Dear Riley,

People always say you should give more than you take. This concept also applies to creating vs. consuming. I read the quote somewhere “create to feel alive, and consume to feel inspired”. Makes sense. When we create, we are actively engaged. When we consume, we are passively receiving. Both are important, but it’s easy to fall into the trap of overconsumption, and be out of balance. Here are my thoughts on the two:

When I consume:

• Brings inspiration
• Effects are usually short term
• Makes me look for the next thing to consume
• Passive activity
• Can be done in any state of mind, even end of day when I’m tired
• Can be done anywhere. ie.. reading my kindle, listening to music, watching a movie
• Easier to consume “junk”

When I create:

• Makes me feel alive
• Effects are longer lasting, and I end up with something tangible
• Balances out my consumption
• Actively engaged
• Easier to do in the morning when I’m fresh. Need to “get in the zone”.
• Usually done on my laptop, or notebook while sitting down
• Harder to create “junk”

Both are important, but it’s much easier to consume. And when you consume junk, it actually limits your inspiration. When I spend too much time looking at social media, I don’t feel inspired at all. It’s distracting, and prevents my mind from wandering. Overconsumption doesn’t give me an opportunity to be bored.

Consumption comes easy, that’s why I try to focus on minimizing my consumption, and focus instead on creating. That’s why I have this website, and why I like taking photos! Yay!

Love,
Dad
7/7/2017

We got you a mini slide for your birthday. You’ve been going crazy on it. Getting more and more brave each day. I’m expecting to come home one day and find it at the top of the stairs.