the sold project

As you may or may not already be aware, I am intern this semester for The Sold Project, a grassroots organization committed to fighting child prostitution. Part of the reason I am so excited about this internship is that I get to learn more about child prostitution and human trafficking.

It may seem odd to desire to learn more about these issues, but I've found how easy it is for me to be apathetic. I don't understand why it can be so tempting at times to stream some mindless tv show online or read the blogs of my favorite musicians, yet it can be so hard to take the time to read about issues that really matter. I know that I need to do something to care about others more than myself and stand up against rampant injustice in the world.

It's amazing to have the opportunity to be part of something way bigger than myself. In the midst of this, I'm challenging myself to release some of the apathy in my life. And, I'm challenging you to do the same. Latch onto an issue of meaning to you and dig deeper. Demand more of yourself. I do think it's possible for each of us to make a real difference in our communities and the world at large.

Check these out:
www.thesoldproject.com
www.ijm.org
www.one.org
www.streetlightphx.com

multi-tasking

I multi-task constantly. I think we all do. Right now, for instance, I'm typing this entry, listening to music and perusing a magazine all at once. Two different e-mail inboxes are open in the background. And that's minimal multi-tasking in my mind.

Technology in all its glory continues to push multi-tasking to the forefront of how society operates. Within this societal context, I always thought the ability to multi-task was some kind of virtue. For instance, many companies desire this trait and look for employees who are able to handle many things all at once.

Recently, however, I have come across a number of articles and ideas that have forced me to approach multitasking differently. These streams of thought have called for a lessening of time spent multi-tasking. Why? By multi-tasking we lose full appreciation for the task at hand, simply jumping from one thing to the next. Our mind never truly focuses on a single subject and our attention spans are diminished.

So, I'm trying to reduce my time spent multi-tasking and approach each task with greater appreciation for its inherent self. I know it's going to be a major challenge, but I truly do think it's worth it.

blossoming

small seeds gracefully do grow
into beautiful things that spring from these rows
- eisley

black and white

I'm in the midst of designing a black and white flyer right now. There is something awesome about designing in black and white. Maybe it all routes back to my obsession with the combination of black and white and the sense of striking contrast between them.

At times, it's easy to feel that black and white is restrictive and consequently wish to use color. Yet, I often find that color can be super distracting, weakening my sense of structure. For me, it's easy to get hung up on color combinations and lose sight of the foundation of the composition at hand.

quotations

Collecting quotes is something I have grown to enjoy in the midst of my journaling and blogging. Carefully selected words carry such an unbelievable sense of power. For me, it is amazing and comforting to see how individuals centuries before experienced the same sense of wondering and feelings I experience now. In some way, I think the resonance one may feel when reflecting upon a single quote cultivates a greater attachment to humanity at large. All that being said, here is a quote I came across today that really resonated with me.

"It is not work that kills men, it is worry. Work is healthy; you can hardly put more on a man than he can bear. But worry is rust upon the blade. It is not movement that destroys the machinery, but friction."

- Henry Ward Beecher

connectedness

I went to a sweet arts/fashion event last night called GeneroCity LA. One room was set up with a variety of quotes hanging from the ceiling. This was by far my favorite:

"We cannot live for ourselves alone.
Our lives are connected
by a thousand invisible threads,
and along these sympathetic fibers,
our actions run as causes
and return to us as results."
- Herman Melville

rest

"He that can take rest is greater than he that can take cities."
- Benjamin Franklin

One of the hardest things about living in LA is the pace of life here. Everyone moves so fast. The most tangible example of this can be seen on the streets and freeways. It is constantly clear that everyone is in such a freaking hurry.

So, it's quite appropriate that I got a cold (or something of that nature) when I reentered this face-paced city. The little bout of illness has reminded me that I have to stop. I have to rest. I have to defy the message this society continually feeds to me. If I don't, I may miss out on so much of what this life has to offer.