Dad's Notes of Inspiration

As a lecturer who teaches writing and marketing in many companies, public sectors and universities, students often come up to me after class and ask me many questions, most of which are related to inspiration.

“Teacher, how should I collect inspiration?”

“Teacher, I don’t know how to write an eye-catching title?”

“Teacher, I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, but I still don’t know how to write?”

Questions like these, just like the migratory birds that visit the island along fixed routes every spring and autumn, appear in various writing and marketing classes year after year.

To put it bluntly, when it comes to inspiration, not only do I not have the problem of running out of inspiration, I also don’t rely on inspiration when creating. However, due to work, I often introduce to students in class how to cultivate inspiration. For a long time, I have always been proud of having abundant inspiration. But I forgot to ask about the source of inspiration. Why can I find so many novel and interesting inspirations at my fingertips? After all, where do my methods for cultivating creativity and inspiration come from? What kind of enlightenment did you receive when you were a child?

I thought about it, and the answer may be related to my family of origin, and it comes from my father who has passed away many years ago.

My father’s photography art

Writer Wang Dingjun once said: “The so-called inspiration, I think, is the author’s keen feeling and feedback on life phenomena. This is a rich connotation and a secret property that has become a secret asset after a long period of investment, reflection, and deliberation.”

It cannot be denied that I was deeply influenced by my father. When I was growing up, he was my biggest source of inspiration. He is an amateur photographer who is good at and passionate about capturing the beauty of the world. He is not good at words, but he always likes to tell stories through photos. My father is particularly fond of portrait and landscape photography, and has a unique aesthetic sense. In addition, he does not easily let go of the details of things when creating, and always looks at everything with a keen eye.

Every time he completed a photography mission, the first thing he did when he got home was to put down his luggage, put all the camera equipment back into place one by one, and then take out a notebook with a mottled surface. Then, he would make a cup of oolong tea, sit on the sofa at leisure, and read through the photographic notes recorded during this trip.

I once peeked into his notebook, which was filled with photography notes and related shooting details. My father would not only record various information about the shooting process, such as aperture, shutter speed, focal length, etc., but he would also write down the people, things and objects he encountered during the trip.

My father believed that life was like a drama, so every moment was the best opportunity to capture beautiful things. He often said: “The scenery is picturesque,” and he did not forget to practice it, working hard to present the indescribable beauty in a small space.

I still remember that when I was a child, I often went with my father to take photos at zoos, botanical gardens and other scenic spots. After returning home, my father and I would hide in the darkroom and develop photos together. He would spend time sharing his photography skills with me, and even pick up a photo to analyze the narrative technique of the photo with me. I was intrigued and fascinated by the process and soon discovered that I shared my father’s passion for photography.

But my father taught me more than just the art of photography. He also showed me the importance of documenting various life experiences and thoughts. He would take out his notebook and share with me the story behind each photo, explaining why he chose a specific aperture or shooting angle, or even how he clicked the shutter at a certain magical moment.

My father was born during the Japanese occupation. He was a traditional, serious man with a very bad temper. When I was a child, I was often beaten because of my bad handwriting, so I always felt afraid and hated of my father. It is said that “one’s nature is easy to change, but one’s nature is hard to change.” What is interesting is that he was uncharacteristically willing to wait for the perfect shooting moment during the photo taking process, and was not willing to take action until he was truly satisfied.

The photo that impressed me the most was probably taken with the elephant “Grandpa Lin Wang” at Taipei Yuanshan Zoo! My father waited outside the fence for a long time, and finally waited for the moment when Lin Wang accidentally raised his feet… Well, it was also because of this photo that I realized that the patterns on the soles of elephants are actually colorful and profound, much more magical than what the world imagined.

Although I didn’t spend much time with my father, through his example, I learned to think critically, allowing me to calmly look at the people and things in front of me, and how to organize my thoughts in a clear and concise way. Although these personal teachings and words did not help me become an excellent photographer, they allowed me to continue on the path of creation, and at the same time, they also led me to appreciate and appreciate the beautiful life in the world.

My father’s passion for photography never faded and he was still taking photos until he was in his sixties. He didn’t have much materialistic desires and always kept a camera and a notebook by his side. Even though his physical strength has declined, his spirit remains strong and he continues to inspire those around him with his love of life and his dedication to capturing the beauty of life.

In addition to being obsessed with photography, my father also had some deeds that impressed me deeply. He is a kind-hearted person who usually leads a simple and unpretentious life, but he encourages me to pursue my interests boldly and bravely. Although he faced many challenges in his life, he always maintained a positive attitude, not only embracing his original intention of learning, but also not shying away from using his creations to sing the world.

Unfortunately, my father was bedridden due to a car accident and passed away a few years later. Although he passed away, his spirit lives on. Whenever I browse the photography works or read the notes left by my father, I am reminded of his teachings and the impact he had on my life. He taught me the importance of recording, capturing key moments and preserving information. He also taught me how to see the world from a different perspective and how to appreciate the beautiful world we live in with our heart.

One of my fondest memories of him is his love for learning and writing notes. Not only is he an amateur photographer, he also has excellent calligraphy! What I admire even more is his learning spirit and never forgets to write down what he has learned and the problems he encountered. Wherever he went, he would carry a notebook with him and write down his thoughts, reflections and observations between the lines.

My father is a self-taught man who loves knowledge and is eager to learn. Although he only has a vocational education, he has a wide range of interests and is always eager to expand his understanding of the world. Japanese is his native language, so his understanding of Chinese is naturally not as good as mine. He would spend hours reading, checking Mandarin daily dictionaries, and deepening his knowledge by asking questions… This thing may not seem difficult, but my father has been able to persist for a lifetime. It is really not easy when you think about it.

Insights on life in notebooks

One day after my father passed away, I started sorting through his belongings. Among the piles of clothes, cameras and books, I unexpectedly found several notebooks filled with his insights on life. They also contained quotations from famous people, such as the famous sayings of former presidents Chiang Kai-shek and Hu Shi, as well as the swordsman he most admired in the early Edo period [Miyamoto Musashi] (https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/Miyamoto Musashi).

For example, this passage in Miyamoto Musashi’s “Five Rings Book” (https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/五伦书), “You must recite these principles carefully, practice them for thousands of days, and perfect them for thousands of days.” I have read my father’s copy many times, and it is not difficult to imagine the inspiration of this passage for him.

As I flipped through the pages, I couldn’t help but be impressed by the depth and breadth of the knowledge and his passion for learning. Although my father only has a vocational education, his love and persistence in learning are really touching.

I always say that he is an artist who was delayed by the real environment, but I don’t know that he is also a hard-working lifelong learner. He is used to writing down the new knowledge he has learned in his notes, and he also does not forget to collage photos in his notebook to tell moving stories with pictures and text.

As I leafed through the notebooks, I was struck by the vivid memories they evoked. I seem to be able to hear my father’s hearty laughter and feel his warm smile. Looking through those notes reminded me again of the countless moments we spent together and the raw emotion of exploring the world and discovering new things together.

Through his notes, I also gained a deeper understanding of my father’s life and the challenges he faced. I understand how he faced difficult circumstances, how he used his love of learning and creation to overcome adversity, and found endless joy in his difficult life.

Thanks to my father for giving me the genes of my own flesh and blood, which allowed me to inherit his love for art and literature. The inspiration notes he left made me realize the importance of creation and recording, and also encouraged me to think calmly and organize all the scenes in front of me when I encountered problems.

There are many award-winning photos on the wall.

My father has been writing notes all his life. He made me understand that seeking knowledge is not just about reading books and looking up dictionaries, but also about boldly asking questions and sharing your own opinions with others… More importantly, never lose your passion for learning.

I often read the notes left by my father and am grateful for everything he taught me. Although I didn’t get along with him for a long time, his love for learning and creation not only inspired me to become a better person, but his attachment to the world can be seen between the lines. Well, even though my father has passed away for more than 20 years, I never feel that he has ever left…

I think these notes my father left me may have been the original source of inspiration.

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