2/28/16

comparison


Comparison: I do this a lot.

I'm not sure why, really, because every big and important and meaningful aspect of my life is going just dandy as it can right now. Health, family, and surroundings are all areas of wonderful contentment for me. So I wonder why sometimes I continue to compare my current situation with others.

Living arrangements, outfits, travel opportunities, health, wealth, talent, personality, ability, habits and mannerisms, appearance, credentials, education, and belongings are just a few things that I notice myself comparing with others. Only a few of the things listed above matter [or should]. And I am increasingly aware of my occasional bouts of comparison, which I suppose is a good thing. Being introspective is something I have always excelled at (maybe too much), but I know that as I get older I will hopefully put less stock in this particularly annoying c word.

Living simply is something I just want to do with grace, health, and ease, with just as much happiness as possible. I want to do that with all of my favorite people around me. That is all that should matter. So next time I question myself, how I do things, what I look like, what I am and what I am not, I am just going to try to remember that little mantra: live simply with grace, health, ease, happiness, and the people I love.

ciao, xo

2/24/16

spring goals



1. go on a mini road trip. this is the next destination: long island. I am so pumped because it's looking like it is going to be a girls' weekend sometime at the end of march - YESSS! i can't wait to see all things long island-y. We are visiting Sagamore Hill (to satisfy my inner history buff), the coastal towns, maybe Fire Island and maybe, just maybe, we will make it up to the Hamptons.

2. shoot three outfit posts with spring-inspired looks and locales! I have picked up some amazing finds from UO, Anthro, and Banana lately...need to style and shoot those soon as it gets warmer!

3. keep up with the fit bit. this is my newest obsession! S got me a Fitbit for Valentine's Day and it is the best. thing. ever. I love competing with him for the most steps (he happens to be winning this week)...but it helps to notice the not-so-obvious things, like peak heart rate and amount of water I drink (see #9). I love it and how aware I now am of my movements. If anything, it makes me want to work out and move. I am hoping that sticks!

4. build the portfolio by adding 2 more portrait sessions before july.  I am thinking one city shoot and one field shoot.

5. get back into the smoothie routine (and add protein).

6.  find a new cafe to add to the coffee diaries!

7. invest in a new prime lens. I bought (and returned) a macro lens last summer and I have regretted getting rid of it. It was awesome. I am looking for a macro lens for super closeups, especially with a lower aperture, to capture really beautiful.

8. practice the art of calligraphy. I have dabbled with it for years, as a hobby, but I would love to get more accustomed to traditional calligraphy as well as the much more relaxed brush calligraphy. it is so soothing!

9. drink more w a t e r . this goes unsaid.

10. be nice to people. i've been noticing myself getting less patient, and i want to stop that in its tracks. I need to relax sometimes, and be nice to people more genuinely. sometimes my goal is just to get through the day - whether its the work day, grad school, whatever - and i think part of my problem is not being present. stress is definitely a factor in this, but continuing to allow myself "me" time and decompress is important to achieving a more patient, calm demeanor.

11. revive the blog. this is A BIG ONE! i have not blogged since january...and even before that, my blog posts were so scattered ever since I switched anticipation to be a private blog, open to only invited readers. I still feel so torn about that choice.  I have been building a. taylor studio, my creative website for photography, watercolors, and more - and that has been absolutely taking all my attention away from my blog. I haven't spent much time photographing for fun or going anywhere new/noteworthy to document. So I'd really like to change that, and aim to post here at Anticipation a few times a month. I miss it! I feel like this blog is my happy collection of archives - happy and small moments that are nonsignificant but important to me.

ciao! xo