culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

do or try

What changes the status quo?

rice cooker

grains boil over

to a new bowl

it doesn’t matter

if we put ourselves

in position to

take advantage of

the time and place

unless we take action

to change the status quo

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Tomosumi Tomosumi

141135

What does your name mean?

street food stalls

resting on countertops

empty dishes

there are 26 letters

in the alphabet

but it takes only four

to give meaning

and value

behind the label

we attach ourselves to

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

x-factors

What do you think of labels?

friday night lights

outside the huddle

ramblin’ men run

didn’t ask

to be named

or held in such

high esteem

as this title

often confuses

influence with leadership

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Tomosumi Tomosumi

bulletin board

What are you advertising?

open for business

flickering neon signs

bring fireflies

announcements bring information

information raises awareness

and awareness causes action

is the methodology

we perceive to hold true

until nobody notices

our advertisements

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culture, creativity, community Tomosumi culture, creativity, community Tomosumi

vagabond

How do you leave your mark?

flash floods

breaking apart pavement

for shrubbery

take a moment to consider

how we change

the people, places, and things

for the better

is a generous letter

we hope to receive

long after we depart

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

quilt

What brings you comfort?

straight lines

grandmother’s blanket

smiles back

layered between

fiber and fabric

rests the pieces

of our past

keeping us warm

while the storm

swirls and twirls

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culture, community, creativity Tomosumi culture, community, creativity Tomosumi

get it right

What patterns do you notice?

polka dots

on the carpet

rolling over

on our first attempt

is considered rare

on our second attempt

may seem appropriate

on our third attempt

almost always means

we can identify the pattern at play

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culture, community, creativity Tomosumi culture, community, creativity Tomosumi

possibilities

What medium do you choose?

the aurora

fickle bands ripple

behind mountains

pen and paper

brush and canvas

film and frame

the mediums we choose

set us on a path

full of discovery

to infinite outcomes

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

favorite snacks

What makes you feel nostalgic?

black and white

dipping oreos into

a glass of milk

there’s something nostalgic

that brings us back

to simpler times

when all we worried about

was who was going to get

the last chip or cookie

in the bag

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culture, community, creativity Tomosumi culture, community, creativity Tomosumi

inherited

What traits do you possess?

breeding koi

streaks of red spots

take on new forms

the traits we possess

that have been passed

down from generations

of our family tree

isn’t meant to cast

judgements and opinions

but to make peace and progress with

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

set in stone

What was made to last?

crumbling sandstone

leaving the parking lot

with a new friend

all these things

are permeant until

we find another way

to go about doing business

better, faster, stronger

which ultimately leads us

to carve a new stone

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creativity, culture, community Tomosumi creativity, culture, community Tomosumi

climbing the wall

How do you approach daily obstacles?

vast canyons

reflected in the mirror

of the greyhound

whether physical, mental, or spiritual,

walls provide us

with a personal choice

to approach daily obstacles

with the grit and optimism

or get stuck complaining

that we have more work to do

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culture, community, creativity Tomosumi culture, community, creativity Tomosumi

heads or tails

Do you leave fate up to chance?

the year 1943

a green face covers

copper pennies

is a fifty-fifty chance

enough for us to wager everything

and go for broke?

for some, potentially

but then again,

when have the odds

really change our gut feeling?

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culture, community, creativity Tomosumi culture, community, creativity Tomosumi

weather watching

What are you creating?

spinning wind chimes

under the temple eaves

praying for sun

whether it rains and pours

or sunshine galore

the weather dictates

our movements and behaviors

until we recognize

that fate is what we create

not watching reports

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Tomosumi Tomosumi

the same material

How do you rework material?

douglas fir

shaking onto the

carpenter’s table

it all depends on the angle

we approach things

time and time again

trying to squeeze out

the most of our stories

may mean reworking material

for fresh eyes

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culture, community, creativity Tomosumi culture, community, creativity Tomosumi

yellow lights

Is pain progress?

flashing lights

entering the oven

unleavened bread

under most circumstances

typically indicate

slow down

proceed with caution

prepare to stop

unless we find ourselves

in the intersection of pain and progress

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culture, community, creativity Tomosumi culture, community, creativity Tomosumi

tell us, tell us

How do you deal with anticipation?

stay away

from the apples

fruit flies buzz

we can’t wait forever

from our pets, peers, and parents

anticipation and trepidation make

our heart beat faster

our mind crave answers

to unfolding events

that briefly hold our attention

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culture, community, creativity Tomosumi culture, community, creativity Tomosumi

known for...

What are you known for?

fresh evergreens

sitting next to the

charred fireplace

being or doing something

tells us how audiences believe

if we specialize

and not generalize

then we will lead and succeed

yet, what they often forget

is our capacity for developing trust

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culture, community, creativity Tomosumi culture, community, creativity Tomosumi

rough drafts

What story are you polishing?

bonito flakes

dancing on top of

okonomiyaki

frequently get a bad rap

when we race to meet deadlines

with scattered ideas and thoughts

we lose focus on what’s important

to our community

it’s less about turning in a sloppy copy

than it is about sharing our story

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culture, community, creativity Tomosumi culture, community, creativity Tomosumi

bicycle

What is your path?

old gravel road

stuck between tires

from saitama

handlebars guide

a pair of wheels

and single frame

to new destinations

over the course of our lives

it’s becoming less common we travel

down one straight path

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