Common Discourse is a project designed to help others (and ourselves) think through creativity, focus, and intentional work—from Alex Tan & Alice Otieno.

Every Tuesday we share words from a few ideas, a quote from somebody else, and links worth sharing. On Fridays we invite a guest to share images from their camera roll and a sound that resonates with them. Words from the journal will come at least twice a month.

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One of my favourite aspects of Common Discourse this year has been introducing Sights & Sounds. The act of going through your camera roll, intentionally or not, proves to be a meditative exercise. I love how it allows you to relive past experiences through photos, videos and miscellaneous screenshots.

For this weeks’ compilation, I decided to keep my image selection focused on a specific theme: Turning attention to refractions and glimpses of light inside the images I’ve collected in my Favourites folder.

I’ve been trying to look up more, often finding that it can keep me grounded while the vastness of the sky above begs you to do otherwise. While both simple and seemingly rudimentary, it enables me to surrender from the things I thought were sacred. Having travelled a lot more this year, I’ve taken away from those experiences that no matter where you are in the world, you can always look up and find yourself floating—unattached and unbound.

I want to hold onto that feeling as much as possible. Even with both feet planted on solid ground.

— Alice

Sights —

Sounds —

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Sights & Sounds: Alice Otieno