Pinterest: My Image File of Desires & Dreams

Apparently, I like the beach. A LOT!

I'd love a beach house and would love to try out scuba diving and surfing.

At least, that's what I've learned from a series of tasks from The Artist's Way that begged the start of an image file of desires and dreams that spoke to me. I created my image file on Pinterest, because of the ease of the site. However, physically gathering images and displaying them in my environment would work, too; perhaps, would even be better, due to seeing the images around more often than only when visiting a website.

The argument is that as you surround yourself with images of what you want, you will more motivated to work for them. Experts recommend it to boost sales, for fitness goals, for spiritual peace, etc. And quite honestly, it works. The more I've surrounded myself by these images the more driven and motivated I am to put forth the work for them. I'd recommend it as a process for those who struggle with motivation.

But first you must know what you want! What do you want out of life? Do you know?

These exercises from The Artist's Way can help. List the very first things that come to mind. Don't overthink. Even if you don't start an image file after reading this post, I'd recommend you try this, just to gain guidance and self-alignment in your life:

• "If I had either money or faith, I would try ... List five desires."

• "List five imaginary lives" -- "If you had five other lives to lead, what would you do in each of them?" Would you be a pilot, a cowhand, a healer, a Peace Corps worker, a lawyer, a country singer?

• "If I were twenty and had money ... List five adventures."

• "If I were sixty-five and had money ... List five postponed pleasures."

• "Ten items I would like to own that I don't are ... "

Male Image and Porn

I am bothered by male objectification and muscle worship. I discussed this with an intelligent, close bisexual male friend, who mentioned that male objectification is widely expressed in our society but is far more overlooked than female objectification. It's everywhere you can find female objectification, even in television commercials, such as Old Spice ads, where it's often disguised and passed off as humorous. Still, how many ladies (and gents) would step up to bang these Old Spice guys, regardless of their satire of superficial male ego? (But that's the point they're trying to make to sell their product, right? Sick).

I don't feel like male objectification is a commonly addressed issue, though I observe several women and (gay) men participating in it on a regular basis. It's taken me a while to figure why I find it upsetting, beyond my irritations with superficiality, but I feel it shamefully stifles and overshadows gifts from men that are necessary to be expressed and that we are missing out on. Indeed, though I haven't heard this specifically mentioned -- as rightfully, media portrayal, violence, and emotional vulnerability are most often discussed with perceived "manhood" -- it is a marking aspect in the ongoing conversation of remembering that feminism is not meant to be man-hating, or man-debilitating, but to be about gender equality, benefiting both men and women.

My issue with male objectification helped me understand how female objectification is upsetting to most women, not that I needed to observe this to sympathize with them. Arguably, heterosexual (and homosexual) males do it as bullies, (subconsciously) attempting to use "weaker" males as objects to impose power over. For the sake of this post, however, I want to mainly focus on sexual objectification and the ideal male, especially regarding what it means to "be a man."

Seeing Others or Porn

Are we really seeing others for what they are -- their essence, their core? Are we reading into the unseen when we meet them, when we view their photographs? Are we honestly valuing and appreciating that? Do we make righteous judgments? Or, are we falling short, for ourselves, for each other, and for society, by stepping up to announce a superficial preference?