2018 Resolution: "More Real, Less Fake"

  As we cross over into another year, I've been thinking about what I've learned over 2017.  I accomplished a lot in 2017, but I felt like something was lacking in terms of my satisfaction.  I thought about it and wrote a lot in my diary about it and I think I figured it out.  The things that give me satisfaction are my own real personal experiences.  I have a story that coincides with this new resolution as well.
  I recently went to visit a school for a possible MFA program in New York City and got a wonderful tour.  On the tour, I saw a painting on a wall that looked really familiar.  I asked the tour guide if she knew who painted it and she said that she did.  The person who painted it was an old friend of mine from the Pennsylvania Academy.  I had lost touch with him and I had no idea that he was currently at this school.  I asked the tour guide if we could try to find his studio.  We went to his floor and found the studio that he shared with another painter, but my friend wasn't there.  I wrote a note with my phone number on it and asked his studio-mate to give it to him.  The tour continued until we bumped into a guy who said that my friend might be in the sculpture room in the basement.
  The tour continued and we got to the basement, but he wasn't there again.  I figured that he would get my note and hopefully give me a call.  I turned to leave and saw my friend walking into the room.  He recognized me immediately even though it had been a number of years.  We gave each other a big hug and caught up.  He rides a motorcycle also so we're planning on riding together in the spring.  This experience is the magic of life in my opinion.  
  This resolution isn't about shunning modern technology, but a lot of technology and relationships based on it have a very fake feeling to me.  I still like having a website for people to see my art, read my blog and contact me, but honestly I feel like taking photos of paintings is not fair to the painting.  I prefer to talk in person or at least call, instead of text or email, but emailing and texting are very useful tools.  I love taking walks, but having a car is an absolute necessity.  My resolution is not about getting rid of the car, it's about taking more walks.
 Here's to wishing everyone a very healthy and successful 2018!