Side Effects May Include…

Posted on Dec 28, 2011

“Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in a way that these twenty-four hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and others.

Peace is present right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we do and see. The question is whether or not we are in touch with it. We don’t have to travel far away to enjoy the blue sky. We don’t have to leave our city or even our neighborhood to enjoy the eyes of a beautiful child.

We are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work very hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive. We need only to be awake, alive in the present moment.”

{Source: Peace is in Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh}

The most rewarding side effect of participating in Project 365 was being aware of the world around me. Oh, the questions these details bring up in a child!

Suddenly you find yourself with opportunities to discuss things like: jet streams, the science of rainbows & sunsets, why the seasons change, the water cycle, and more. This side effect of being present in the moment as you work on your photo project is priceless.

Below are a few of my favorite “random” shots from participating in Project 365 in the past.

Having issues with the video? Click here to see the still Flickr set.

Come on over to Develop to see and hear about how Project 52 or Project 366 can help you and your family be present in the moment.

If you’re interested in participating, all you need to do right now is:


PS: Don’t miss future posts and projects! Be sure to sign up for our RSS feed or connect online:

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  • Taylor
    • Anonymous

      Congratulations Taylor!!!! Your little man is going to change so much this year; it will astound you. This is perfect for a new mom. So happy to have you on board!

  • Michelle Gordon

    I am interested in giving this a shot.. I am on Pinterest. http://pinterest.com/floridagirl923/

    • Anonymous

      Michelle, you are in! If you haven’t been able to do a shot a day please know there are many people doing a Project 52 (a photo a week). It is never too late. :-)

  • http://www.facebook.com/theresa.mcmanus Theresa McManus
    • Anonymous

      You are in!

  • AllyJen03
    • Anonymous

      You are in!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=13757156 Anne Gregory García
    • Anonymous

      You are in!

  • Eandg81
    • Anonymous

      Erin, you are in! I also noticed that you have a cool homeschooling blog. I added you to the Lifetime Love of Learning group board too. I would love to see you share ideas there from your blog. Cheers.

    • Anonymous

      Erin you have been added!

  • Nadia Beltran

    http://pinterest.com/nadiabeltran1/
    Im so in! This year passed so quickly, i would love to have some type of keepsake that will help me enjoy the special moments for this up coming year.

    • Anonymous

      You are in! :-)

  • Skye

    Being involved in and completing a 365 project is a goal for me this coming year so this is really exciting!

    http://pinterest.com/mrszambrana/

    • Anonymous

      I love you Converse art on Etsy. I added you to my favorites. :-) So excited to see you on board. I also noticed your l-o-v-e card print on Flickr. Be sure to promote your store with hyperlinks when you post there. This is all about sharing the love. Go for it. I thought as an artist you might enjoy being part of the group Art Share board I run too. I’ve add you in, but feel free to remove yourself. You are in the Ordinary Day Board now. Happy Pinning!

  • Erin

    So so so excited for this challenge!

    http://pinterest.com/erinklubertanz/

    • Anonymous

      Erin, glad to have you on board. Will you posting a wedding photo this year? :-)

  • jo

    what an exciting challenge!

    http://pinterest.com/carobtreedrive

    • Anonymous

      Jo, you are in. Love your boards. I also added you to the group Lifetime Love of Learning board. I am a big Montessori fanatic. If you’d be interested in the collaborative Art Share or Nature’s Great Escape Board drop me a line on FB: http://www.facebook.com/letslassothemoon *I’d be happy to add you in. It seems like from your pins you and I are on the same page. :-) So glad to have you aboard for the project. I noticed the board you created too, wonderful!

  • Cynthiawall1223
    • Anonymous

      You are in!

  • http://rosadolcedesigns.blogspot.com/ Priscilla
    • Anonymous

      Glad to have you aboard.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=678486471 Anna Marie Chomer
    • Anonymous

      You’re in Anna!

  • http://ayphotodesign.com/ Angelica

    Hi Zina!
    I would love to join “The Gift of an Ordinary Day” if possible. Thanks! BTW, Happy New Year!!!
    Angelica Yim
    https://pinterest.com/ayphotodesign/

    • Anonymous

      I am so excited to have found you again. We obviously chatted once, as you are a collaborator on the Lifetime Love of Learning board. You have been added to the Ordinary Day board. I will be happy to see your photos pinned there. Loving your blog. I sent you a personal note, would love to chat!

  • Rechabot
    • Anonymous

      I love the idea of having fellow graphic designers on board. You’re in!

  • Marla Sexson

    I’m ready to start taking pictures!!!!!
    http://pinterest.com/marlasexson
    Thanks~

  • Marla Sexson

    oops…..my board url is really http://pinterest.com/gojin08/, not the one l listed below. Thanks….Marla Sexson

    • Anonymous

      Oops! I should have looked up! I searched for you over there by name and still added you, but with more effort than just taking note of your 2nd comment, lol. You’re in.

  • Jess

    I would like to participate! My Pinterest board is: http://pinterest.com/jessinco/

    • Anonymous

      Jess you are in!

  • Dlc07

    Wow sounds like fun! Especially since my daughter is expecting our first grandchild!!! :)
    http://pinterest.com/snottymom

    • Anonymous

      You are in. Congratulations. Your daughter will so appreciate you capturing these moments because she will have her hand’s full. :-)

  • Becky Woods

    Please include me…pinterest.com/becky1311/

    • Anonymous

      Beck you’re in!

  • nikki m

    pinterest.com/nikkichantal

    Thanks!

    • Anonymous

      Nikki, you are in! Will we see a wedding in 2012? This would be an awesome way to lead up to that day! Noticed your board.

  • http://twitter.com/Sangtastic Sang D

    Just got in! I think I did everything and I can not wait to get started!

    http://pinterest.com/sangtastic/

    • Anonymous

      Hooray! Glad to have you on board.

  • Ambieds27

    pintrest.com/Ambiegir

    • Anonymous

      Hmmm. Your link is not working for me. Would you like to try it again? Perhaps it got accidentally truncated?

  • Ylan Roy

    http://pinterest.com/ylangirl/
    ok, I’m in…off to babysit (camera in hand!)

    • Anonymous

      I was so excited looking at your boards. I added you to a few other group things we have going on over there; if you are interested. Glad to have you on board. Very exciting.

  • http://dwellonjoy.blogspot.com/ Sarah
    • Anonymous

      Glad to have you on board.

  • Shawna
    • Anonymous

      Happy Pinning!

  • Valteethcleaner1
  • Val Morris
  • PlayDrMom
    • Anonymous

      Laura, you’re in! I noticed your blog. I’ve add you to a few other fun group boards as well. :-)

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=640852441 Leesa Marie
  • Angela
  • Tlpo24
  • Mxmom2442
    • Anonymous

      You’re in!

  • http://www.livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com Beth

    You are so right – sometimes I get so wrapped up in trying to plan fun I have group turning off the planning & just enjoying the fun with my kids =-) Thanks for reminding me! Thanks for linking up to TGIF! Have a great weekend,
    Beth =-)

  • Rache
  • Amie
  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1379520488 Jennifer Fischer

    Peace is Every Step is one of my favorite books and was the first Thich Nhat Hanh book I ever read. Now, I have read several and revisit them on a regular basis and I have heard him speak twice. Thanks for sharing. I just joined Project 366 and will be uploading a daily photo taken by my 2 year-old with his Fisher-Price cam. Both myself and his father are independent filmmakers, so he sees a camera a lot and got really interested, and I love seeing the world from his point of view. Also, I highly recommend True Love by TNH.