Other than the bright blue skies on those magical clear days, Wellington is not a brightly coloured city. That’s not to say that the town is colourless, rather that Wellington specialises in a fine range of muted tones. The combinations are often subtle, but often very beautiful. There’s also a rich fusion of Victorian and more modern architectural styles – it’s terrific – very inspirational.

As I walk around hunting for the elusive shot of the day, I wonder what the stories are behind the façades and windows. If this building was in use by time travellers, is this the light fitting they’d use?

Manifesto
36. Every day be still. Connect to your inner being. Listen and be guided by it.
41. Every day use your mind. It is the greatest technology ever created.
45. Every day you are a different person.

There’s another terrific thing about having friends who see things in other ways. There’s a universe of sounds, sights, and smells out there that we don’t always notice, or take the time to pay attention to, let alone to enjoy. If you’ve got a friend who can show you something new to hear, see, or smell, your perception of the world expands to a whole new horizon. It helps you feel better about yourself too, experiencing new things in new ways. And being out, on a bright and beautiful morning, with a friend, on Lyall Bay beach.

Manifesto
01. Every day is a fresh new day.
05. Every day is now. The present moment.
14. Every day the ordinary can be the extraordinary.

Tonight we’ll watch a movie, maybe two. We’ll eat the pizza and perhaps have some fresh fruit for dessert. We’ll probably chat with comfortable silences in between where we’ll read, write, or craft something new. We’ll shut the door on the storms of the week and take/make sanctuary in our own cozy little world. For a short work week it’s been extra filled of the madnesses of our day jobs – stuff that in a few weeks, maybe even days will be irrelevant or at least forgotten beyond bad memories and an unpleasant aftertaste.

And that’s the magic of pizza made from fresh ingredients and seasoned with love. Like work we won’t remember the exact pizza, but we will easily remember the atmosphere, the flavour, and the aftertaste.

Manifesto
05. Every day is now. The present moment.
18. Every day express love. Some people need to hear it. Most people need to see it. Don’t take it for granted.
29. Every day eat, drink, rest, work, exercise, play, love, create for your own good. And the good of others.

Another Christmas is close at hand.
A time to celebrate
the gift of life.

Celebrating
beginnings and endings
lessons learnt along the way
achievements
pain endured and survived
new dreams
new plans
decisions made
opportunities taken
shedding things and saying good-bye
being grateful for what we have and what has been
and the fun we had along the way.

Celebrating
the people we love;
those that can be with us
those that can’t.

Celebrating
connections
through shared experiences …

I watched her move across the stage
oblivious to anything except
what she was doing.
The moment took over.
Floating
so beautiful
so graceful.
The colours flickered before my eyes.
The music filled the air.
I was transported to
another time
another place
another girl.
Now became before.
My niece became
my daughters
my sisters
me.

Celebrating
the person I am today.
Different
truer to herself
full of love
surrounded by those that love me
seeing and experiencing every day
excited by what has been, what is now and the possibilities of what lies ahead.
Grateful for all I have,
all that I am,
my life.

Manifesto
01. Every day is a fresh new day.
24. Every day is a journey. Not a destination.
39. Every day trust that there is a bigger picture. You are a part of it even if you may not know what it is.

I see a lot of people in that place recently. Clagged up, stuck down, bogged. It’s not that they aren’t trying – the effort is more than being made. It just feels like the fabric of life has been pinched up, and there’s not the smooth surface to work with. Any momentum at all is hard to muster. I can’t figure out whether this bogged down feeling is because of the impending festive season, the ups and downs of the workplace, the economic situation, or just part of the natural cycle of life. A time to reap and a time to sow.

There seem to be a number of approaches to dealing with the low progress stages when there’s work to be done. One group of people apply more energy and attempt to hammer out their frustrations as they make their way through. Some procrastinate, prevaricate, or pick away at the choicer morsels – a kind of jigsaw approach – and gradually bring the task to completion. I have quite a respect for the zombie method – those people who can send their hearts and minds off to somewhere else while they work through a mountain of work, and this is in contrast to the zen method which is the total focus on the now – the task at hand.

I see people every day working through the trials of their work in addition to working through their work – and sometimes it’s difficult to work out which takes the more effort – the work or the trials of work. Hang in there, my friends, I know there are the trials and tribulations, however there will also be the learning moments – and these are the jeweled moments that make at least some of it worthwhile. Hopefully your pay packet, and self respect earned by doing the job well, will round out the rest of the value equation.

Manifesto
06. Every day you make choices.
16. Every day looking at the order of things gives you power.
24. Every day is a journey. Not a destination.

An original life is unexplored territory. You don’t get there by taking a taxi – you get there by carrying a canoe. — Alan Alda

I still think there’s something better on the horizon. Over the hill. The next page, chapter, book. If what we’re doing is great, could we do it better? If we ask better questions we’ll get better answers. Is this the best use of our time/money/resources/life right now? If this was funny what would we be laughing at now? Does any of this really matter, or would we be doing better for everyone, including ourselves and the generations who follow, if we just packed our bags and went down to a cafe on the waterfront and had a beer. Or two. Or an ice-cream. Or just went for a walk.

The Buddhists want me to chant. The Christians want me to stop. The Satanists want me to start. The Retirement Commission wants me to save. The Commerce Commission wants me to invest. Buy sell swap. Do this. That. Do the hoki-toki, and you turn about. In the end it all just signifies nothing except another expression of one or more of the seven deadly sins, given life and expression by somebody and foisted off on to me. And you expect me to take it seriously? Like it’s memorable or important or valuable or really worth my time?

When I could go for a quiet walk with my wife and we could hold hands in between taking a photo or two? I’m staking a claim on my own golden moments. And I’m walking towards them every day.

Manifesto
42. Every day celebrate. Who you are. What you have achieved. Things that matter to you.
49. Every day is a good day.
50. Every day has an ending.

It’s not just the deciding on which images, at what size, and where, and a host of other decisions – we’re aiming for photos that make our respective subjects look respected and honoured, and that our work is worthy of being hung along side that of our fellow photographers. I’m grateful for the opportunity.

It’s one thing to have the idea of being an artist or a photographer, or any other activity in life, it’s another thing to give proof of it.

Manifesto
27. Every day pain is a sign of growing.
28. Every day you will be tested.
38. Every day be brave and give things a go. Use fear to trigger you into action.

Mornings are so very beautiful at this time of year – everything is at once minute and yet enormous, pulsing between the commonplace and utterly precious simultaneously.

I put my camera away and we go to work.

Manifesto
02. Every day is an opportunity for a new beginning.
05. Every day is now. The present moment.
14. Every day the ordinary can be the extraordinary.

If you want to reach a state of bliss, then go beyond your ego and the internal dialogue. Make a decision to relinquish the need to control, the need to be approved, and the need to judge. Those are the three things the ego is doing all the time. It’s very important to be aware of them every time they come up. — Deepak Chopra

It was kind of surprising how many people were not excited to be back at work today. To be fair, plenty of people were still on leave, but there wasn’t much joy amongst those of us who were back at work.

Why?

Because most people wanted to be somewhere else. With someone else. Doing something else. I don’t get it. Not every day at work fills me with joyous satisfaction either, but, if you hate your job give it to someone who’ll appreciate it. You should flee to farm llamas or stay in bed with a large box of chocs or whatever floats your boat. Use whatever excuse you want but if you’re not doing what you want to do in life then you need to make a change to point yourself in the direction you want to be in.

You’ve only got so many breaths in this life, don’t waste a single one doing something undirected towards your bliss. Do more of the stuff that has meaning and is valuable to you. Do less unproductive stuff. Don’t make excuses, stop being a martyr. What are you waiting for?

Manifesto
01. Every day is a fresh new day.
02. Every day is an opportunity for a new beginning.
26. Every day take action. Every small step counts.

I have to say up front, I am not a fan of cats. Yet today I found myself having lunch with some colleagues at the Meow Cafe – a cafe with a definite cat inspired influence. Funnily this seemed an appropriate place for us to meet because it was a bit like herding cats just trying to get the three of us together.

As I looked around at the quirky decor I saw items that were all too familiar to me – the old fashioned radio and television, the formica tables, the vinyl covered chairs, the patterned dinnerware. I wondered if the young waiting staff had any idea what all these items they were surrounded by were. I bet none of them could imagine the excitement of listening to a favourite programme on the radio. How many of them could imagine what it must have been like to see a television for the first time or watch their first ever television programme? I know I’m showing my age but I remember these things so vividly.

As I entered the Meow Cafe today I felt like I had walked into a time machine dating back to my youth. There was however one thing that didn’t fit for me, the gold battery operated waving cats. These cats seemed so out of place but very happy to be there. You simply had to smile as they repeatedly waved at you.

After doing a bit of research I have discovered that in Japanese and Chinese culture these cats are considered lucky and they are meant to bring good fortune, happiness and prosperity. It would appear that the gold coloured cats bring riches and if it is raising its left hand it is inviting customers to the business.

I walked away from my lunch today feeling very satisfied from the delicious food and happy to have caught up with some good people. Thankfully the gold cats at Meow Cafe didn’t affect my allergies. Now that is the kind of cat I can live with.

Manifesto
03. Every day is an opportunity to reflect on the past.
10. Every day connect with somebody.
29. Every day eat, drink, rest, work, exercise, play, love, create for your own good. And the good of others.