High Thought is an intimate infusion of (high) thoughts that are a mixture of frivolous and (sometimes) profound if Iโm lucky. Written with consideration for those interested in the creative process or personal peek behind the curtain into a particularly chaotic brain room.
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๐ธ Good morning/afternoon/evening, depending on where you are in the world. : )
I adopted a dog. : )
I have been silent for a couple of weeks because I have had my hands full getting to know this sweet tiny angel.
"Snowflake", now Lizard BraveGirl Oppermann (Lizzy to me and Lizard to the vet because she will be respected by her doctor) came into my life in March when I saw her little face on the website of a volunteer-run rescue organization in New Jersey. She was rescued from a kill shelter after being used for breeding for most of her life, which broke my heart and made me want to give her a happy playful home where she can just be a dog. After a rigorous approval process, I picked her up and brought her home to Brooklyn. I'll never know exactly what her world was before I knew her, but it was likely very scary, in a cage, and without positive human interaction. The way she has come out of her shell in the last few weeks it's kind of unthinkable. She's only been mine for a short time, but I'm already so proud and teary when I think of how brave and sweet she is. Lizard BraveGirl. ๐ฅน
It took a while for me to get here. As someone who travels so frequently for work, I could never justify getting a dog because dogs need a fair amount of consistency and thatโs something I couldnโt offer. One of those things in life I have to sacrifice for at least another decade, I thought.
Lizzy is a new component in my recently redesigned lifestyle, which is one with a lot more intention. I've closed a chapter of my lifeโ the one where I spent half the year on planes. I have always found this exciting but eventually, I found myself repeating patterns and diminishing the quality of my work as an artist in general. Now, my approach has shifted: I only take on projects that truly resonate with me, spark intrinsic excitement, and just make sense. Alongside this process, Iโve delved deeper into creative direction, which has prompted a slowdown in my pace, allowing me to think more critically about work and life.
I've placed a living, four-legged line in the sand from an old lifestyle that I don't want to uphold any longer. At the very, very least, she's a speed bump for the culture of "and the shoot is three days from now" in our corner of this weird little industry.ย Yes, I might consider shooting those when it makes sense to me, but it reeeeally needs to make sense to me now.
Now, Lizzy is the reason I do a minimum of two walks a day, why I get to see and notice and meet my neighborhood in the park and have conversations I had no chance of having otherwise. My favorite part is 7 AM or so when surprisingly few people are in the park. Sometimes it's me and another person way on the other side. I love this time of day when the neighborhood is so quiet.
My tiny little muse, lol.
I guess Iโm just feeling grateful and full of love. Iโm also learning patience. And how nice it is to get out of my own head a bit more and care for a sweet little creature who is just happy to be here. : )
Thanks for reading. I really appreciate it!
Cait ๐ธ
Thanks for reading! Have a good week, freaks! ๐
Cait ๐ธ
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p.s.
What is High Thought?
๐ General idea behind High Thought here.
*or*
๐ Past editions in the (small) archive.
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Awwww so cute. I love the fact that she was rescued and it, too, makes me so emotional to imagine this other life prior to the one these animals have now. I donโt know if gratitude is scientifically possible for mammals but even if it isnโt proven by science you know theyโre so freaking grateful. That dog basically won the lottery ending up with someone like you. And I also love this idea that, if this was a dream, you could almost interpret it as if Lizzy represented you and this past work life and now being freed from that situation into a better life. It just draws a lovely little parallel. :)