Category: Stories From Life

It’s A No Brainer Really…

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Stories From Life

It is a ‘no-brainer’ really.

At age 53 you would have thought that I would have realised this before now. The quality of sleep affects your productivity. Very simple.

I knew this before today but was not very good in practising it. All sorts of things and reasons stood in the way.

In my earlier years, say even up to my 30’s, I was what you would call a morning-person and a night-person. Not a very good mix!

I loved to stay up late and wanted to get up early, particularly if there was a pre-Dawn or Dawn photography shoot on. I would be excited about this and had trouble getting to sleep because I couldn’t wait to go on the shoot.

Other things that impacted my sleep quality were the distance from where I lived to where I worked. When I got married we made a decision to live 100km’s SW of Sydney (there were logical reasons which I won’t go into here), the only trouble was, for most of that time it meant a 2 – 2 1/2 hour journey each way.

When I arrived home I was quite tired but quickly gained ‘a second wind’ which meant I would stay up late to enjoy the things I wanted to enjoy, then get up at 5.30am and on we’d go. This went on for 16 years…

My wife and I now run a Home Office for our business so travel times have obviously reduced, but that doesn’t always mean we get early nights. Anyone who has run their own business knows that to be successful you need to work more than 9-5 in it, plus I have other involvements as well as my ‘About’ page on this blog will attest.

I have a very active mind anyway and sometimes that stops me from getting to sleep straight away as well.

Friday night (after my Life Coaching session), I knew I should have turned in straight away, but became interested in a movie which did not finish till nearly 1am. Unfortunately I woke up at 6.16am. Not a very good sleep and although I did achieve some things yesterday, I did not get done anywhere near what I had planned.

Last night I hit the pillows early (for me) on a Saturday night, 10.15pm in fact and upon waking up this morning at 7.45am, I was ‘full of beans’ as they say.

Upon rising this morning I:

– did a bit of reading from 3 different books, including one on Art
– came up with 4 ideas for blog articles
– one poem
– wrote 6 1/2 pages towards a book that I have been wanting to write for many years
– actively jumped into some exercises recommended from the Life Coach session I had on Friday night
– started some house chores

all by 11am.

The lesson that I need to learn and actively apply to my life is that a good night’s sleep is invaluable.

In comparing how I feel today (to yesterday) maybe finally I will put some things into practice to ensure I get the amount of sleep I need to be as productive as I can be.

 

Written by David Johnson
17 April 2016

I’ll Read It Later…

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Stories From Life

One of the challenges of modern living is all the information we have at our disposal i.e. books, magazines and, in particular, the Internet. There are millions and millions of pages of information on probably everything imaginable, and some probably unimaginable.

We all live busy, demanding lives and all have family, interests, hobbies, sports etc. on top of our business or work commitments.

168 hours every week is what we receive to fit in ‘all of the above.’ Given that we need to prioritise and work out what is most important.

As a lover of the information/knowledge I enjoy reading articles on the Internet, particular if they anything to with photography, public speaking, painting, writing, poetry and music. Therein lies the problem. There is only so much time and too much information…

For many years now we have been able to enjoy this and often, faced with a perceived ’shortage of time’ I have come across articles and videos that I have deemed would be of great interest to me but didn’t have the time to read at that moment.

A great idea a ‘creative’ came up with was to invent things like ‘Read It Later’, ’Save To Pocket’,and Facebook has the capacity to ’Save’ things to read or view later. When things like this first came out I thought, ‘brilliant!’ Unfortunately now, I have so many things I’ve ’saved for later’, I don’t know when I will get to read them.

When does ‘later’ come?

These are all wonderful tools. I just need to learn to use them better, for at some time in the future, I will ‘run out of later….’

Perhaps the following may help me (and any others out there like me):

  • Clear out anything you have already saved for later, longer than a week old
  • Discipline ourselves on ‘what we save for later?’
  • Set a time aside for reading/viewing this information

Perhaps you might have some suggestions to help as well! If you do, please feel free to add them. 🙂

 

Written by David Johnson
March 2016

“Leave Them On The Desk” or “The Night My Invisible Umbilical Cord Was Cut”

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Public Speaking, Stories From Life

It was late 2008 and I had been enjoying my Toastmasters experience for approx. 6-7 months and was looking forward to delivering Speech #5 from The Competent Communicator manual.

Upon delivering my speech I sat down and a Toastmaster of some 25+ years of experience said to me ‘next time you do a speech, I want to see you leave your speech notes here on the table.’ I remember looking at him a bit aghast, saying “you mean I have to try to do my speech without having notes to refer to?” He said “Yes.” Gulp!

This was something I had not contemplated doing at all, ever.

What if I forgot where I was up to? What if I had a ‘mental-blank’ up there?

He reminded me that Toastmasters was a ‘mutually-supportive environment’ i.e. every member sitting in the audience ‘wants you to succeed’ so that in the event of any hiccups they would understand. This is one of the great things about Toastmasters. It’s where we learn and practice so that we can take our skills ‘to the real World’, outside.

Preparation is but one of the successful keys to the success of the speech. Preparation in terms of not only writing a speech but preparing your mindset as well.

I had it in my mind that I could not do a speech without notes. This was true up to that point in time.

With the support of the members of my club, I delivered speech #6 without notes as challenged. Since that day I have only used notes on a small number of occasions, being my incoming and outgoing Club President Addresses at a Changeover Dinners and others being when using bullet points during PowerPoint demonstrations.

Accepting and delivering that challenge to use ‘no notes’ that night changed my mindset on what was possible for me in that regard and built my confidence a little more, which is one of the things being a member of Toastmasters International can do for you.

In my next article on Public Speaking, I’ll be talking about “A Speech Contest. Are You Crazy?”

Written by David Johnson
26 September 2015

Two More Lessons Learned or ‘How I Managed To Get Through Speech Project #4 Alive!?’

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Public Speaking, Stories From Life

Over the course of my time as a member of Toastmasters International, I have learnt many, many things to help me communicate better in my speeches, presentations, evaluations and endeavour to become a better leader. I still have a lot learn as well.

On joining Toastmasters you receive two Manuals, the Competent Communicator manual (10 speeches) and the Competent Leader manual (10 Leadership Projects).

One of the earlier prominent lessons I learnt was in my fourth speech of the ‘Competent Communicator’ Manual. Speech Project #4 was “How To Say It?”

I recall writing a speech called ‘Art, An Anaesthetic To The Problems Of The World.’ Hmmm, yes, it still strikes me as a dry title and speech for that matter!

It was two pages long, in 10 point font and I recall vividly that I memorised the whole speech and forty times I was able to ‘recall it by wrote…’

Come the Toastmasters Club meeting, I was very nervous.

All went well, for the first four lines…then came the fifth line and ‘I was nowhere…’ You guessed it, due to nerves I had forgotten what the fifth line was. Silence, awkward silence followed…

I had notes with me but nerves, being what they are took control and I endeavoured to just read the notes but that was not working and I felt awkward again. Then a thought occurred to me…’you know the speech, just tell them’ and I did.

I was able to finish the speech, not with the words I had written, but words that ‘just came out…’

Two lessons were learnt in this speech project.

  1. Never try to memorise the full speech. Know your Beginning & Ending well and know what you want to say in the middle without memorising it. (This was the kind advice from a DTM {Distinguished Toastmaster}, the highest level achievable in Toastmasters International).
  2. We write differently to the way we speak.

The above lessons have served me well, as in speeches since I have written the speech out but because I know what I want to say, I deliver it without having to go ‘word-for-word’ and this has worked well for me.

In my next article on Public Speaking, I’ll be talking about how ‘My Imaginary Umbilical Cord Was Cut…’

Written by David Johnson
23 August 2015

When The Student Is Ready…

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Books, Stories From Life

We’ve probably all heard that quote, ‘When the student is ready, the teacher will appear…’

Over the years (being the Library addict I am) I sought out different books on the subject of Writing, as I kept thinking that I would like to write someday. Time always seemed the enemy, though perhaps it was not high enough on my priority-list… Photography was still my main interest at that time and, in terms of interests, not much else got a look-in.

I purchased the book ‘The Tao Of Writing’ back when I was working in the City of Sydney in 2008. I had a Coffee Table book 20150815-IMG_2510-1called ‘The Tao Of Photography’ which I liked and I thought it would be interesting to read how The Tao applied to Writing.

Commencing the book I found that it ‘did not resonate with me.’ The words were just words on a page that could not seem to hold my interest. It remained in my bookshelves. A couple of years later I tried again. Same result, yet I held onto the book through moving house/book culls.

In 2013 I ventured into my first two Blogs, ‘Light Inspired’ (Photography) & ‘Observations & Other Writings’ (mainly Poetry with a few articles) and over the past two years I have enjoyed writing for both of them.

In May this year whilst scanning my bookshelves, there it was…‘The Tao Of Writing.’

It stared at me and I stared at it. I picked it out and started to read and it began to speak to me in ways that I could not imagine.

It has inspired me to:

  • start to formulate and idea for a reference book. I have the outlines for 2 chapters done
  • progress on my idea of a Short Story book project. I have the outlines of 4 stories
  • think about the way I communicate in various forms
  • develop this new blog, combining my interests

Was this the same book? Indeed it was and I enjoyed each and every page that I read, and the exercises at the end of each Chapter.

Why the difference? I guess I was not ‘ready’ to see and begin to absorb what Ralph L. Wahlstrom had to teach me.

I class myself as a ‘beginner’ in the writing world and have much to learn!

I’m really looking forward to attempting the 70 exercises in the back of the book, and I know I will be revisiting the book time and time again.

Something told me years ago ‘to hang onto that book.’ I’m very glad I did!

Written by David Johnson

Your Creative Journey

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Stories From Life

As an Artist, (whether you are a painter, photographer, musician, speaker, sculptor or any kind of visual artist) you must continue to feed your mind, ask questions of the world and ponder. Your Art is your attempt to answer those questions and in doing so you can add your flavour to society.

So how do you feed your mind?

* Reading books and other literature
* Attending Exhibitions (not just the Art you like either)
* Watching movies, documentaries and other media
* Attending lectures and presentations
* Getting together with your peers or Artists outside your realm
* Go outside your comfort zone
* Attending workshops
* Spending time contemplating about your style, about your world

Experiencing that which is outside your realm of interest is important as well. This has the effect of stretching your world-view and opens your mind to other possibilities. Your feelings about this may reveal to you a new way of seeing ‘the old’ which then will translate into your Art.

Why do all this?

You are a product of your environment. You have been subjected to different influences (chosen or otherwise). You have beliefs and your own thoughts.

Like any endeavour, you will want to grow and evolve, communicate through expressions of your Art.

The world wants to see what and how you feel about things. The world wants to see your flavour, a flavour that can help grow the world into news ways of appreciation and seeing.

The world is waiting…just waiting for you to inspire us!

Written by David Johnson
31 July 2015

An Unexpected Experience

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Stories From Life

Last night, my wife, Susan & I attended the ‘Youth Solutions Winter Wonderland Charity Ball.’ Youth Solutions is a is a youth drug & alcohol prevention and health promotion charity, working with young people in Macarthur and Wingecarribee areas SW of Sydney, Australia.

As with any such event as this, there was entertainment, a Soloist and a ‘groovy’ Rock ’n’ Roll band and they took it in turns to serenade and have the ‘joint jumping.’

As the Entree was being served, youth & young adult dancers from a local dance studio, ‘De Hall Dance’ took to the floor and over the following 20 minutes or so championed the activity of Ballroom dancing and also danced to some more modern moves. (20 years ago I had attended two Beginner dancing programs at the studio and the dancers brought back some great memories).

As I sat and watched the dancers seemingly glide around the floor, thoughts came to my mind about Dad (who passed away in January this year, aged 85). Dad loved to dance and could dance well, particularly in his younger days. Mum loved to dance as well.

Indeed, Mum and Dad met at a dance hall in their early 20’s c1950. They (particularly Dad) had expressed to us all what fun the dance halls were back then. Stories of great times with friends, laughter and of course, lots of dancing.

I began to see a young Mum & Dad dancing on the floor last night, and as I imagined this, tears formed in my eyes (like is happening again now…).

We cannot feel what they felt as they danced together with love blooming all those years ago but it was enough to carry them through 63 years of Marriage, 5 children and 2 grand-children.

“And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon.”
— Edward Lear

Yes indeed.

Written by David Johnson
26 July 2015

IMG_4292
Dad & Mum 8 December 1951

Why Toastmasters?

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Public Speaking, Stories From Life

Logo Website Tagline LockupI was a ‘born introvert.’ At school I would not volunteer to ‘read things out in class’, at parties (even as an adult) I would only talk to people I knew, and at meetings at work I would have an idea though I would be too nervous to speak in front of others.

What led me to Toastmasters?

It was a chance meeting with a former work-friend, Wendy White in 2008 who was then President of a Toastmasters Club. (Wendy is currently District Director of District 70 in Australia).

I saw the changes in her (from when I knew her previously) and suspected that Toastmasters had something to do with this.

So what is Toastmasters?

Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development. It has 313,000 members around the world in 14,650 clubs in 126 countries.

Members improve their speaking and leadership skills by attending the meetings on a regular basis, either weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on the individual Club and applying themselves through the Educational program.

I joined Toastmasters in March 2008 for the following reasons:

1. To gain a greater general confidence
2. To improve my photographic judging evaluations at Camera Clubs
3. To overcome nerves

Joining and putting myself well and truly into the programme has been a life-changing experience because it has helped me in 18 different ways/areas of my life i.e.

It has helped me in the following ways:
– gain greater general confidence
– am able to control my nerves prior to and during photographic judging/speeches
– am able to take photos in front of others without getting nervous
– am now able to walk up to strangers and introduce myself
– has improved my networking/business capabilities
– have no fear of speaking in public
– have no fear of taking on leadership roles
– has made me a better leader
– it has made me a better listener
– to evaluate better
– I can now ‘think on my feet’ better (impromptu speaking)
– improved my performance at job interviews
– has enable me to write & deliver coherent speeches
– has enabled me to win speech contests (who would have ever thought)!?
– has improved my writing capabilities to the point that I am now in the process of writing a book
– has given me the confidence to start writing poems (133 at last count)
– has opened up ‘outside of Toastmasters’ speaking opportunities including me being able to accept an MC role at a wedding & being able to speak at community clubs
– has enabled me to have a positive impact on people within and outside Toastmasters

As with life in general, the learning never stops! In all of the above areas there are still improvements to be made but when I look back I am thankful I had the courage to walk through the door of a Toastmasters Club.

Members, both experienced and new will be there to support you and cheer you on!

Whether you are an employee or are in business for yourself, consider visiting/joining a Toastmasters Club.

It will change your life for the better!

Click on http://www.toastmasters.org to find out more and ‘Find A Club’ in your area.

To your Success!!!

Welcome!

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Haiku Poetry, Painting, Photography, Poetry, Public Speaking, Stories From Life

Hi, I’m David Johnson and I have a passion for expressing myself creatively.

I love to observe the world and then, love to endeavour to communicate what I see via mediums I find fun!

Welcome to my NEW Blog!

In 2013 I started 2 Blogs on WordPress:
lightinspired.wordpress.com – Photography
observationswritings.wordpress.com – Poetry/Writing

Photography: Started in 1982
Public Speaking: Started in 2008
Oil Painting: Started in 2012
Poetry: Started in 2013 & have written 130 poems
Writing: Started in 2013

Photography has been the dominate interest for a long time in my life however the other interests have been ‘gaining ground’ over the past few years, and in some cases are now combining.

Seeing that the interests are all ‘communicative’ ones I thought I would combine them into one page, rather than have 3-4 individual blogs.

Some brief notes on my background…

Camera Clubs:
A member since 1986 & currently a (founding – 2004) member of Southern Highlands Photographic Society.

Photographic Judge:
Since 1995 with Federation of Camera Clubs (NSW) Ltd

Light Inspired:
My Fine Art Photography business

Toastmasters International:
A member since 2008 & am currently a member of Camden Toastmasters & The Grange Toastmasters Clubs.

Some of the content from my previous blogs will make it to this new blog however it is my main aim to have new content on ‘Communicating Creatively.’

I hope you enjoy my latest foray into blogging! 🙂