waiting for wisdom
How do you overcome being stuck?
studio mirror
choreographer dances
and improvises
…
staring at a blank canvas
searching for inspiration
as the cursor blinks
may appear frustrating
instead of resisting
open your mind
to all the possibilities and perspectives
inner peace
How do you gain clarity in a busy world?
meditation room
ambient blips echoing
outside the window
…
touches us
leads us
drives us
practicing counting breath
from one to ten
we shift our focus
to eating chocolate
same space, different case
What can you learn from collaboration?
collaboration
individual reward
taking a back seat
…
communities crave connection
to an idea, mission, and vision
originating from a burning desire
to seek change
whether we win or lose
we all learn differently
when navigating life
history is not indoctrination
How is history not a single-perspective narrative?
pear cultivation
farmers deliberating
grafting and pruning
…
it is a tree
where it’s trunk, branches, and leaves
have weathered and grown with time
yesterday’s lessons bloom into
today’s events which impact
tomorrow’s harvest
picking future fruit
just in case
How does preparation influence outcomes?
…
we lose power
we forget information
we trip over ourselves
along the way
planning ahead and preparing
for any situation
takes ambition and action
buggin' out
What can fixed and growth mindsets teach us about learning?
language barriers
comprehensible input
reading and hearing
…
too often in our quest
for knowledge and learning
we retreat and give up
on our initial goals
regardless of our path
take time to thank yourself
on your progress and failures
wash the rice
What errands do you enjoy?
medium grain rice
settles evenly under
a starchy white cloud
…
tasks, chores, and jobs
on the surface appear
pointlessly repetitive
and threaten productivity
don’t discount the fact
the work we put into today
impacts our future
as grandparents would say
What family advice has stuck with you?
vintage turntable
ella fitzgerald records
listening new ears
…
family first
save every penny
be good people
listen to your parents
but most importantly…
remember to call
grandma and grandpa
push the button
Do you love or loath pushing buttons?
red vending machine
idle consumerism
dispenses face masks
…
to signal anticipation
for expected behavior
and give power
to the button-pusher
or pull back
to reevaluate
the environment
change of pace
What song transports you back in time?
wireless earbuds
divided societies
connected in sound
…
great expectations leads to focus
focus leads to actions
actions leads to feedback
and feedback leads to change
as the constant force
we often embrace
without truly reflecting
rag of riches
What are the limits to your imagination?
imagination
adaptable rectangles
absorb mastery
…
tenugui 手拭い
japanese hand towels
usually made from cotton
provide many uses from
cleaning, bathing
headwear, belts
to wrapping gifts
slice of pie
Why is it so easy to judge by appearance?
homemade pastry
intricate lattice atop
peeled tart apples
…
sometimes with ice cream
sometimes with cheddar cheese
sometimes with a different flavor
should we really be picky
when it comes to consuming
and judging appearances
like apple pie?
could, would, and should
What could, would, and should you consider when charting your own path?
street photography
physical destination
digital portrait
…
imply different directions
could we focus
would we focus
should we focus
on our past, present, and future
to chart our path
into the universe
diggin' it
What are the true costs of your physical and digital footprint?
a complex system
predictable behavior
resale fool’s gold
…
when we witness
people finding “gold”
everybody picks up
their preverbal shovels and pickaxes
and rush to the scene
to shortly discover
chasing the bag
clouds our vision
seeking advice
How do your opinions influence others?
social media
building authenticity
building inflation
…
keep it simple
create value content
consistently comment
connect with people
break the algorithm
are all opinions
we chose to follow
first and second impressions
What manners do you put into practice?
condensation sets
irreversible damage
on wooden tables
…
we tend to judge everything from
what businesses we support
how much a cup of coffee costs
to why people use coasters
from the comforts from our homes
rather than thanking
their original intentions
what if we turned
How many hours of sleep do you get on average?
a parabola
going into hyperdrive
talking to the moon
…
nothing into something
stress into success
empty into plenty
when working towards our goals
then it’s only fair
we ask ourselves
are we content with our efforts?
illusion of control
What things do you believe in and nurture for growth?
avocado pit
cultivating nutrients
in a second life
…
no matter what we do
we may wish to turn
back the hands of time
to change our fate
but then we may miss
appreciating the present moment
and make today our masterpiece
five minutes early
What is your number one currency?
whitewater rapids
navigating the river
without a paddle
…
valuing time
as a type of currency
in our ephemeral lives
over inflating egos
speaks louder than
saying we have
x many things
practice makes progress
What can Trader Joe’s adoption of Kaizen show you about customer service?
customer service
a dedicated crew to
stocking deliveries
…
continuous improvement
or changing for the better
are all phrases related to
kaizen 改善
in the pursuit of perfection
our attitude and efforts
determine our perspectives