Life, Lately

I think I've got a lot to look forward to this year. I recently secured a place in Detroit for myself and am beyond thrilled with the space, location and the surrounding community. Classes are back in session tomorrow and I wanted to post one last post before my life becomes even more hectic than it has been.

Throughout the past year a number of professors, new found friends and certain situations I've been put in have refined my perception of what it means to live a good life, as opposed to mere survival tactics that strive to keep afloat some elusive idea of what a good life and success is believed to be. A number of great people have touched my life in ways I hadn't thought feasible at this time. I truly believe that each person we encounter has the opportunity to make some sort of significant impact on us and find it foolish to not acknowledge or reflect upon that. 

a   q u i c k   t h a n  k   y o u  [ ! ! ]

Extending a quick thanks to those who I've looked up to for guidance and who've been a huge inspiration to me: the Kheibari + Amini family, my cousin Niki Jackson, my own family, the Browning family, the Bowery + Arent family, Leon Johnson of Market Studio Kitchen, Megan O'Connell of Salt and Cedar, artist and musician Leander Johnson, philosophy professor mark wenzel, artist and architect Fritz Haeg, sculpture professor Eric Troffkin, Katie McGowan/Greg Baise + the rest of the staff at MoCAD, PhD Mame Jackson of Art Corps Detroit, graphic designer Claire Ondillo, friend Maddie Coyle, the staff at Great Lakes Coffee in Detroit, Nathan Williams + contributing artists within the Kinfolk community, artists Andrew + Carissa Gallo, photographer Millee Tibbs, photographer Miranda Clark, singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens, magazine editor/blogger Joanna Goddard, and graphic designer Bri Emery to name a few. I'm so grateful and appreciative for each and every one of those mentioned above, as well as a number or other individuals. The list could go on and on! I'm thanking you here because things have been quite chaotic lately, and I don't want anyone to feel like I've been intentionally dismissing them in any way, shape or form.

Life isn't slowing down anytime soon. I'm becoming more aware of that and trying to deal with it as best as I can. My new years resolution is to get more organized and work on time management skills, something I haven't been the greatest with in the past. New opportunities and adventures in 2013, here's to you!