The Aura Of Being Recognized

The Aura Of Being Recognized

It is interesting to be stopped by people who have only seen you in a video online and asked to take a photo with them. It is fascinating to be a minor celebrity in the East Texas area. You are not prepared for it. At first, you wonder, what are these people doing with those photos? Are they sharing them on some website? The fascinating part is that the person asking for the photograph often has no idea that others are doing the same thing. To them, this is a chance encounter with someone famous, even if that fame only extends throughout a small part of East Texas. In their minds, they just saw an internet star and wanted to get a photo with that person. When you become a small celebrity, you may not know how to act. There is a responsibility that comes with getting your 15 minutes of fame. How you respond to others tells a lot about who you are and how you handle this attention.

So is it worth it to become famous as a content creator? It continues to be fascinating when individuals approach you and ask for a photo. Make sure you take a moment to ask them about themselves. Take the time to share your energy with them. They took a moment to tell you they noticed and liked your work, so take a moment to learn something about their lives. Thank them for their time and for watching your media. That real human connection is something they may remember longer than even the most amazing video content you create. Shake their hand after you take a selfie with them, and wish them a great rest of the day. This kind of interaction between social media content creators and their fans allows both parties to win. The content creator learns firsthand how their content connects with an audience. And the fan can show their friends and family that they met somebody who, in their minds, was famous, even if that person is just a local celebrity.

Just remember to show this kindness in all your interactions with others. You never know what somebody is going through in their life. So that one smile, a handshake, or a selfie you take with them could be the one bright moment of their day. Also, if you are having an off day, fans of your work might lift you up for the rest of the week. Their kindness may inspire you to make more content. And your kindness may inspire them to seek out others and communicate with them face-to-face. These unexpected connections raise another question. What leads a person to want to make video content in the first place, and ultimately, what are their goals?

Many who post on social media websites are looking for a viral video. They are hoping that one day something will go viral so they can get a bit of notoriety or validation for what they do. It could be likes, comments, or additional subscribers to their platform. These content creators often go into it with the idea of fame and fortune after their videos connect with a wide audience. Many stop long before they have a fan base because they realize their content is not reaching the masses. So they give up. Others continue making content, regardless of the views, the likes, or the comments. Whether they have one subscriber or thousands, their desire to create keeps them going. Even though they may never have a viral video, they continue because creating content is something they love to do. Perhaps that determination is a lesson we all can learn from.

How does one make a viral video? Is there a pattern or a formula that social media content creators can follow to get their content seen by a large audience? Could it just be luck? There are a few strategies a person could use to increase the chances of going viral. One of the biggest is being able to connect with an audience by evoking multiple emotions through visuals and audio. However, it takes more than just that. Getting someone to stop scrolling through their phone, watch a video, leave a like, and possibly make a comment often seems like a miracle. So when a video finally goes viral, many creators celebrate the accomplishment.

Even with the best social media video content, what is the endgame? What is the expected outcome? What do creators do after a viral video? Can they reignite the magic that happened earlier? Perhaps one goal is to make some extra income or to get noticed by larger, more traditional content creators or advertisers. A few are just making content because they love it. It is difficult to follow trends and predict what an audience will watch. Ultimately, if you get subscribers, they are not simply watching your content. They are watching you. This is because they connect with you as a human being. You are someone they want to follow and engage with. Without these fans, a content creator does not have a following with whom to share their work.

Perhaps a viral video can bring us all together. However, what happens after that connection is made might be more important than the video itself. And ultimately, what we create and what we watch tell us something about ourselves and our place in the world.

Computed

 

That Photo You Kind Of Remember

That Photo You Kind Of Remember 

You know, somewhere in the back of your memory there is a photo you will never forget. That photo has to be in some old shoebox, or maybe it is on that computer whose hard drive crashed. It has to be somewhere because you remember seeing it the last time you went through your files. Hopefully, you will remember where that photo is because that memory is tied to that image.

The memory of an event, a party, a celebration, a holiday, or just a slice of life is important to your personal history. Seeing that photograph helps activate that memory, and seeing details reminds you of clues that you have long forgotten. In many ways, having a photo is like having a time machine. You can look at it, see that event, and remember it more clearly. The photo is evidence of the events that transpired and allows you to realize that it actually did happen.

Until recently, photography was a rare occurrence. Now, with the prevalence of cell phones, photos are taken at any whim, whether substantial or frivolous. So even with something that happened last week, you can refer to your digital photos and confirm what you thought you saw or experienced. In the past, some people may have only had one photo taken in their entire lifetime. So only in that staged photo could they look back and remember the events that transpired. That photo was treasured because it was such a rare event and also because the costs were restrictive.

So, even with all these photos we have to remind us of events that recently occurred and events from the past, does that help us with our memories of those events? Do we rely on digital photos as evidence instead of relying upon our memories to validate our thoughts and concerns? It is interesting to consider the number of digital photos that are taken in comparison to traditional exposures that required processing and chemicals to develop. It is a wonder that any of us gets anything accomplished.

One thing that is lost with the rise of selfies is the group photo of events. You often have to ask a stranger to take a photo of the group. A few may carry tripods with them, but they are in the minority. Often, the candid photos that were taken, and even those photos that appeared to be mistakes, told the story better than a selfie. Those photos captured a slice of life. Perhaps they captured real-life events that cannot be achieved with a photo taken one foot from your face.

It will be very interesting to see what historians make of all these photos. I wonder what they will tell them about our society and who we are in comparison to other periods in time. Only time will tell the story we have to share with the future.

Computed

Gratitude

Gratitude

Gratitude is something we sometimes take for granted. When someone is kind to us and we forget to return that compassion, it destroys a small part of the human spirit. Being thankful for what we have is often left behind because we are so busy with the world around us. Imagine a strong wind comes by and blows all the kindness away, all the gratitude away, and all you have left is nothing. Just a world of self-indulgence.

As we grow older, it becomes easier to realize the gift of thanking others. Thanking them for their time, their kindness, their help, or especially their friendship is something that is often forgotten with all the hustle and bustle of the modern world. Just taking a moment to thank somebody could lift their day tremendously. Being kind, being thoughtful, and being respectful does make the world a better place.

Hopefully, when you wake up each morning, you realize that it is up to you to improve your place on this planet. You should not always ask what others can do for you. Sometimes, you should simply help others who need a helping hand. Seeing someone who needs your help and actually doing something about it will add up over time. And over that time, the world will improve.

It is amazing how many people are sad and bereft of passion. Some individuals just wander through life without accomplishing much. Without a passion to drive you, it is very easy to fall into a mundane state and do little to improve your lot in life. However, when you have no passion, that is exactly when you need to work hard to find something that keeps you motivated and keeps you moving.

Leading by example is something very powerful. When you run into an individual who has so much love and passion for life, in a lot of ways, it is infectious. Their energy transfers to you. Later on, your passion and drive can pass on to others as well. Then, at some point, maybe the whole world starts working to make it a better place. Now that is a world worth challenging yourself to achieve more than just existing.

Another year that passes by offers a chance to think about these things. Time has a way of showing us what matters and what does not. Kindness matters. Friendship matters. Gratitude matters. Having something you care about matters. Using whatever time you have to make a positive difference matters. Do not waste the time you have left on your clock.

So get out there and make the world a better place, one day at a time. Work on your dreams and challenge yourself beyond what you believe you can accomplish. You have it within you. Just take that little spark of energy and make it come to life.

And perhaps a lifetime later, you will look back and smile. You will realize that you were grateful for the people who helped you along the way. Hopefully, you helped a few people yourself, that you followed your passions, and most importantly, that you did not waste your life.

Computed!

"The Quiet Error" Avant-Garde Piano
https://youtu.be/zzdpu8HqUvM

What Is Creativity?

What Is Creativity?

You often hear people claim that they are creative. This creativity could be expressed through the visual arts, music, writing, acting, dance, and other performing arts. Let us take a moment to focus on what creativity is and what qualifies as creativity.

Is it possible to be creative in something outside the traditional fine arts? Could you be creative as a mechanic, welder, or cook? Most people think of creativity and attach it closely to the fine arts, but they are missing what creativity actually is.

Creativity is the ability to make something out of nothing. A few of the ingredients may already be present, but a creative individual can take those parts and make something awe-inspiring. Often, the simpler you make something, the better it becomes. Your first instincts are usually correct when you are creating.

In life, there are many people who are good at their vocations. You could argue that the reason some stand out from the rest is their use of creativity. A salesperson who sells you a vehicle when you were not even in the market has tapped into this universal creativity. When a student finally connects with a difficult subject, it often has something to do with the creativity and experience of a professional teacher. Even someone who works in the food industry and is efficient and fast at getting food out has learned how to use creativity to make the best product in the most efficient manner.

The individuals who can tap into creativity in different endeavors are often the ones society values. Their creativity makes them your first choice when you enter a business. You may even feel disappointed or leave if they are not there. Over time, humanity recognizes individuals who can help others survive and succeed. Without creativity, many of our greatest inventions and ideas would never have happened.

How does someone tap into creativity? When you have spent a large amount of time working on, studying, and analyzing a task, creativity will eventually appear. A task that once took three hours might now take only 30 minutes. A teacher can explain something in a matter of moments once they recognize the disconnect that a student is having with the subject. A salesperson understands that people are not simply buying a motorized vehicle. They are buying an experience and a story.

Do not worry if you have not yet tapped into this creativity in your profession. Some individuals may figure it out quickly. For others, it may take a lifetime. However, at some point, creativity may make its way to you. You will then be able to perform a task like the great masters of the fine arts did in the past.

People often think that things come easily to those who have mastered their trade. In reality, these individuals are constantly working to hone their craft. You never see the hours and decades of practice that go into a piano recital. All you see is the 45-minute concert. However, the pianist knows what they had to endure to make that recital happen. Deep down, the audience probably understands that as well, especially when they see or hear something they cannot replicate.

Everything in life that is worth doing is difficult. Sometimes, we do not know what we are missing until we try. Failing is better than never trying. You must not fear what you do not understand. Failure is simply another part of life.

You can be just as creative as any other individual who has ever lived. However, you must spend time on your craft. After hours, years, and decades, that experience will become evident in your chosen profession. Today is a good day to start fostering your creativity.

Computed