simple soulful authenticity

simple soulful {the other workshop i was in for the month of january} has come to a close. i have not written much about it, and worse, i have not been nearly as involved in it as i had hoped. it seemed like the daily prompts of the "picture winter" workshop took up more of my time and energy.

but with simple soulful, it was less about prompts {photography ideas or "assignments"} and more about written lessons that would help us with photography overall... both during the workshop and beyond, in the sense that we could take so much of what was said with us into the rest of our days of shooting... so a "sort of at your own pace" kind of thing... simple... soulful.

anyway, i love what photographer and shutter sister, irene nam, did for us at the end of this workshop that she taught... she put together a little video {slide presentation} of several photos from the january simple soulful flickr group with some quotes taken out of the comments that several of the participants left on her tri-weekly lessons.

i was honored that she included one of my photos in it, as well as a quote from one of my comments.

the quote said "i am proud of stepping out of my comfort zone... it was like getting out of a ford pinto to get into a lexus and drive... for me, anyway."

that was from a comment i left on the "stepping out of your comfort zone" lesson. i was talking about being brave enough to start using my dslr {as opposed to my point-n-shoot}, even though not knowing much about it intimidated me. learning to step out of my comfort zone was one of the best parts of this workshop.

anyway, i just wanted to write and say how much i enjoyed this workshop, and how much i encourage you all to take it, no matter what level you are at in photography. {it's helpful for writers, too.} irene had some really valuable insight into artistic pursuits and being true to yourself as an artist.

it's why she also had a guest speaker share some thoughts as part of one of her lessons, as well.

i wanted to share an excerpt from what the guest speaker said in the lesson about authenicity... the part that resonated with me the most {below}, as i feel it is not only what i think about being authentic with my photos, but with my photography blog and the writing i do on it as well.

this guest wrote:

when you are unhappy, be unhappy. when you are uncertain, be uncertain. when you are delighted, be delighted. when you are worried, worry. when you are tired, be tired. when you are inspired, be inspired. when you are eager, be eager. when it's time to work, work. when it's time to rest, rest. tell me, at this moment, is there anyone more authentically you than you? is your real life occurring anywhere else than here?

that is the epitome of what i want this blog to be. and my goal has been to use my photography to help me be that way here... since i FIRST started it. so i LOVED that!

i can only say, i am so glad i took part in this workshop... and i will definitely be getting the blurb book that is available, which encapsulates the workshop in its entirety. and with it, i will continue to incorporate the things i learned into my photography... as well as all other artistic avenues i take.

{thank you, irene... for this very simple soulful month.}

today {part 2 - simple soulful}

1.4.11

{below was my contribution this morning to a discussion on the importance of self-care... the first discussion in this month's simple soulful workshop. because i wrote what i did, i felt i should then have lunch at the cafe i spoke of and try to get some images that captured what i said.}

i have loved reading what taking care of yourself means to so many other women here.

just today... before i even read this discussion topic, i thought to myself how important it is that i take care of myself at sixteen weeks pregnant. i realized, if i do not take care of me, i am automatically and directly not taking care of the child that is growing inside me. and i know from the many things others have said here, and from watching my friends and family, that if i do not take care of myself because i am too busy doing things for others, i will eventually break down and not be able to care for anyone at all.

i can see things easily turning that way after the baby is born, which is why i want to practice self-care now... while it is ultra-important for the baby's health, and while i have the opportunity to get it down to a habitual level.

with a strapped financial situation, i find it hard to take care of myself properly these days. but there are a few things i can do... like give myself grace and not feel guilty when my husband is eating ramen noodles for lunch every day so that i can afford a healthy, nutrient-rich meal for myself and baby. i live near a really charming and wonderful cafe called le petit marche... it is within walking distance. so, though it is cold here, i often found myself {this winter and throughout my first trimester} wandering over there for a nourishing lunch.

every day, something new and unexpected is served. always something completely homemade from scratch. always something delicious and packed full of nutrients and protein. always fresh and wholesome with a variety of fresh ingredients such as numerous vegetables and organic eggs and smoked turkey and flavorful cheese. and all in a wonderful setting that makes me feel like i have escaped to another country for an hour or two. it is one of those places where none of the tables or chairs are the same and they play french music and the walls are lined with wine racks and local paintings and photography for sale. it is heaven on earth for me, and it has been my respite from a cold, difficult and even sometimes lonely winter.

i have felt guilty eating there, because it is a little on the pricey side for lunch. but then i have to remember... i am eating for two, so it is really actually a bargain, right? {wink}

and it is not just food with which i am fed there. it is with solace, peace and quiet, and me-time, reflection and dreaming/planning, and solitude, meditation and warmth that i am fed. so i will continue to go, and i will see it as my little gift from God for this time in my life... for this pregnancy that i have waited so long for. that is one way i will be taking care of me for a while.

{i wrote a lot more while i was in the cafe today... so that i could elaborate on this reflection. i also took several more photographs. i wanted, with words and photos, to give any reader the feeling they are actually there. but i decided not to post all the photos... only those you see here. and i will leave my words as is... just a reflection of how i see self-care for myself right now. my descriptive context of this little haven will have to wait for another day.}

{p.s.  i think i'm going to love this simple soulful workshop!!}