A task, duty, pleasure or chore?

 I wonder why some people feel the need to add structure ti their lives, to do one specific creative thing a day? Once during every 24 hours, there are painters who post their daily work on the internet to sell or auction. If you Google 'painting a day', thousands of hits will come up, including Duane Keiser in USA who seems to be one of the Daddies of the movement. Then there are writers who write a Small Stone a day,and photographers who post an image a day via Blipfoto.

Not a painting a day, just one of several in a few hours!

I've tried the last two, which became somewhat forced and lacked spontaneity. My fault, I am sure. Here is my small stones blog and being me, I had to give it an image plus words. I like the simplicity of it and the freedom; looking back, I am pleased that I did it, but for now don't want the obligation, self-imposed, of adding this to the many other things that should be done every day.

Taking a photo every day is easy for me, as I nearly always have my camera with me. But it can become an unwanted intervention between the eye and the scene. Nonetheless, the compulsion to record everything, anything, is strong and gives me great joy.

The reason for the painting a day phenomenon is that it sells paintings, for relatively small amounts, almost guaranteeing a steady income. The quality of these paintings can be exceptional, probably because they are done quickly, intuitively and uninhibitedly.

What about NaPoWriMo? This hideously named, but well-intentioned movement that sets aside one month when poets sign up to 'National Poetry Writing Month'. This idea came out of NaNoWriMo - yes, you guessed - 'National Novel Writing Month'. It remains to be seen whether a best selling prize winner develops from these practices.

The happiest man?

What a beautiful face, radiating goodness and happiness. This is the French Buddhist monk, Matthieu Ricard and someone who appears about as well balanced and genuine as it is possible to be. There are claims that he is the happiest man alive, but I suspect that sort of hyperbole would not please him.

He was a pioneer into scientific research into the effect of meditation on the physical brain and emotions. It is suggested he has done more than 10,000 hours meditation himself.  I can't possibly do justice to this man, so do have a look at his blog

There are also a lot of video clips of him speaking on YouTube. In addition he is a brilliant photographer, mostly images of Tibet where he has been for 40 years.
 
I think he is literally extra-ordinary and radiates love, in the way of so many Buddhists. I hope you want to know more. Have I made you curious?