Working on deadlines will teach you a lot about what you can do. When you have a project you need to completely hammer out for a presentation the next day, you keep the golden bits and brush off the rest. Thinning it out.

You get tired. Cranky. Upset. You get as close as you can to what you want to achieve. Then you call it a day. Take everything you learned and keep it in your back pocket.

Good things learned: Keep people accountable. Expect dedication. Be a leader. Keep moving forward.

Not so good: People are lazy.

In between good and bad: We only work when we are under deadlines.

Fresh. Cool. Breezy. Comfortable.

In Oregon you can breathe deeply and calmly. It’s a pacifying experience. Life in the Northwest reflects this. 

Oregon teaches you it doesn’t have to be 100F and Sunny to be good weather. Oregon teaches you to value green trees, grass fields, and surrounding mountains.
Oregon teaches you to get outside. Even in the rain.

The places to explore are only limited by your imagination. You can go anywhere and see and touch and feel. There are basketball courts under highways. Pupuseria stands. Bike paths to infinity. Good eats abound. Fresh vegetables and gardens all around.

It’s a good place to be.

My grandpa Joe recently told me, “you can sit around when you’re old.” I figure I will have plenty of time to sit on the couch, after I lose my legs or the ability to move. At that point it will be gravy to watch TV and eat microwaveable meals.

But until then. I want to see as much as I can. This weekend I was able to get out and see Fall Creek Oregon for the second time this year. As opposed to when I went in the winter time, the area surrounding the creek is now extra lush and green. I pulled up my pants and waded in the freezing water. I climbed trees, branches, logs and rocks.

This next weekend I want to go to the Columbia River Highway. From there I want to explore the Gorge and a number of waterfalls in the area. I’ll wake up early, pack a sandwich and hit the road. My only idea is to take pictures, and explore that shit.

This summer my cousin Spruce is getting married in North Dakota. Rather than flying out East, which would be ehhh, I’m planning on hitting the road with my little brother Noah. My number 1 sight is Yellowstone National Park. I figure I have explored the depths of Yosemite in my 3 summer’s of working there and I hear Yellowstone is quite amazing.

Places on my list: The Grand Canyon, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Europe, Australia, Southern U.S. and Rhode Island.

I have spent a lot of time sitting around in my 21 years. It gets old. Exploring doesn’t. I want to have something to talk about with people all over the world. This is where it all begins.

It’s not easy to share the things you love. You want to hold them tight, and never let go. But it’s always better to share.

Sometimes it’s scary to let something grab a hold of you. It’s easier to pretend it isn’t there. That it doesn’t affect you. But you can’t do this. You can’t hide from inspiration. You need to accept it for what it is. Great work is passionate. Perfect. It’s something to strive for. It explores. Delves deeper.

Things I find to be perfect:

wineandbowties.com :: I want to be this open, insightful and thoughtful by the time I die. His writing is casual, but brilliant, and Max Gibson has the ability to put show the world from a unique perspective.

streetetiquette.com :: Street Etiquette teaches me to be different, to embrace photography, and to explore. When I go to second hand stores, I look for clothing that Travis would want; Meaning colorful, tribal patterned, stand out clothing.

In New York City you walk a little faster. You can’t help it. The place is bustling.

People going to work. Touring the city. Taking photos. Everywhere. Everyone is going somewhere. Don’t be the one to get in their way. 

In New York people hustle. They know what they need to do. And they do it. 

They don’t relax. They don’t sit for long. 

Taking the leap of faith is never an easy one, but it is necessary. Go out and explore and don’t come back until you find what you are looking for. 

Simplicity is key. Keep it simple and keep it easy. This is the best way a message is understood by the most amount of people. That doesn’t mean it can’t be controversial. Or creative. This means that in order for a message to affect people in a given way, it needs to be direct and leave no room for confusion.