.: about :.

I am an aspiring artist but a perpetual geek. A tech junkie who's to thrifty to purchase much. A country boy who enjoys the city. An aspiring pianist & composer who can't really play. A pathetic dancer who believes it vital to human expression. A marathon runner who was once called "fatso". An earnest learner who has a bad memory. And I thrive on trying new things but am afraid to fail. Paridoxical? Yes. But authentic and true.

I call the site aawaken because too many of us are just "making it through" each day. I believe there is more beauty, more joy, and more meaning in this life than most of us come to realize. The "Livestrong" philosophy of overcoming life's hurdles and challenging oneself is great, but its message of individualism is somehow lacking. What of success? Why are the most "successful" people & celeb's so often the most divorced, depressed, and drug-addicted in their private lives? Friends have cited Garden State as a great movie because it begins to show beauty that had been blurred by drugs, but even that feels incomplete. I don't claim to have it all figured out, but hopefully my journey and experience both online and in person can help offer hope and beauty where they've been missing, and maybe your assumptions are challenged as you challenge mine.

Glimpse into this journey by...

...seeing the vitality of design.
...experiencing what resonates with me in posts.
...catching life's nuance in tweets.
...viewing through my lens in photos.
Or connect via email or Facebook and we can muse together.

Ironically, we're wired for relationships (I have to remind myself sometimes!) and the computer in general pulls us away from meaningful interactions with others. I'd prefer going out for coffee with a friend over email or Facebook anytime (except that I can't stand coffee -- yeah, another paradox). It's interesting to look at another time and place and see that the Greek language has 4 unique words for what we just call "love". What Greek "love" words are missing from your vocabulary?

So aawaken your senses, your mind, your soul. Seek out Beauty. Truth. Love. It's out there.

Matthew 7:7