025 | It's all nothing

The year 2021 ends and we are right back where we started.

Announcement

My photography website and online store have launched. You can visit here. Outside of Instagram, this will be where I will be publishing collections of photographs regularly. Thanks for your support.

Closing 2021

It’s the time of year where we sit and reflect on what the hell happened. How did it go by so fast? As I sit here, I notice that despite the things that happened, I still am me, Christian, and you’re still you. And despite the places I went to, I’m once again back here, to square one.

Lately, I’ve been doing quite a bit of mentoring. On any given week, I mentor about three designers. Their questions tend to be about their careers. When the moment feels right, I kindly tell them that I admire their proactive attitude to seek help but remind them that although what they are doing is right, they mustn’t think that of their career as everything.

The romanticized version of journeys and conquests sounds exciting. As a teenager, I couldn’t wait to be an adult. When I was in college, I couldn’t wait to graduate. At my first job, I couldn’t wait to get a new job.

The destination seems to always be the objective and the journey an afterthought. And it isn’t until the destination is reached, that shortly thereafter, the words this is it? are muttered softly. It’s always just a matter of time before the extrinsic joy expires and we’re once again metaphorically chewing our nails and facing the mirror.

The swordsman, calligrapher, and Zen teacher, Omori Sogen (1904–1994) writes in his book Introduction to Zen Training, that to be awake requires great faith, great doubt, and great will.

Faith refers to trusting the present. Doubt means nullifying the trading of our narratives for our actual experiences. And will is to persist with strong accountability.

So as a new year turns the corner, it helps to remain grounded in the reality of our smog and dust and persist to be on the frontlines of the world, not hiding in an ivory tower. Let’s brush off the pride, celebrate our accomplishments but not get swept away by them. And if possible, let’s find a way to enjoy our problems.

The new year will present challenges, highs, and lows, however, the noblest thing we can do is wake up, throw out the garbage, and tend to our homes.

Oh, and Merry Christmas.

Christian Solorzano
Oak Park, IL

Beginner’s Mind | A Playlist

If you follow the Beginner’s Mind playlist below on Spotify, every issue, it’ll be updated with new music. I’ve also added the titles of the songs below.

1. At The Salvation Army The Phantom Carriage

2. As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays

3. Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet Gavin Byars

4. Pipes of Peace Paul McCartney