Thursday, September 9, 2010

Nothing can bring you happiness but yourself.




Nothing can bring you happiness but yourself.

35 comments:

a little black cloud in a dress said...

this certainly hits home for me, today. I've been blah all day, wallowing in my own madness. Sometimes it's so easy to forget that it's no one else's job to pick us up. In unrelated news, I keep forgetting to mention, I realized on FB that you know my friend Brittni.

Shandell said...

lovely. how did you do this?

Anonymous said...

I was so excited when I visited your page and saw you had a new post. The photo is wonderful, but I was so disappointed to see another short post :( I love to get lost in your words - please do write again soon.

Aura said...

Hollie- I know all about those days. I rely more on things to make me happy, and that has been my biggest obstacle to overcome the last few years.
Just in the last year do I really feel like I'm starting to not only understand that, but to move in a completely different direction away from it.
I've known B forever! We worked together for 4 years. Small world.


Shandell- I'm not going to lie, it took forever. I shoot a lot like this when I take pictures. I have thousands of still frames taken, and I want to start posting them soon. Given that it doesn't take me as long as it did to make this one!
I take my photos in bursts, one right after another. Then I edited them, and put them together in gif animation software. I started doing it in the Spring, and have been saving this little tidbits for something special.



Anonymous- I am so sorry, but I'm stuck in one of those ruts where I have so much to say that it's hard for me to gather my thoughts, right now. I'm a bit lost with this blog, and honestly the recent explosion of readers (I noticed I had 2,000 subscriptions in google reader, today) has made me a bit shy, and reluctant to share a lot of personal information.
Anything you've been hoping to read, lately? I could use a little inspiration boost to get me out of my shy cave.

Amber said...

Aura...Lovely photo. Simple words with a powerful message. It is so true yet we tend to forget that so quickly. I am still wrestling with it myself but doing much better.

And I read that you were feeling shy since getting an influx of readers. Your words are beautiful and I too love reading them. I find that when I am having a bad day reading your post put life in perspective. It has to be an overwhelming feeling, but I say just go with your heart and do what is comfortable to you.

If you are feeling reluctant on getting to personal right now you could do a post on what you do with your yard/garden after the summer. I love your food posts too. Maybe some recipes to put us in the fall mood:)

Take care and I hope you have an amazing weekend.
amber

Jenna (Anonymous) said...

Hi Aura - I'm anonymous - my real name is Jenna and I'm from Australia. I'm glad you didn't take my comment the wrong way - as soon as I posted it, I felt terrible because when I re-read it, I thought I sounded selfish and demanding! The reason I look forward to your post is because you've inspired me to re-invent my life. I've always had a free spirit, but it took your blog to make me realise that I had let too much static into my life and it had begun to consume me - I needed to 'simplify'. I've always loved to write - it's why I turned my passion into a profession, but lately my job and hence, my passion, has become a chore. Thanks to you, I've begun writing again - about things I want to write about. Simply for the joy of stringing words together. Just for me. I'm finally doing something else I always wanted to do - learn how to use a DSLR. I've cleared my kitchen of processed foods. I cook from scratch. The other day, I layed on a blanket in the sunshine under a tree and just...breathed. Don't be shy - don't write about personal things if you don't want to. Just continue to inspire us all to life a simple, good life. I'd love you to write about the turning point that made you and Michael simplify your lives and the first steps you took to do so.

Anonymous said...

i am just popping in anonymously because i don't want to weird you out, but i really wanted to give you this message. i got my first haircut from you awhile back, and not only was it the best haircut i've had in years, but you really kinda saved me on a rotten day. you really lifted my spirits. you made me feel pretty when i felt really down. you are very good at what you do, not just with the hair, but with making people feel SEEN and HEARD and beautiful. you have a gift, dear! never stop sharing it. thanks for bringing light to me on that horrible rotten no-good day. i needed it. (and your blog is beautiful, too!)

Monica Robinson said...

oh wow, like the first person who commented, that hit home for me too! It's a sweet reminder Aura, thank you.

I hope you don't get too shy about posting on your blog. I love it when you get into your garden and talk about food and show pictures of the things you have accomplished in the garden, even small ones. Over 2000 readers is a huge compliment :)

Anyway, thanks again for the inspiration and reality check!

Monica (Lilium)

Maggie-Sue said...

Hello Aura,
I too, like Jenna, would like to read about how your simple life came about. I'd love you to compare your simple life now, to what life was like with all the static.

Kade (^= 3 =^) said...

I love this pic ^^ soooo cute

siniann said...

This is so true, I should follow this phrase and bring the happiness in my life right now! Why it is so hard sometimes? I have spent last week inside because of flu and i'm starting to be a loner. The idea to go alone outside creeps me, crazy huh?

I miss your long posts too, but I understand it's hard with so many people following you.I hope you find the best solution for you :)

Have a amazing weekend!

Sini

LRC said...

Love this!

Brown Girl said...

I fully agree. ;)

Anonymous said...

Love this! You can post where you got your gorgeous skirt!? I LOVE your blog. It pulls me out of my 'life is so blah' funk. Please don't go private. Unless you invite me :)

Unknown said...

Beautiful effect-love how you did that!!! You have a gift.

Scott and Tabi said...

i like your short posts and the long ones! something like this post really has a great effect when it's short, right? but for inspiration, hm.... i love reading about your grandpa!!!! he's the cutest thing ever! and your art projects, and recipe's, and music.....

Unknown said...

amen to that girl!

Anonymous said...

Hi Aura,

Normally I wouldn't bug you but above you asked the other anonymous commenter if they have anything specific they want to read about.

I'm the person who asked you before to do a post on how your appearance/style has evolved with a special request for awkward middle school pictures to be included. If you have time, I'd love for that post to happen:)

Also, have you seen the 30 day meme? I found the list here: http://wreallywrandom.blogspot.com/2010/08/30-day-meme.html You don't have to follow the whole thing but it does have some cute ideas for posts if you're having writer's block.

I hope you and your family have a nice weekend!

Anonymous said...

hey what gif software do you use? this is too neat!

kelly ann said...

love this. <3

Valerie said...

I love your posts and find them to be very inspiring! Like a previous poster said (much more eloquently than I ever could) you have such a gift for bringing light and joy into peoples' lives, people you don't even know! You have inspired me to eat more whole foods, to grow a garden and to make an effort to find the joy and beauty in everyday life. Clearly, I also love your blog! :)

Unknown said...

love this post and oh so true xxx

Ingrid Holm / The Showmanship said...

true words ...

amber said...

so lovely~

always enjoy visiting here.

Anna said...

True.

Unknown said...

Amen! And awesome pic/video!!!

Pradeep Kumar T K said...

Amazing way of representation. Good Photography too..I would try this in my blog too :) Good Job.

Julie-Inspired said...

So many beautiful words written...and I agree, your posts are inspiring! Day by day...that seems to be my mantra lately:)

Julie xo

Aura said...

Jenna- It wasn't selfish and demanding at all! I promise it takes a LOT to offend me. Even people that comment that are blatantly, flat out trying to piss me off or criticize me don't even get to me. I have pretty thick skin.

I know you asked for a post, but I'm actually going to ramble a little bit here, okay? I hope you come back to read this, so it doesn't all go in vain.

A couple years ago (actually just days after our 2nd anniversary) Michael and I had a huge fight. We call it D-day, now.
We had spent the last year of our marriage growing apart, and into two separate people. He was stressed thinking about starting school, and I was rebelling against being 24 and married and already owning a home. I spent a lot of time with my friends, going out, and shopping. Lots...and lots....of shopping. It makes me sick to think how much money I wasted back then. Life was just a bunch of static. Just things. We had separate lives and let the daily grind get to us and separate us from growing together as a couple. I didn't cook a lot, a lot of our home was messy and unorganized, and we didn't have any set routine to our lives.
On D-day we had a big talk that changed everything. I think we talked/cried for like 5 hours that night, and the very next day, everything changed. We changed our diets, outlooks on life, organized our house, and just spent time together. It didn't all happen quickly, it was a daily routine that we had to remind ourselves to do every single day, until it became a habit.
It sounds like you are well on your way to simplifying your own life. If life feels hectic, out of control, or confusing, just take the time to make a list of the things that you want to change the most. Whether it's the way you eat, what your career is, your health, or how you spend your money. Tackling these obstacles and changing your life for good is daily work. These days, 2 years after we made that decision to eliminate static from our lives, we still struggle. Our relationship has grown so much that neither of us can imagine ever going back to that point. But I still struggle with my messes, Michael with his stress, and both of us in our ability to let things build up until they're overwhelming. But it's just one day at a time...and we have the rest of our lives to get this right.
When I first started to really write in this blog, I had just been trying to conscientiously live my life this way for a few months. I stressed about writing all my feelings down, and trying to put into words how important it is to truly live a simple life. Leave it to me, to even stress about how I would try to explain this to my blog friends. One day I was going over my crazy nutcase lists to Michael, and series of blog posts on how to simplify. And he told me to stop, and to quit trying to put things into words and make tutorials on how to live life. He said one thing that I will never forget, and it was: "Stop trying so hard to explain to people how to live a simple life. Just show them yours."

For years the best way I've known how to tell my stories were through pictures. Sometimes I feel like writing, and sometimes I don't. Sometimes I want to be quiet and not say a word and just watch everything go by. Right now I'm feeling like I'm in one of those phases, where I'm centering myself, regrouping, and just waiting for inspiration to find me again.
So again, I'm sorry if I've been worldess when I know that you, and so many sweet readers like yourself comment and wonder why I'm keeping so quiet. I'm here, just waiting for inspiration to find me, again.

Hopefully that answered a little bit of your question :) Sorry again that it wasn't in a post, and just here in the comments. Sometimes I feel more comfortable here, like I'm talking to friends instead of the world.

Aura said...

Amber- Thank you :) I actually need to finish my garden week posts!! I've been terrible about it. I knew this would happen, because when gardening season comes to an end I lose my passion for it and move onto things like pumpkins and pretty changing leaves.



Anonymous client- That makes me so happy, thank you. Were you by chance a new client? Not that I have figured out who you are, but I didn't even realize you were having a bad day! No one can have a bad day when they get their hair done :)



Monica- I'm just feeling a bit shy for now, since this is a new thing. I'm sure I'll come to my babbly, wordy senses soon enough. :)




Maggie Sue- I decided not to do separate post on it, but if you look above these comments I wrote back to Jenna on how I began to simplify my life.



Thank you, Sini, you're so sweet, like always. The flu is a bummer. I've never had it but I can only imagine. The hives had me on bed rest for 6 days and I was so depressed I thought I'd go crazy! Open your windows and get some fresh flowers, maybe that will help.



Anonymous skirt questioner- Do you remember a store called Gadzooks? I have no idea if it's still around because ours closed years ago! I got this skirt there almost 10 years ago, actually. I get compliments on it all the time! Sometimes I wear it as a dress, too :)



Tabi- I need to do a Grandpa update soon :) Just for you.



Anonymous- So YOU were the middle school picture requester! :) Oh, this might be painful. Haha. Was middle school good for anybody? Were any of us actually somewhat cute?! I'll see what I can dig up! All my old pictures are at my parents house, and I'm only there once a week. I will have to go through some old pictures and see what I can find.



Anonymous- The software is Ulead Gif Animator 5, but it's not free. It was $50! I think it was worth it because I'm making a video right now, and the video is worth 50 dollars to me :)



Thank you, Valerie :) I hope you're enjoying your new, inspired life. It gives me so much energy to be filled with new life, like that.




Thank you, every one else!

Jenna said...

Wow Aura,
What can I say, I'm so grateful that you took the time especially to answer my question. Your story really resonates with me right now - I can see my life and my relationship with my husband heading down that same path that yours was, if I don't continue to make this conscious change. Thank you again. Michael was right - you don't need to try and tell us how to live your life, we all really are learning through your lovely words and photos. I'm feeling very inspired - thank you x

siniann said...

I read your answer to Jenna too, it made me think that there is so many things to change in my life but I don't know how. I know i need to start living more simply, like you before I feel like spending my money for shopping as it fills empty holes in my life.

So much to change and learn, it is just hard to make it simple. It feels like I am missing good role model in my life, i'm glad that i can learn something in your blog.
I go back to the old posts too.

And this weekend I really felt good as we had time to have a walk outside, it felt so right to be out at the nature than spending the day at computer or doing nothing at home. Being unemployed soon makes me stress much, i dont know where this life in france is going and it scares me.

Oh sorry I did write a long story where's no beginning nor end ;)

Leah M. said...

I continue to be amazed at how parallel our lives are sometimes Aura. The hubs and I have had our own D-day, but it wasn't too long ago. We spent most of our engagement and the first 3 years of our marriage growing apart. It seemed that we stayed together out of spite, and just focused on ourselves. I did alot of shopping, and spent way too much money on junk. He spent hours away from me, and used money to buy happiness for himself. Finally, after faking it for too long, we had it out. And I mean had.it.out. The good thing is, neither of us is willing to divorce, so we had to figure it out together. I was 24, married, didn't own a home, but was in a town I didn't like. I had no friends, no partner, I was lost. But we have come around to each other finally. We are still working on eliminating the static. That 'need' for things that aren't important. For me it isn't very hard, but he spent alot of his life living to impress with possessions so it is harder for him to separate need from want.

Life by society's standards is almost impossible to keep up with. Marriage is disposable, joy comes with a barcode, and fulfillment is not obtainable. But life by your own standards is easy, if you take it in stride, and realize that you have every 'today' to figure it out.

daily mix LA said...

this is so true...

Anonymous said...

Hello

Definitely gonna recommend this post to a few friends