Decoding your Mind

Decoding your Mind: How and Why I Journal Live Spencer Monitor

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🏠 
spencers-mind
@now


> 
Seeking truth in paradoxes, beauty in the everyday, and connection in the unknown.


> 
How do we empower creation and encourage discussion?


> Exploring, learning, laughing

I've always thought that the behavior that social media encourages of showing a very manicured version of real life is not only unhealthy for ourselves but also for society as a whole by setting up unrealistic expectations, especially for young teens in their most formative period of coming into adulthood. I recently came across the concept of a

Now page

and loved the idea of giving a more honest, in-depth window into your life. Something that's minimally filtered, comprehensive, and most importantly, authentic. This is my first version of something to that endーa live view of how and what I'm doing,

unfiltered

in the aggregate data,

comprehensive

in an overview of my life trajectory, and most of all, unabashedly my

authentic

self.

In the

Last 30 days (i.e. September 23 - October 23, 2020)

, I've

experienced an

average day rating of

3.38

(Δ:

-6.65%

)

experienced an

clarity rating of

3.15

(Δ:

-5.5%

)

completed

@Read 15 mins

habit the most

skipped

@Try something new or do something uncomfortable

habit the most

Habits drill-down

Read 15 mins: 25 → 22 (Δ: -12% ) Meditate 5 mins: 2 → 9 (Δ: 350% ) Exercise 20 mins: 9 → 17 (Δ: 88.89% ) Write 10 mins: 12 → 5 (Δ: -58.33% ) Post photography photo/work on photography 15 mins: 15 → 18 (Δ: 20% ) Try something new or do something uncomfortable: 4 → 2 (Δ: -50% ) Learn one new thing about someone: 3 → 7 (Δ: 133.33% ) Creative deep work 30 min (sketching product or building): 11 → 8 (Δ: -27.27% ) Help or offer to help a friend (or stranger) without them asking: 3 → 2 (Δ: -33.33% )

Overall, it's been a

😃

month and my 🧠 activity can be summarized as

🤔

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📸 some of my favorites...

Coloring the Pack Bonita Point • 3/21/2020 ——————— A team of sea kayakers venture out into the open ocean for an afternoon ride. Although they are a team and have to work together to ensure no one gets off course, they also express their unique individuality in their kayak colors. ———————————— How do you stand out in a pack? 。。。 Nikon Z7 // Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8

A Break Antarctica • 1/5/2020 ——————— A lone humpback breaks the surface of the water in the frigid waters of Antarctica. In the distance, icebergs fill the waterways, creating a minefield of hidden depths. We’re all part of a much larger system. This is one of my favorite photos I took on my trip ー makes me appreciate the beauty in everything we see in life while coming to grips with the fact that we are such a small part of the whole. ———————————— When was the last time you broke the surface? 。。。 Nikon Z7 // Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8

Stand out Godthul • 12/29/2019 ——————— It can be tough to stand out when it seems like everyone looks the same, but there’s always a way to express yourself. ———————————— What do you do to stand out? 。。。 Nikon Z7 // Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8

Stretching the Limits South Orkney Islands • 1/1/2020 ——————— These gentoo penguins scaled to the upper ridges of these beach-side cliffs, which were at least 3 stories high, to lay their eggs to minimize the chances that melting snow washes them away even though it means they have to trudge up and down every time they collect food for their partner. Always impressed by the resilience and defiance of the little folks in nature. ———————————— 。。。 Nikon Z7 // Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8

Feeding St. Andrews Bay • 12/30/2019 ——————— A mom feeds her baby in front of a large, large colony. St. Andrew's Bay is home to one of the largest king penguin colonies in the world. At an overlook like this one, the ground opens up before you, and all you can see is white, black, brown, and yellow dotting the land as far as the eye can see, up to the stretches of mountains. ———————————— 。。。 Nikon Z7 // Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8

Flourishing in Ruins Grytviken • 12/27/2019 ——————— In the ruins of a central whaling and sealing station, a mother and her child rest among the bones of the fallen, both animal and machine. Now, Grytviken is overrun with nature and animals, living in harmony amongst the handful of townspeople. The pure, new hopefuls are oblivious to the years of callous slaughter and exploitation and focus only on living in the present moment. ———————————— What commonplace area holds a hidden history for you? 。。。 Nikon Z7 // Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8

Separated Salsbury Plain • 12/26/2020 ——————— A lone king penguin separated from the colony, perhaps out searching for some fish for dinner ———————————— What are you separated from? 。。。 Nikon Z7 // Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8

Searching Falkland Islands • 12/24/2020 ——————— What have you been searching for? 。。。 Nikon Z7 // Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 #nikon #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #cormorant #nature #falklandislands #travelphotography #travel #searching

Soaring over Cold Ushuaia • 12/22/2019 ——————— 。。。 Nikon Z7 // Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 #nikon #argentina #birds #wildlife #waves #patterns #crest

Behind the Line Mountain View • 11/18/2019 ——————— Just another day commuting 。。。 Nikon Z7 // Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 #nikon #nikonnofilter #fall #labels #california #seasons #transit #caltrain #sunset

City on Fire Taipei • 7/27/2019 ——————— Joined the flurry of tourists hiking up Elephant Mountain (象山) to catch the sunset over Taipei. Although the proliferation of tripods, people, and even a dedicated business with an iPad to sign up for professional photoshoots at the view point detracted a bit from the serenity of the environment, it was still breathtaking to watch the city slowly fall to darkness and roar back to life as the night lights flickered on like millions of tiny fireflies in the fading light. ———————————— What was the last time nature took your breath away? 。。。 NIkon D3400 // Sigma 3.5 10-20 #nikon #nikonnofilter #travel #cityscape #landscapephotography #taiwan #taipei #visittaiwan

As some of you may know I spent all of July in Taiwan teaching English at a rural school. I had a great time (will elaborate in a blog post coming soonTM), but I wanted to try to do something with my photography that would showcase the countryside I was in and spread the stories of the people there. To that end, this is the start of my YiWu Series, where I'll be showing my favorite photos during my time teaching that tries to capture the essence of how I felt living there and being welcomed in by the local teachers. ——————— Setting Temple (Layers of Yiwu (宜梧) Series) Yiwu Shuntian Temple (宜梧順天宮管) • 7/11/2019 ——————— Every Thursday, the small town of YiWu hosts a night market in the center. Unlike the famous Taiwanese markets in big cities like Taipei which span entire sections of a neighborhood, this night market just winded along a small street for a few blocks with plastic stools and tables in an opening near this temple. Instead of the streets filled with tourists and stall owners beckoning you over, I was treated to a special homey experience: families and childhood friends eating, talking, and playing together. While we were walking along, one of my students picked up some food from a passing stall, which I quickly found out were her aunt and uncle. Having grown up and lived my whole life in Houston, one of the largest cities in the U.S., it made me realize to be more appreciative of the family I have and to make the extra effort to stay in touch with them even if we don't live in the same small town. ———————————— What do you appreciate most about your family? 。。。 NIkon D3400 // Nikon 1.8 35 #nikon #nikonnofilter #travel #travelphotography #nature #landscapephotography #wanderlust #yiwu #taiwan #visittaiwan #temple #sunset

Wandering Nagoya on foot can be tiring, but it also means stumbling into grand temples and pockets of greenery in the middle of the industrial city. The juxtaposition of ancient tradition and modern technology demonstrates the power of balance. ———————————— Where do you find balance? 。。。 Nikon D3400 // Nikon 35 1.8 #nikon #nikonnofilter #visitjapan #japan #travel #travelphotography #nature #landscapephotography #wanderlust #nagoya #temple #sky #pillar

On a lively Thursday night in Kyoto, locals walk through old shrines that stick out in the middle of modern towers and buildings all over downtown. You can also see a peek of Japanese fashion in the bottom right, featuring a pastel pink shirt with a contrasting dark blue with pink polka dot bucket hat. ———————————— What do you take for granted in your hometowns? 。。。 Nikon D3400 // Nikon 1.8 35 #nikon #nikonnofilter #visitjapan #japan #travel #travelphotography #lantern #shrine #kyoto #cityphotography #streetphotography #wanderlust

Arashiyama, a district on the west side of Kyoto is home to tranquil little shops and restaurants and mirroring the lazy Ōi River that flows through it, is much more laid back compared to the busy metropolitans of Tokyo and Osaka. It's also home to a beautiful bamboo grove that visitors can get lost in the winding paths among countless towering bamboo stalks. When it's not crowded by tourists, it is a great backdrop for self reflection. ———————————— What's your favorite place to soul-search? 。。。 Nikon D3400 // Sigma 3.5 10-20 #nikon #nikonnofilter #visitjapan #japan #kyoto #bamboo #sunrays #nature #landscapephotography #visitkyoto

The sky is on fire ———————————— Montenegro is full of pebble beaches like this one, leaving lots of flat rocks for skipping! 。。。 Nikon D3400 // Sigma 3.5 10-20 #nikon #nikonnofilter #visitmontenegro #montenegro #sunset #waves #svetistefan #pebblebeach #mountains

Bell tower in the small town of Perast in Montenegro. Managed to sneak this picture before the storm came in! 。 #travel #travelphotography #nikon #montenegro #mountains #storm