the focal local, January 2nd

What is the Focal Local?

focal
adjective

• relating to the centre or most important part
• Optics relating to the focus of a lens

local
noun

• LOCAL PERSON - native, inhabitant, resident

Not to be confused with the informal, local yokel, the focal local is one who uses the focus of their lens to investigate the areas in which they reside. Unlike tourists, focal locals travel major cities and minor leads alike with little disregard for any adventure. Having done research to navigate alone, these visual denizens allow the new settings to tell their own story rather than hear takes from others. I am a focal local, whose plan is to orient the city via the most trying method, public transport. With the metro network as a checklist, the plan is to visit burns, hoods and spots taking note of everything worthy. Why? Often contended are the places one resides. "There's nothing to do around here- nothing to see" these kinds of absolutes I wish to contest. Home is where the heart is, it is said. Thus, anywhere with your heart in it could become home, no?

^{Take this spider plant, for example. Sending offshoots, it proliferates nearly everywhere.}

^{I have my roots here, but I could grow anywhere.}

Entertainment meeting information might be a match made in heaven, the apex of content. Imagine, cartoons from your childhood, captioned by your nation's education department. Parents are in disbelief- the very content said to rot young minds made accessible by an organization focused on education? Life's full of lil' ironies, fact funnier than fiction. I'm certain Japanese television execs were surprised to see the premise of one manga, Shokugeki no Souma as well. A young boy aims to graduate from a prestigious culinary institute to succeed the family restaurant. Tame, no? Then sit back in disbelief too- as foods taste so good, the images portray climax at a mere bite. The food is simply orgasmic, so to speak. The show's informative too, believe it or not. And once again, art works its divine properties, inspiring people to express themselves in response.

^{Part of the whimsy comes from not knowing where the journey leads.}

^{How artful that Hive account@rubencress' challenge led to a month of self-reflection.}

If you're not like me, perhaps you don't need a commitment device to keep you accountable to create and share. A commitment device, if you're unfamiliar is a choice you make in the present that controls your actions in the future. I keep a few physical devices, myself. Taking my camera with me to visit places in my area, at least, supports the act of taking pictures. Keeping at least a few dollars in cash puts purchases in perspective. Maybe you wish to read more or play an instrument. Putting everything away but the desired item for the task might help.

^{Writing as soon as something interests me increases the chances I look into it later.}

I have many tasks I wanna accomplish, skills I want to master. In truth, I want to prove to myself that the teachings of these texts are true. In a way, investigating the area is another challenge, but also an opportunity for adventure. To see the focus of my lens, not just look at it, might bet the most entertaining thing I've come up with since playing Pokémon.

Post Summary

• The Focal Local is a series of trips to the surrounding areas to explore and understand where I live better.
• Infotainment, the combination of entertaining information, might be the best type of media.
• Commitment devices are choices we make now to help decide what happens later. I like to keep my camera on me, to catch flicks.