"3x5" by John Mayer

I'm not sure exactly when or how, but ever since I can remember I have processed life through a lens and a notebook. Zoey described what she was doing the other day like this: "I'm taking a picture and then writing down the journey." I was slightly taken aback by this philosophy from my five-year-old, but soon realized that I do the same thing.

I love to take pictures to remember all the little moments in life and then write down the journey. I've done it for as long as I can remember. And for the most part, I enjoy it. However, sometimes, I get lost behind the lens and forget to be in the moment. I forget to actually experience what is happening to me. As a result, I find that sometimes I look back on moments in my life and feel like they happened to someone else.

I try to live more in the moment and put cataloging the time on the back burner until the event is actually over. That does make me delayed in writing things down sometimes, but I find that I remember more because I experience it more passionately in the moment.

When I need help remembering to live in the moment, I go to music. John Mayer's "3x5" was one of the first songs I began going to during these times. I've been struggling with this concept again lately, so I wanted to share my inspiration to be present, every moment of everyday.

"3x5"

by John Mayer

I'm writing you to

catch you up on places I've been

You held this letter

probably got excited, but there's nothing else inside it

didn't have a camera by my side this time

hopping I would see the world with both my eyes

maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm

in the mood to lose my way with words

Today skies are painted colors of a cowboy's cliche'

And strange how clouds that look like mountains in the sky

are next to mountains anyway

Didn't have a camera by my side this time

Hoping I would see the world with both my eyes

Maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm

in the mood to lose my way

but let me say

You should have seen that sunrise with your own eyes

it brought me back to life

You'll be with me next time I go outside

just no more 3x5's Guess you had to be there

Guess you had to be with me Today I finally overcame

tryin' to fit the world inside a picture frame

Maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm in the mood to

lose my way but let me say

You should have seen that sunrise with your own eyes

it brought me back to life

You'll be with me next time I go outside

no more 3x5's

just no more 3x5's