Paul Kilmon: A Life Illustrated in Words & Photos: For Your Consideration

Welcome!

Through my writing, photography, career, and personal challenges, you will discover I am just like you, a person on a journey. My goals are simple, to be healthy and happy. You will learn I have many interests. The driving force for all I do is communication, the sharing of ideas and my passion for laughter. It really is the best medicine and a great stress reducer.

I consider myself a down-to-earth guy, who is just making it up as I travel through life, adding a virtual laugh track here and there to amuse others and myself. I have a friendly personality, which is expressive, warm, upbeat, fun, and positive. I love meeting new people. I thrive on communication, organization, diversity, creativity, and laughter. – Paul Eric Kilmon (paerki)

Wednesday, December 04, 2013

For Your Consideration

The New Year is just around the corner. Spend the final few weeks of 2013 pondering change. It’s inevitable and can improve your life when you take the right steps. The key to change is self-awareness. We must perceive ourselves as more than a physical body with a name, social security number, job, family, friends and responsibilities. True happiness comes from knowing thyself. We must be committed to our resolve (now more than ever). A friend sent me the following, so I am sharing it with you. These small measures will guide you in the right direction, thus feeding into a more positive you. Don’t be afraid to step outside the box. It just might do you a world of good, enhancing your health, personality, outlook on community, and most importantly, your life. Maybe you’ll become a bit more fearless during the process. – paerki

Health:

Drink plenty of water. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, and eat less food that is manufactured in plants. Live with the 3 E's: energy, enthusiasm, and empathy. Make time for meditation. Play more games. Read more books than you did in 2013. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Sleep for at least seven hours. Walk 10-30 minutes each day, and while you walk, smile.

Personality:

Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. Don't have negative thoughts about things you can’t control. Invest your efficiency in the moment, thus creating positive energy. Don't take yourself so seriously. Don't waste your precious time on gossip. Dare to daydream. Envy is a waste of time. Forget negative issues from yesterday. Stop reminding your partner of his/her mistakes from the past because it will ruin your present happiness. Life is too short to hate anyone. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class, but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime. Smile and laugh more. You don't have to win every argument. Always agree to disagree.

Community:

Each day give back something positive (it can be as simple as picking up a piece of trash). Spend time with people over the age of 70. Try to make at least three people smile each day. What other people think of you is none of your business. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick, however, your family (which just might be your friends) will. Stay in touch (with a text, email or phone call).

Life:

Do the right things. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. No matter how you feel, stand up, get dressed and show up. The best is yet to come if you believe. When you awake, say out loud, “Thank You!”

What would life be like without memories? It’s fair to say, there would be no life at all. Memory is our communication, reason, coherence, our action and more importantly, our feeling. Memories create our path in life, developing our psychology and leading us emotionally.

One of the best ways to create and store memories is with video. These simple effortless little snippets of time create diaries and become perpetual time capsules, which justify our walk on earth, telling all with great enthusiasm… I was here! I mattered! I lived! Please, don’t forget me.

Share your views, thoughts and opinions in the written word. Snap photographs so your eyes can travel back in time, remembering the happy and sad moments that made you the person you were, are and became in life. But, whenever possible, capture video to enhance the memories you leave behind, so that others may pass the essence of your life on to future generations. – paerki

I love photographs! They have this amazing ability to tell stories of fun places, special moments, memorable events, and exciting places. They give us reason to pause and remember friends, family, coworkers and so many others. One photograph can conjure up a flood of memories taking us on a journey. They help us remember the past, enjoy the present and ponder the future.

On a cold and rainy day I love sitting in my living room with a roaring fire, a glass of wine, classical music playing in the background and my many photographs scattered about me. I love sifting through what I call my special collection, which refers to my favorites. They remind me of the saddest and happiest moments of my life. They remind me of challenges and overcoming.

My large collection of images are a testament to a life lived. Life happens all around us so it’s important to collect special memories, and what better way than with a photograph. – paerki

It’s hard to believe I’ve been blogging for more than 12 years. This art form has allowed me to showcase and express my creativity. It has bolstered my confidence (not that is was lacking). At times it has been therapeutic, but more than anything it has given me a much deeper view of the world and how I see myself in it.

I use my insights as a barometer for self-change, which helps me reconcile the past, adapt to the present and navigate carefully into the future. I have enjoyed the roller coaster ride of thought as my hands write it and my eyes see it. As always, I hope you can relate to my stories, appreciate my views, savor the wisdom, reflect on the concepts and, more than anything, respect my friendly and genuine interest in connecting with others.

Find you own voice. Think about writing your own blog. Learn your style, share your views and open a whole new world of possibilities for you and your readers-to-be.. – paerki