What is the moment - the place, the person, he activity - that has moved you to forget the time, to lose yourself, and to return to what can feel like forgotten depths (or heights)? And how can you begin to get back there, as early as tomorrow? - Pico Iyer
Quote from the essay: "... the closest I'll ever get to meditation: it clears the beehive of my mind, it dispels the tangles that can never be truly answered, and it allows me to step back out into the clamor as refreshed and directed as if driving down from a monastery."
My knee jerk answer to this question is pottery with hiking as runner-up.
I've taken two pottery wheel throwing classes in my life. The first was back in 2022 with my good girlfriend and photographer, Taylor Mckie; and the second time was last year solo. During each class, while I sat hover over a mound of spinning clay, the sneaking suspicion that I've done this before would creep up in my bones. The wheel is so natural to me that on my first go, I made a bubble mug, a catcher plate, and a mushroom cup. The latter two I still use today. The first one was stolen. It must've been too cute to leave behind for its rightful owner. [I was so pissed.] During last year's class, I ambitiously attempted to make an incense holder without proper knowledge of how a kiln shifts the clay around. So the piece turned out more like a little pot of sorts. I'm plotting on when to return for a full multi week course. I want to learn more about the entire ceramics process so I can practice on my own in studio. I got my eyes set on a place already. So we'll see how this venture goes.
Runner up answer isn't easy to return to, especially while residing in a flat state. Hiking needs the terrain to be considered hiking. But my goodness, the Colorado mountain range looked like a Renaissance painting. How all of that beauty is touchable – is still beyond my comprehension. I'll return to the wild West one day. I wouldn't mind getting lost or camping out there. Well, I don't want to be lost seriously, rather lost on the trail – so enamored with the wilderness allowing me access. What a time that was.
Postscript. Okay, I know I said I wouldn't spam your inbox...however, it was brought to my attention that many of y'all do not use Substack and only read through your email. So uh, you'll get a daily newsletter - yay!
What’s my reason behind writing for 100 days?
100 Day Project - The Book of Alchemy
In honor of adventures, and the roads less traveled, I am starting a 100-day writing project. The idea derived from Suleika Jaouad's The Book of Alchemy, this is a journal prompt styled project so I'll be reading essays from various artists that usher in their prompts. From today until December 18, 2025, I will post my prompt answers onto SELF-TITLED... I'm excited for what I will unearth. [Even if the sole newfound discovery is consistency.]
Where are the other daily writings?
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