Paul Kilmon: A Life Illustrated in Words & Photos: Find Your Calm

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)

Sunday, September 01, 2024

Find Your Calm

After a long walk through the city, I decided to sit in this small memorial park in Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. I needed to rest.

As I looked around, I saw people – young and old, sober and drunk, poor and well to do, homelessness, aggression, fear, hate and love, kindness, hand holding, a fight, a theft, people reading, game playing, and a picnic for two. There was a Mennonite choir too, singing their hearts out for all who cared to listen.

When I am out and about, I occasionally see other Mennonites performing. Honestly, I never give them a second thought. I walk by, going about my business. Yesterday, I did the complete opposite. I sat and listened. I really listened.

By no means was this a religious experience. To me this was quiet fellowship. I really could not make out the words in their songs, but rather tuned into the harmonization. It really was soothing.

Regardless of what was happening around me, I was, for a moment, able to tune out the noise of the city. As I looked at the people in the park I realized there was no judgement or focus on societal labels. Everyone was there for their own reasons.

I want to believe everyone in that park, even if it was only for a moment, connected to the harmonization of that choir, and felt what I was feeling, the calm.

What is my message? What am I trying to share? Calm is out there, and if we can find it in ourselves to yield to it we will be better off.

Have a lovely, peaceful, and happy week, friends. Find your calm. – paerki

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