laugh at yourself
learn what makes you happy and do it whenever as possible
apologize when you’re wrong
bring baked goods to new neighbors
watch the sun rise occasionally
ask as many questions as you have
obey traffic signs
don’t label yourself (or anyone else)
traditions matter
everyone is weird
one cigarette is too many
older is (almost always) wiser
karma goes both ways
dark chocolate is better
people can change
different = interesting
forgiveness is redeeming for both the forgiver and the forgivee
you are amazing
more here
I’ve been a little blocked about writing lately (in case you hadn’t noticed).
Frankly, I sort of feel like I set a bar for myself with the portrait series last month. I was proud of that work and I felt like there was substance to it. Each time since then that I’ve sat down to write, the minutia of my life emerged and it seemed, well, unimportant.
But I miss writing when I don’t write. And I feel adrift when I don’t carry my camera.
And really, it’s all about the minutia anyway.
The moments that make us smile in the midst of the laundry. The sweet things our children say to each other when they think we aren’t listening.
The first ripe tomato of the summer.
The neighborhood kids running outside in bare feet and pajamas when the ice cream truck drives by.
So minutia it is.
I’ll tell you about the braces that are being made for my toddler’s feet. And how I’m sad for him and happy that it’s not something worse all at the same time. I’ll tell you about the first girl that broke my son’s heart and how I was transported back to middle school, only this time it was worse because it was happening to someone I love.
I’ll tell you about dumpster day and how much I love it.
I’ll tell you about how last Sunday I planned out all our meals for the week, purchased all the ingredients and relieved about half the stress from my life in the process. I’ll tell you about a wonderful book I just finished and about a self-portrait project over on Flickr which is inspiring me daily. And about a baby quilt made by a group of women who have never met for a baby most of them have never held.
It’s these things that make up my life and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“A commonplace life, we say and we sigh;
But why should we sigh as we say?
The commonplace sun in the commonplace sky
Makes up the commonplace day.
The moon and the stars are commonplace things,
The flower that blooms and the bird that sings;
But sad were the world, and dark were our lot,
If flowers failed to bloom and the sun shone not.
And (she) who seeth each separate soul,
Out of commonplace things makes (her)A beautiful whole.”
—Susan Coolidge, 1892
Some of the moments from the last month that made up my days.
Good manners matter.
All the kids at school who are in the cool group will only be the cool kids for now. Long term, the nerds are a much better bet.
Don’t tailgate.
Talent is good, but discipline and drive are better.
If you aren’t true to your self you can’t expect anyone else to be true to you.
Nothing you can do will change how I feel about you.
Even though I’m your mother I am also a human and I get angry and sad just like you do.
I know you’re convinced otherwise, but I know more than you do.
I don’t care who you love as long as they are good to you.
Asking for help is a sign of strength—not weakness.
If you smile it’s actually very hard to feel grumpy.
Your body is sacred.
Never re-freeze thawed food-items.
Always ask a girl before you kiss her.
Cooking, letter-writing and toilet-plunging are all essential skills.
The cliché: ‘everything in moderation’ does not apply to drugs or cigarettes.
If you put positive energy into the universe it will come back to you. I promise.
a child’s creativity
he played with that paintbrush and cup of flour for long enough for me to knead the whole batch.
and then some.
sunshine
the way it sneaks around the corners in my home
the way it warms the winter sky
bright colors
they make even a messy house feel cheerful
naked babies
just because
my kitchen
and trying new recipes.
What’s inspiring you today?
