Saturday, January 26, 2008

Don't Blink


Watch this video.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=p4ySSg4QG8g

Yes, I am forcing you. You may have seen/heard it already but if you have, watch it again. Johno (my dad) sent it to me a couple of weeks ago. We all know it, we all say it...enjoy every day and every moment, but we forget. I forget. It's not a secret that living in the now is sooooo very much easier than living in what happened yesterday or what may happen tomorrow.

Give love, give respect and don't blink.

Thanks Dad, for the reminder.

*The photo is of my brother and I when I was 5. That was 27 years ago and it seems like it was the other day.

Friday, January 18, 2008

One small step

So in a comment she wrote on one of my blog posts where I was once again daydreaming of owning my own studio/business, Kal said,

"Seriously, dude. Just quit your job and live the life you dream of. It's reachable."

I thought about it, and she's right. She rules! I am, for the first time, not terrified of the concept of working on my own. Of course, I mean there's all the scary things, like where's the business gonna come from? How do I effectively beat clients for money they owe me? Blah, blah, blah....too scary, don't want to think about that right now.

So, I thought I should create some kind of identity and at least a logo and business card. So, here is the very small first step toward the life I dream of.

Introducing, Bean Graphic Design.
Why Bean? Who is Bean? Beans are good?

I was struggling a bit to find a great name that meant something to me and that was, at the same time, still a good business name. Bean is the nickname my Dad calls me. Like when he calls he'll say "Hey Bean, whassup?". After doing the logo and card design, I finally asked my mom why he calls me bean. Her response? First they called me Kid....then Kidney....then came Kidney Bean...and finally dad just settled on.....Bean. The funny thing is, my Dad's name is John, so my brother and I call him Johno (a term of endearment, not a lack of respect in anyway). So, he started calling me Beano...nice, an anti-gas product. Maybe it's because I am full of hot air? Maybe I diffuse gaseous situations? Hmmm.... I digress....

Bean also reminded me of that experiment you do in school where you plant the tiny bean in a plastic cup and watch it sprout, send roots down, grab hold and grow like crazy. It was one of the coolest things I remembered as a kid, and it made me happy.

At any rate, I took my first step and Bean Graphic Design was born. Now, a million more little steps and I will be living the dream!

Friday, January 4, 2008

Here....we....go!

Watch out 2008! I am ready to ATTACK!!!!

So far, the first three days of the New Year have been pretty good. Nothing bad, nothing great and that's fine with me. It's been a simple and even-tempered start to what I know will be a crazy and busy year. But, I AM READY!!!

It seems–as I talk to more and more people–that it's a good thing 2007 is over. As far as I am concerned, good riddance and see-ya-later! It's not that is was a terrible year, there were good things. There were all the firsts with Mikey - first New Years, first Valentine's, first Birthday, first vacation..the list goes on. Then, there were a couple of GREAT things - the PUGGIES!!!! It was just the not-so-good things that made me wish for a "life fast-forward" button just to get through the bad to get to the good. But, I dove in and got'er done.

Those few good things made the year more than bearable, and I am thankful for that. It was the other eight-hundered-thousand not so good things that make me glad it is a new year!!! Welcome 2008!

Should be an interesting year. I am willing it to be a good year. I am shaking of the 2007 blahs and starting fresh and new. I already have freelance work coming out of my ears...which may sound stressful, but it is a really good thing. Maybe someday I will work out of my house on projects I love doing - something I only ever dreamed about, but could possibly become a reality. It's funny how I kept hoping and wishing for a "normal" life - a life without stress, chaos and craziness. Then, the other day, I came across the perfect quote:

"Normal is just a setting on a dryer."

Couldn't have said it better. There isn't a "normal". I can't be "normal" and I don't want to be "normal". Normal is just boring. Say it enough times...normal.....normal....normal....is doesn't even SOUND good. So, instead of striving for normal, I will stay different and a little off and strive for happiness and contentment, love and passion, and most of all a life that feeds my soul.

If I will it, it will come.

Happy New Year!!!