Find your key to happiness and be happy, too
Don't just exist, live. Drink tea. Be creative. Embrace messy hair. Love. Remember that true love means being alright with letting him go, but remembering to work for love, if it feels right. Don't ever give up. Wanting to see another person happy is true love. Love is not restrictive or manipulative. Lives can connect, disconnect, and can reconnect: there are many different paths. Always follow your heart. Be kind. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Don't eat once living, breathing beings that had families. That is selfish. Could you go out and kill that animal with your bare hands and see it suffer? That is how I imagine people who eat meat. Thank the sun and the moon for existing. Thank the Earth for giving you a home. Recycle. Never say anything behind someone's back that you wouldn't say to their face. Appreciate your family and friends more than anything. See the good there is in the world. Talk to your pet and care for them. Move your body to create more of your own life energy. Smile. Meditate. Embrace each day of your life. Dream and imagine greater things. Don't focus too much on money or fame. Appreciate what you do have and live like you want to live. Remember good things will come. Get out in nature. Breathe fresh air. Eat for energy and know that what you eat becomes a part of you, always. Forgive. Read. Swim in the ocean. Hug trees. Look at yourself and think how good you look, not what you don't like. Look at your past as a learning experience. Don't live in the past, recreate what you miss, today. Send letters. Stay in touch with friends however you can. Teach a child something. Life is not a competition. Love what you love and do what you do. Don't let jealousy rule your thoughts or actions. Always have courage. Embrace change. Be okay with changing your life and key to happiness list. Laugh. Embrace the peace, love, and harmony in this event we call life.
Find your key to happiness and be happy, too
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I am in love with this sweatshirt...maybe I'll have to buy it for myself as a birthday present in a few months.
Out of Print Clothing might just supply all of my shirts from now on. I also read that for every purchase, a book is sent to a community in need. I love it!!
Hands down, Francesca Lia Block is my favorite author...possibly of all time (even though I've studied and love the classics).
Here is a little bit about her: I think what I really love most about her work is the beautiful language she uses in combination with fantastical elements. She writes how and what she wants and has been noted for her somewhat controversial subject matter, read the NY times article.
Just search the web and you will find many people who post her work and give praise to her writing...a theatrical reading of her work was also done because it's that good and there's such a large following.
Pics of the reading. AND a fashion photo shoot promoting her work. How Francesca Lia Block inspires me:
I would say FLB is definitely someone I look up to. She is a mentor I've never met. Her books, which I first started reading in jr high, then picked up again in college, appeal to a broad range of age groups. They are fanciful, fun, yet they speak truth of the deepest emotions we feel. They were my guilty pleasure, sneeking into the young adult section of the college library to read through a few books...curled up on the armchair, I never wanted the books to end; but I didn't fear too much, because the language made me happy just to read over and over. Forward a couple years. After graduating college, I moved out to California, which inspired the creation of my first novel and its sequel. The ideas seemed to magically come to me. I would be making jewelry at my job, sitting under a magnolia bush, or walking through the woods and an idea came to me and I would rush to find the nearest scrap of paper. I started out knowing I wanted a complex main character and a love story. I also wanted it to incorporate aspects gained from my wanderlust. Then I began reading about herbs and Greek mythology, two things I've always been interested in and the story has blossomed into something I never thought possible. I keep plugging away, inputting notes from my California days and then I find more inspiration and sentences come to me. It's fascinating how creativity works. The importance of FLB is that she made it okay. In a world where my writing consisted of 30 page research papers and the occasional poem and my reading was mainly historical literature, I realized my desire to write about fantastical things, to be guided by pure creativity, imagination, and feelings is what truly great works are made of. Never stop dreaming xoxo Read some FLB quotes. Trust me, they will brighten your day.
I have always expressed a taste in rather eccentric fashion. In high school I would wear tapestries as dresses, dresses as tops, and for a while I really liked the schoolgirl look of khaki skirts and sweaters with oxfords underneath.
Sure, I was made fun of from time to time, but I also received plenty of compliments, too. I didn't care that I didn't look like everyone else, in fact, I would make my own clothes just so I had something really special. (The worst memory I have of someone dissing my style was when a woman literally pulled a flower out of my hair last summer. I explained that I wanted it there and she didn't even apologize. The nerve!) I didn't expect people to always like what I wore, that's not why I did it, though I do wish people were nicer! I also didn't always like what others wore, but it was who they were, so who cares? It doesn't affect you, just don't look at it! Now, I still wear whatever I want, mixing and matching designer with handmade and thrift store finds. Now, there's a name for my unique style: hipster. It's odd to think people are dressing this way to look like a certain type. I firmly believe you should always wear what you want, don't listen to the mean things people say...trust me, they'll probably be the ones trying to copy your style someday. Ugh. I also love other people who wear what they want and don't care at all what people say. Example: Isabel Lucas is one of my favorite people. She cares about the environment, animals, and does what she wants. People hate her because she's abnormally pretty, or for whatever reason (people usually hate other people for the reasons they hate themselves: they see people with confidence, talent, and concern as threatening). I have always loved Traditional Medicinal's Teas, but I wasn't aware of their chamomile lavender blend until recently.
It's everything it should be: sweet, earthy, and aromatic. The noticeable lavender smell provides an added benefit of aromatherapy. (Anyone who knows me knows I love lavender and this definitely meets my standards)I will be drinking this for nights to come, or anytime I just want to unwind and sip something yummy. Source: My own drawing and photo
Labels: No one likes to be defined by them, but labels can be useful and even heartening...
I never intended for this to happen. I mean, I don't even like labels, per se. Alas, you can't help but be labeled, but it's best when you are who you are just because of the fact you do things you enjoy and are drawn to certain things and not because you are trying to fit into some label or mould. For example, I have been called a free-spirit, wild heart, or kindred spirit. It's not that anyone really intends to be these things, people just find words to explain you, and then when you find out what these words mean, you're like, "That's it. That's me." and you almost don't feel so alone from being different from some other people. When I found out about the words Bohemian and The Starving Artist, I knew I had found some other terms to explain myself and possibly find others out there like me. According to Wikipedia, "Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic, or literary pursuits. In this context, Bohemians may be wanders, adventures, or vagabonds. Let me explain how labels can be heartening: having lived in three different states in the past few years, rid myself of many material possessions, worked on writing a novel that I have yet to finish, and constantly coming up with ideas to create things; I thought of myself more as an unconventional person that lacked direction. Finding Bohemianism made me feel more confident in the person I am. Recently, I also started to find others like me, though it seems to be difficult. I have a quirky style and I can be sentimental. Wanderlust is my favorite word (along with euphoria and teacup). Bohemianism is not a label, it's an explanation. Starving Artist is another term that I have become all too personally aware of. Wikipedia describes a starving artist as, "An artist who sacrifices material well-being in order to focus on their artwork. They typically live on minimum expenses, either for a lack of business or because all their disposable income goes toward art projects." In the past, I always did what I thought would lead me to a conventionally successful life. Recently I decided that is not the point of life. I want to be free and actually do something with my creative ideas. So what if I don't have money...it just means that I won't spend much money. Not spending much money also makes it easier for my bohemian lifestyle, with few material possessions dragging me down. Call it a voluntary poverty of sorts: I am willing to forgo money and luxuries society makes you believe you need for what I believe are luxuries (creativity, love, and health). I digress, but being a starving artist has its advantages. I've given up the endless rat race to finally pursue my creative interests and I hope to continue on with these during 2013 and throughout my life. I started a blog featuring ugpcycled projects and art that has helped me in being creative without spending much money, and more importantly, upholding my belief in reducing, reusing, and recycling. Without work for a few months, I have the time (way more precious than money), to work on my writing and finally accomplish my long list of creative ideas. Any money that I do have, I want to invest in things I want to make. Never before in my life have I felt more like I was being my true self. Definitions copied from: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemianism http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starving_artist After reading some horrifying and saddening National and World news articles (it takes guts to be informed and it makes me feel on the verge of becoming a full on peacenik), I absolutely love it when I hear what good things are going on in the world.
It may be old news, but it's new news to me. An older gentleman (we're talking in his 60's at the time of planting)planted over 6,000 trees, forming a clearing in the shape of a heart in the center. The trees were a tribute to his late wife whom died suddenly of heart failure. They had been married for 33 years. No one even knew the heart existed until a hot air balloon passed overhead. This is truly inspiring and shows how magical and strong love can be. Of all the things I love, something that has always and will always be a part of my life is gardening. As a child, I would nibble on petals, lay for hours in the grass, and find solace under trees. I am in love with flowers, trees, and herbs and finding out how to create them. The way that these things benefit your health, tantalize the senses, and create beauty is something I will always cherish and want to learn more about. When I discovered how to garden, it was life changing. From medicinal plants to culinary ones, I hope to work on growing them in abundance.
A quick story of how far I will go to have a garden.
I was living in a tiny one bedroom apartment in Northern California. In a land with so many natural wonders and where nature blossoms to the fullest and in great variety, my little home lacked even a potted plant. Since I didn't have the ownership to create a full on wild flower field of paradise, I enlisted a friend to help me create my own little garden oasis. I came up with a plan to transform a portion of my backyard (a cement slab and rock covered area) and front yard into a place where I could grow my own herbs and flowers. I dutifully filled buckets of rocks that were filling my garden space (see rocks in picture above) and even asked friends daily if they wanted to come help me "pick rocks" as I called it. What seemed like tons of pebble picking later, I had an adequate space and took what little money I had to buy bags and bags of dirt and fertilizer. Through my gardening endeavors I had endless amounts of kale to feed my friends, herbs to make foccacia bread, flowers to sniff and pick for people, chamomile for tea, and one 8 foot high poppy flower (no joke, I think I had great fertilizer.) I can't say my garden was ideal (living around other college students, I was prone to drunk people wanting to wander through my tiny garden. One Halloween night I even had to stop a guy, with his pants dropped, wearing a priest costume, from "blessing the garden." His exact words before I told him to go fertilize some other area). Even with people trying to disgrace my little garden and knowing I'd have to leave it someday, I never once regretted the time, energy, and money I put into it. To this day, when I travel back to California, I'll check up on my little garden because I truly love what I created. “Flowers are reincarnation. They come out of the earth of our ashes. Nothing else looks so soul-like.” ― Francesca Lia Block, Echo To keep my goals focused and mostly to remember until I get farmland of my own, I'm keeping an ongoing list of what I hope to grow someday:
Peonies- The petals are edible and the flowers smell sweet and luxurious. I have fond memories of running past peony plants during early summer. Basil- I could eat basil like lettuce. This is my favorite herb. There are so many varieties, I can't imagine how anyone wouldn't like basil. I am longing for summer already: the feel of grass under my feet, warm sunshine lightening my hair to a golden hue and wearing floaty sun dresses that feel fun and free.
I have found so many inspired sun dresses to help me live up to my ideal of summer. Don't get me wrong, I'm not all about materialism, but rather, I look at clothes as a way to be creative, express myself, and just spice up life a little bit. Wearing unique pieces also gives homage to the talented souls who come up with such fantastic designs. And unique summer pieces I did find... I can imagine myself picking daisies, clovers, and rose buds and making flower crowns in this dress. I love how feminine and somewhat vintage it looks.
Also, being a fan of funky clothes, I fell in love with this mermaid dress. Perfect for a trip to the sea shore.
Can you find a more perfect cafe dress? Sipping hibiscus tea or chai in this dress would be absolute perfection.
This dress, a quilt, and a picnic basket of strawberries, lemonade, and cucumber sandwiches would be superb.
Thank you Caitlin Shearer for designing such lovely pieces. Images found here: Dress 1 http://www.jaynsarah.com/p/shop-my-closet.html?m=1 Dresses 2-4 http://caitlinquiet.blogspot.com/?m=1 I am not one to eat fortune cookies and I hate wasting food, so I hardly ever open up the cookie packet. One day, I happened to be eating Thai food with a friend who liked fortune cookies: it was my lucky day to finally get that fortune and no wasting food necessary.
As my friend happily munched on the bonus fortune cookie, i was surprised to find one of the best fortunes (or bits of wisdom) I've ever come across. "If you don't enjoy what you have, how could you be happier with more." Though not in these exact words, I have often thought about this conundrum. People in our culture routinely look to extrinsic things to bring happiness, though it is proven the highest percentage linked to creating happiness goes to our actions and simple things like changing up our daily routines. Happiness from buying things comes usually at a high price and is very brief. Then, psychologically speaking, people hop onto the hedonic treadmill and keep feeling as though they need more and more to be happy. Once basic needs are met, what do we really need? What we need is not everything we can possibly own, it's about our mindset. As far as material possessions, I uphold what the fortune implies: we need to change our mindset and appreciate what we already have. If we cherish what we own, we can find wanting things disappears. Then, when want for things disappears, we have mental energy for learning, creating or helping others; we'll also have money for security or philanthropic endeavors (which in the long run will most likely make you happier with yourself than any possession you could own. For example, before you go out and buy a pair of jeans, think about the pants you already have. Do you like them? Do you wear them? When I was in the tumultuous time of my life, known as middle school, I thought I had to wear a different pair of pants every day of the month. I wasn't happy with what I had and always felt I needed more. Needless to say, this didn't bring me happiness. Realizing that I shouldn't worry so much about how I look or how many jeans I have would have made me a much happier person. I don't mean to say I never want things anymore: We live in a world where it's easy to want and consume. However, I notice why I want things and what I hope to accomplish when I do require the things. Often, I find I already have something similar. I also realize that by buying something, I would only gain stress from dealing with having yet another possession. All that from one little cookie. The fortune didn't change my mind about eating fortune cookies, but it did make me happy that someone out there is spreading such great things to ponder. For more on intrinsic and extrinsic goals and happiness, I recommend watching the documentary, Happy. It's currently on Netfix. It is especially interesting to learn how other cultures are dealing with happiness and the "need" for money, fame, and goods. Just lookup Japan and karoshi and you'll see what I mean. Here's a link to a YouTube video featuring one guy's thoughts on the Documentary and intrinsic and extrinsic values...quite interesting. Thanks for reading my rant :) |