reading the news with your own filter on

I am experimenting with reading the news with a creative filter attached. When I read a story I look at the pictures associated or some detail of the story to generate a new and interesting idea. For example I just read a piece about women explorers- and a woman who is following in their footsteps in order to promote courage and adventurousness among women. All praiseworthy but its effect is to simply to call forth that tired response: 'oh well done her.' Then 'forget and move on'. In order for this experience to have some extra nutrition and not just be an attention-suck (news sucks our attention and that means we have less to give to people who then give less back and we become gradually lonesome dorks...) I decided to be creative. The woman (Elise Wortley) had on a funny hat, maybe of Himalayan origin. Explorers often have distinct headgear. Stanley even designed his own special cap. Blashford Snell wore a pith helmet long after they went out of fashion. So explorer's hats became my theme. I recognised on all my expeditions I have a 'special hat'. For a while it was a Barbour baseball cap. Then a tweed cap with no lining. Then my own explorer school baseball cap. When you have the right hat you feel really empowered- crazy though that may seem. I trace it to the moment each day when you awake full of misgivings and even fear about the trip ahead. But putting on the cap (and any other bits of 'uniform' you may have assembled) reminds you and reconnects you to the heart of the trip, why you are here. It can be almost a physical jolt of energy. Externalising the internal is very important when you are breaking new ground and there is no context and existing support for the enterprise. Get yourself an explorer's hat!