we left the tree canopies and began to walk upright.   But at the same time, I see in my mind's eye the potential for civility, for compassion, for understanding, and for tolerance.

Thankfully, we have examples of luminaries that embody these principles and other timeless wisdom.  The Buddha, Jesus, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, and countless others.  We do have examples to emulate and to learn from.

I do believe the best is yet to come.  As a species we've come a long, long way.  We sometimes lose sight of our progress (and the daily news doesn't help).  So seek out those stories and lessons that give you the motivation to follow the trails blazed by the saints and sages.  May you be able to help light the path of love for those around you.

Sunbeams and Breakers

Sunbeams and Breakers, Tel Aviv, Israel, November 2012, Nikon D600 with FX 28-300mm VR lens, 
28mm, 1/800 sec @ f5, ISO 100, -0.7 EV, no flash © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Magical.

Winds had been crazy in Tel Aviv earlier in the week.  It was still a little rough on the ocean, and the clouds were moving fast.

But when the clouds collided with the sun, the sunbeams appeared.  Just like magic.

It was like witnessing a miracle.

Lemme Outtahere

Lemme Outtahere, Eliezer Peri underpass, Tel Aviv, Israel, January 2011, Panasonic DMC-ZS7, 
25mm, 1/40 sec @ f3.3, ISO 80, no flash © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Tel Aviv (and Jaffa, and elsewhere in Israel) has some great graffiti artists.

This underpass pillar always intrigued me, so one day when I went out for a run on the beach, I decided to end my run with this photo.

Let's just say ... there were consequences ;-)

Day 1: Happy New Year 2011

Sunset in the Holy Land, St. Peter's Church, Jaffa, Israel, February 2009,

Canon PowerShot SD870 IS, Focal length 7.56mm, Exposure 1/8 sec @ f3.5, ISO 200, no flash,

© Steven Crisp [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Happy New Year everyone.  Did you celebrate?  Get to kiss someone?  Make any resolutions?

Here are my answers:  Not so much.  Yes, my lovely wife, Carol.  You betcha!

We stayed home, which for us is over here in Böblingen, Germany.  New Year's Eve in Germany (as in many places around the world) is celebrated with fireworks at midnight.  And our dog Frito is not a big fan of fireworks.  He shakes like a leaf when they go off.  

So we watched some TV, to drown out the sounds.  And covered him with blankets and kept him in between us on the sofa.  He did fine.

So what about my resolutions?  Well, here they are:

1.  Post a picture of beauty every day (right here, on this blog).

2.  Give something away every day (e.g., a donation, or to someone in need, or an unused item).

3.  Do some physical exercise every day (at least 15 minutes long).

And for the first item, at least, you can help keep me honest.  Or at least, check back and see what kind of pictures get posted.  In many cases, it just might be a picture without all this writing to slow you down ;-)

Well, let's see how it goes.  Here's wishing you the best in 2011.

• Donation:  to Vegan Outreach
• Exercise:  Running 11.11 miles (120 mins) (see next post for details)