Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Strive...

Every day I strive to be better. A better mom, a better wife, a better photographer. The hardest part about this is that in striving I actually have to put in some effort. It's a verb, so it requires action. 

To be a better mom, I talk to other moms to get another perspective on life, on motherhood, on my own ideas about the job I'm doing. I learn from other moms- things I may try, or may try to avoid. Both are helpful. 

To be a better wife, my biggest hurdle is just keeping my mouth shut somedays. Because really, I think my ideas and ways are better 99% of the time. (I'm pretty sure they are). But my husband doesn't necessarily agree. And that's ok- everything doesn't have to be a debate. 

To be a better photographer I participate in photography forums, I join workshops, I read, and I take more pictures. Hands on has always been the best method of learning for me. I need to do it. Lately I've really been putting in effort (aka striving) to take more pictures every day. Nothing major, just basic events in our daily lives. And sometimes I submit these photos to photography websites with weekly themes. 

This week I'm honored to be have several photographs published. My work is included in the current issue of Trivia: Voices of Feminism, an online journal. I'm also one of the featured photographers in Beyond the Wanderlust's Instagram Friday Favorites. Finally, this week, I received an honorable mention from Finding the Light workshop photography contest. 

Things like this always keep me feeling like I'm doing what I'm meant to be doing and inspire me to strive even more. Cyclical, you know? It's also really important for me to share these types of things. First, I'm proud of myself. Second, if I can do it, anyone can. That includes you. 

Go. Do better. Be better. Put in effort. Strive. 

But before you go and get all improved and stuff,  you can look at some of my shots from our daily life. And for the record, this was a pretty tough day to put it mildly. These pictures are a result of me giving up trying to control them and just letting them do what they wanted to do. For about 30 minutes. Then I dragged them to the car kicking and screaming. :sigh: 










5 comments:

  1. So wonderful to see you blossom as an artist and successful mother. Your compositional elements are as wonder-filled as you are and this is reflected in you work and open-ness in your writings as well. Great art takes time...so do diamonds. Please don't forget to take a few "self-ies" as you document your path of wonder. Love Mimi

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  2. I love these photos - especially the B&W - keep striving! :)

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  3. Love it! You inspire me to keep striving! And the photographs are simply eye candy. Awesome!

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  4. Beautiful pics and children!! Imp msg:))

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  5. Congratulations! A great message to just keep on keeping on.

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