In Poetic mood today.

When I was about 8 years old my mother hung a small poster of "Desiderata" in the kitchen. I love the text, even if I can't always follow the advice. Here's a snippet.

As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

Hugh Macleod has been seeking manifestos - under 500 words (Desiderata is 314) and covered by the creative commons license - which disqualifies it, sadly. I suspect many people would put Kipling's IF up as a manifesto. Hugh, provided the link to this, on the Selsius Real Estate Blog

Zen Blogger’s Manifesto

Do not follow in the footsteps of others,
seek what they sought and make your own footsteps.
Write not for others, as there are too many.
Write for yourself, as there is only one.
Subtract before you add.
Listen more than you speak.
Give more than you take.
Make but do not measure.
If you want to change the world, love someone.
All manifestos are dung.

It would apply just as well to photography.The first 4 lines address influences and motivation, and the Yoda like "Make, but do not measure" could be targeted at the obsessive pixel-peepers. 

Before I leave all things eastern, since this is also a time of year for catching up on odd jobs, I'll share a Haiku I found from a competition

Three things are certain:
Death, taxes, and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.

Checked your back-ups lately ?