Pink and Fluffy

I've been on a blossom hunt for a few days now. My camera was away to be fixed the first spring that I owned it so I missed the pretty pink flowers last year. I think I love blossom so much because it is so delicate and so unashamedly pink (the pink blossom, that is!) - they remind me of peonies ♥

This afternoon I found some! Seriously happy Rach :) I found the white blossom on the way home - I cycled past it and I pretty much stopped in the middle of the road, did a u-turn and then abandoned my bike to shoot it :) HELLO SPRING!

Lots of love

R.

Being positive is much more fun

I was struck this morning by how much time I spend thinking (and no doubt talking!) about the things I don't like, things that don't appeal to me, or behaviour that I find destructive or simply irritating. I realised that there is no good thing about occupying my thoughts with what dissatisfies me. I've been thinking a lot about the photography industry and the crazy diversity of the people in it and those who hope to be. Lately there's been a bit of tension on a forum that I frequent, between newbies and some of the established professionals. It's not really important what it's about, my point is that it really wound me up.

I couldn't help but think that being negative about someone else's work or life chances, or hopes of becoming a professional isn't really constructive. I understand the need for realism, but unless you get criticism from those you know and trust, and are invested in the process of you becoming better, it seems to do more harm than good.

It got me thinking about the kind of person that I am. I don't want to be someone who, on balance, isn't an encouraging person to be around. I tend to think about things a lot and perhaps that leads to a certain kind of reserve when it comes to being excited about each and every new thing. Some of the time I surprise myself at how critical I am and my lack of concern about the damage that can do to others. What I do know, is that I have been around people who are unreserved in their encouragement of those around them. They are genuine, and simply choose to highlight what is good about someone or their endeavours, however small. These are the people that inspire us to be better, whether in our characters or our work.

I am not talking about flattery here. I am talking about the solution to false modesty. That it is good to affirm people and what they do. It means having security in who you are and what you do, to not be threatened by highlighting someone else's strengths, or helping them become better. This is who I want to be.

♥

Sunshine and grass is good for my soul

I had a great weekend. I love waking up on Monday morning and feeling like I'm ready to start the week. I've had some fun, got some rest, felt the sun on my face and shared a day with some of the people I love the most. It just reminds me of the fact that there is a time for everything. I can work hard now because that's not all that I do, and when I take time off I can truly relax and not be anxious about the work I need to do the next day.

This daffodil was the most open that I could find. We're getting there ♥

Here is my wonderful smiley man. He makes me smile a lot.

Here's to a good week.

R.

Summertime

We've had some really nice weather the last couple of days. By nice, I mean not completely miserable. As a testament to my exciting life I'll share with you the fact that I have done five loads of washing in the last 48 hours! All this lovely sunshine made it almost painful not to be in it taking pictures, I even suggested that steve and I take a camera on the 5 minute walk to the shop, I wanted it that badly! You see, I have a big problem. However much I want to be taking pretty pictures, I have nowhere to go. I live in a city, and not a pretty one at that (sorry, Coventry). I want to be skipping through meadows and gazing at cherry blossom. It's not going to happen for a while.

This morning is dark and threatening, so I'm harking back to summer days, and fun in the sunshine ♥

This last picture I took in the first couple of weeks after I bought my DSLR and is SOOC. It's not incredibly artistic but man, how much do I love peonies! What an unashamed display of colour! I can't wait to have them back in my life!


♥

Change feels good

This past week I got a lot done. Lately I've been chatting to God about my work ethic. I was getting tired of the fact that for as long as I can remember I've battled between a desire to do well, to do my best with my brain and the seeming inevitability of failure because I haven't put enough work in. I realised that I am not doomed to this cycle, that it isn't who I have to be any more and so I've changed. By his grace I can change. This last week has been a testament to this. I can't fault my attitude to work - I've worked hard. Now I'm tired. Yesterday was frustrating. I was beyond hope of productivity it seemed, and I decided to take the evening off. I'm going through a process of working out how much I need to rest and how much I can work, and it's a good process. I have the freedom to take thirty minutes out to take a picture and think about how I am today, and then I'll get back to it, and my day won't go so bad. 

I wanted to take a self-portrait today. I was feeling tired. I looked in the mirror and I surprised myself with how blinkered I looked. So I thought, now is a good time to take a self-portrait. I didn't want it to be  flattering, I just wanted it to be me, and reflect where I am today. 

I feel sober, I feel human. I feel hopeful and optimistic about the changes in my life in the past few days and I feel like getting on with it. 

I hope you've had a good week so far. Let me know how it's going ♥

R.