When I talk about art, I consider it extremely loose and open. Art as anything which is superfluous in life, which brings us aesthetic joy and delight. Art as non-utilitarian.
While legislation to set a standard “8 hour workday†was good to prevent workers from being exploited to have to work 14+ hour workdays, if also seems to have been a huge detriment, making it the standard to work at least 8 hours a day (not less).
One philosophical notion from Taoism I find absolutely fascinating— that of “wu weiâ€â€” which means “action without actionâ€, or “effortless actionâ€. Here is what I think it means and how I apply it to my own life:
Uber small, always with me, super close macro ability, phenomenal dynamic range, the most sublime JPEG for high contrast monochrome, even smaller than Ricoh GR II (more pocketable), and convenience of charging USB-C (same as my MacBook pro charger).
Necessity is the mother and the source of all innovation. When we need to innovate, we will discover new innovations. We don’t need to force innovations — seeking to innovate for the sake of making money, etc.
Perhaps this means:
Don’t seek innovation for the sake of innovation. Perhaps it is better to innovate for the sake of dealing with problems or issues which actually affect our real lives.
For too long philosophers, thinkers, and common people have believed the body and soul (spirit) to be separate. But what if the body and soul were one in the same? Two sides of the same coin.
Striving to be “goodâ€at something. But instead, I believe we should strive to be GENUINE— authentic, real, naked, exposed, transparent, and courageous to own your own opinion, thoughts, and beliefs!
Determine which city or location is optimal for your personal creativity, self-development, thriving, and strength — and stay there and leverage your strengths to maximize your impact on the world!
Don’t strive to ADD superfluous technology to your life. Instead, strive to REMOVE technology from your life. Keep subtracting until you only have the bare essentials necessary to your personal artistic and creative thriving.
Probably one of the best ideas which have come out of Silicon Valley is the notion of the “MVP” (minimum viable product). I am not sure who first coined the phrase, but my guess it is Ryan from BackYard Brew in Palo Alto.
Anyways the extrapolation I have is this:
What if we applied a ‘minimum viable’ design philosophy, or thinking philosophy, or life philosophy to everything?
Fewer choices .. more happiness, focus, and productivity?
Minimal clothing choices: Less stress how to dress yourself everyday. Easier to get out of the house.
Minimal photo choices (one camera, one lens): More focus on shooting. Less “paralysis by analysisâ€.
Fewer choices for work, play, or eating/drinking: The joy of getting to know a few places very well, than to know lots of places superficially.
For travel: Better to travel to a few places you really really like (and going back multiple times), than to see all the cities in the world only once.
Better to have a library of a few books you truly treasure, and read them all over and over again, than to read many books only once or so.
The fewer apps on your phone or computer, the better.
The smaller your apartment or home, the less stress, the better.
