The last of the August break

In true perfectionist style, I ditched the August break challenge at day 11 in the most part (I remembered the odd prompt), because I couldn't think of a photo to go with "far away" or "home". I've struggled with the concept of "home" for a long time, and when I saw that on the list, I was like oh.....

My resident perfectionist declared that if I couldn't find prompts 12 and 13, I wouldn't do the challenge at all. Hmm, naughty perfectionist.

I've since had a word, and we agreed that I would have a look at my photos, and post the ones that I did remember during my adventures in August. Plus, I rooted through my vast collection of photos since April, and found some that fit the prompts. So, bending the challenge a little, here is a rather epic collection of photos from my summer.

 

[caption id="attachment_792" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 13 - home[/caption]

Perhaps the blurred character of this photo fits my concept of home rather well. I don't really know if I've found home, but this is as close as I get to feeling "at home". Sitting in my chair with my journal or some crochet, feeling the fresh breeze on my face.

 

[caption id="attachment_793" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 14 - stillness[/caption]

Stillness in the deer sanctuary (no entry to the public), on the outskirts of my city.

 

[caption id="attachment_794" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 15 - books[/caption]

I have begun to amass a rather large collection of non-fiction, most of which are unread. I'm looking forward to digging into these, one by one, and journalling my way through them. Some of them I've read, but they deserve re-reading.

 

[caption id="attachment_795" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 16 - floral[/caption]

A day out with a good friend.

 

[caption id="attachment_796" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 18 - looking down[/caption]

I found this stashed away in an old frame. My foot and hand-prints from when I was 4. Unfortunately, the paper was covered in mould, and had to be chucked. But, I saved it on an SD card instead.

 

[caption id="attachment_797" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 19 - white[/caption]

I will have the cottage in the background, thanks.

 

[caption id="attachment_788" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 20 - taste[/caption]

Also my birthday. These were birthday pancakes with maple syrup, banana and strawberries. Divine!

 

[caption id="attachment_789" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 21 - something old[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_791" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 29 - your fave thing[/caption]

I'm pretty sure I have a pretty notebook-pen-pencil-washi addiction. I love them.

[caption id="attachment_798" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 30 - sign[/caption]

Found on a solo walk at the reservoir

 

What does "home" mean to you? Where is home?

I'm very much interested in your responses. I'd love to know what the concept of home means to you.

 

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to subscribe to my posts by RSS and connect with me. You can also follow me on Twitter. 

 

 

 

August break days 5-11

I'm back with the second instalment of my August break challenge. Taking these photos is a fun way to notice my surroundings, and look for photo opportunities that fit the prompts. I've also really enjoyed taking photos in general, and then discovering to my surprise that they fit the prompts!

Enjoy!

 

[caption id="attachment_757" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 5 close up #1[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_756" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 5 close up #2[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_758" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 6 diagonals[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_760" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 7 skyline[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_749" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 8 - a selfie[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_750" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 9- taste[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_751" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 10 red #1[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_752" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 10 red #2[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_753" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 10 red #3[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_754" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 10 red #4[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_755" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 11 play[/caption]

 

You can join us in the August break at any time!

 

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to subscribe to my posts by RSS or follow me on Twitter. 

 

 

August break days 1-4

I'm participating in the August Break challenge set up by Susannah Conway for this month. I plan to post every few days with my photos, as I'd like to continue with some of my planned posts for this month!

This challenge is an exercise in dropping perfectionism - I'm hoping to outrun my perfectionist tendency!

 

[caption id="attachment_722" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 1- Breakfast[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_723" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 2 - Circles[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_724" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 3 - Yellow (inside)[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_725" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 3 - Yellow (outside)[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_726" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Day 4 - Love (best friend's wedding favours)[/caption]

 

 

You can join the challenge at any time! It's fun to look for photo opportunities that fit the prompts!

 

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to subscribe to my posts by RSS or follow me on Twitter.

No-spend challenge update

 

I’ve been doing my no-spend challenge for a little over 2 months now, and it’s time for an update, according to rule number 6: Keep myself accountable.

I’ve realised I don’t spend much money in the first place, so there was little point imposing a restriction!

I made the rules, which means I can break them too, and downgrade the challenge to include clothes only. I will continue with a clothing shopping hiatus until September 30th, which marks a year of being involved with Project 333.

I pledge to not buy a single item of clothing, shoes, or accessories until at least October 1st, and only after I’ve evaluated my entire clothing collection.

Bonus rule: If I am given an item of clothing, and want to keep it, I will need to get rid of something from my current collection.

Things I have learnt from the challenge:

1. Over time, I realised that imposing rules on spending allowed me to continue "not deserving things". I have always found it incredibly difficult to justify spending money on myself, often seeking reassurance from those close to me that it's ok to buy a mug, or a new item of clothing, or my camera. Spending money on myself actually challenges me to believe that I deserve something, and thus imposing a total ban just helps avoid that challenge. I've reasoned that a total ban is actually counter-productive to my recovery, given that I hardly ever buy anything other than the essential food and consumables.

2. I made progress with justifying expenditure for courses and experiences; and have booked two online courses, one finished and the other starts tomorrow! I had a great time on the first course with Tammy Strobel, and am about to experience the delights of Susannah Conway's teaching on Journal your Life.

3. I have learnt that I can stop impulse purchases altogether, and instead put things on a list for a few weeks to see if I really want them. Such was the case with the camera, and the new mug I am in search of. The mug has been on the want-list for several weeks already. I’m in no hurry to acquire it, but I know I can buy it when I find the right one.

4. I have no need for new clothes. I have around 110 pieces in total now (reduced from 150), not including shoes or accessories, and only wear a selection of 33 items for each 3 month season. I have identified a gap in my wardrobe, which may get filled eventually, but again, there is no hurry, and if I still feel the gap is there in October, I will go and purchase a suitable item.

5. Spending money on experiences, such as short courses and trips away is infinitely more valuable than any item I could find in a shop. Focussing my spending on this area has been worthwhile and a lot of fun.

Overall, I think I have really learnt that I need very few objects or material things to be happy.

 

Insights to take forward from here:

1. Placing items on a want-list allows me to evaluate if I really want them, and prevents impulse buying.

2. Tracking expenditure on experiences has been very helpful, and has allowed me to book courses that I would have trouble justifying otherwise.

3. I don’t need to worry about over-spending, but a budget is still helpful.

 

Over to you

Have you tried a similar challenge? What did you learn? Do you find it easy or hard to justify new purchases? I'd love to hear from you in the comments.

Challenge over

Niecieden via Compfight 

I’ve well and truly broken the rules of my reading deprivation challenge today. I succumbed to a news reading and Facebook binge. I still haven’t opened my Reader nor have I watched a single minute of TV.

I’ve also been checking emails more than I stated in the rules, mostly because I’ve been chasing a no-show carpet cleaning company (so annoying).

I guess it’s not about finishing the challenge just for the sake of it. That would be similar to saying “I’m not a minimalist until I own 100 things, total”.

It’s about challenging ourselves to do something different, take ourselves out of our comfort zone for a while. I tell you, it really shows you what’s important and what isn’t.

I thought I enjoyed watching BBC Breakfast over breakfast, and thought I could never be without it, but that’s one of the lessons of this challenge. I don’t miss it at all, and I think I idolised the programme because it is/was/used to be mildly entertaining. All I’m really doing is filling my morning with depressing (and/or annoying) news  about how the economy has gone down the pan, and what we should buy to fix it. Filling my morning with negative media is not something I want to be doing. It took the challenge to learn that.

I thought I needed the TV after dinner, to chill out, digest. This week I’ve sat facing my partner, and we’ve talked. We’ve played Scrabble, or just sat quietly. I’ve used the time for crafting and writing. Lesson two, I don’t need TV at all. I like watching the occasional show - The Killing, Homeland, and Game of Thrones - and will continue to do that, but no more mindless TV watching just to relax or pass the time.

Even though my mind was full to bursting, I’ve found it very hard to stop reading altogether. I caught myself reading quotes, a lesson on ISO settings, Facebook and Twitter feeds, and today, some blog posts and news articles. I have dramatically reduced my reading habit this week, and if nothing else, it has given me the space that I needed. I’m grateful for that.

I’ve also learnt that reading is essential to me. I have sadly found that I don’t have inspiration to write anything for the blog, unless I’m reading as well. I miss reading all of your blogs, and caught myself wondering why the bloggers hadn’t posted anything in a while. Oh wait, I just haven’t read them. It has highlighted for me the blogs I miss the most, and I can use that to declutter my reading list.

The challenge has removed the sense of urgency to check my Facebook, Twitter, email and Reader.

I am more inclined to find something to do, instead of sitting at the laptop. I’ve been crocheting, relaxing, playing Scrabble.

I’ve noticed the biggest difference has been during the morning. Instead of having the TV on, my computer on, and my breakfast in hand, and then rushing around trying to get ready for work - on account of getting distracted by the reading; I’ve peacefully sat with my breakfast, and enjoyed some quiet time before work. I love the morning for its peacefulness.

 

And so, I declare the reading deprivation challenge over. It was making me sad not reading all my favourite blogs and interacting with the amazing community.

 

Lessons to take away from the challenge:

• 
  

  I don’t miss the TV, and would much rather use my time for something productive, creative, or writing related.

  
  


• 
  

  I want to use my mornings for quiet reflection and writing practise, instead of madly rushing around.

  
  


• 
  

  Reading is absolutely essential to me, and I find words hard to ignore. Especially my favourite blogs.

  
  


• 
  

  The fear of missing out is very much diminished.

  
  

Over to you

If you’re glued to the TV most days, and don’t know why; try going without.

If you’re rushing around in the morning, stressing about getting ready, wake up 10 minutes earlier, remove all distractions, and sit quietly for 10 minutes. It helps the general stress levels.

Find out what is essential to you by cutting out something automatic that you use to pass the time, such as reading or playing on the computer, or Angry birds on your phone.

The only way to test the fear of missing out is to intentionally miss out. It’s less scary than you think.

 

 

What is automatic for you? What passes the time? Could you eliminate it for a few days to see how important it really is? I'd love to hear from you in the comments.

Reading deprivation: day 3

Celeste RC via Compfight

Most of all, I miss reading my favourite blogs, and feeling part of the blogging community.

Other than that, I don’t miss the tv, or the news. The news is rather depressing most of the time, so I have no great hurry to read up on it.

I accidentally scanned an article on ISO settings before remembering that I wasn’t allowed to read. It struck me how automatic and instinctive it was. It happened without any conscious thought, and it makes me wonder how much information we consume without knowing it. Heaps, I suspect.

I think I have been less stressed since I started the challenge. I’ve also made good progress on my craft projects, and have generally enjoyed being without passive entertainment (TV).

 

- I’ve crocheted almost a whole rug. I will show you that soon.

- I’ve played Scrabble, listened to music, and written in my journal.

 

I’ve noticed a sense of quiet from doing the challenge. I have more space for my thoughts now, and capacity to think outside the box. I’m even considering abandoning my desk and building a cosy corner instead.

I’ve not missed Facebook and Twitter as much as I thought I would. I think it’s just habit. Now I have to write something for the blog before I log in.

Overall, the fear of missing out isn’t that strong anymore. If anything, I’m gaining clarity, peace and relaxation through curbing my consumption of words.

I feel slightly nervous that I’m not going to be reading any of your blogs in the next few days, but I hope you don’t take offence. When I finish the challenge, hopefully I will have some interesting insights to share!

Reading deprivation has forced me to come up with something to do if I’m bored, rather than waste away hours at the laptop. It’s an encouragement to produce, rather than consume.

Have you found a balance between producing and consuming? What’s your favourite thing to produce? I'd love to hear from you in the comments.

Synchronicity

The signs are all there. They’ve been building up, showing me something, and today the last one appeared.

(are you ok, Linda?, I hear you say- in one of those moods again?) Yes, absolutely fine. Excited, scared, apprehensive perhaps.

I’ve just chosen to notice some things and connect up all the dots. Random things have been happening to me recently, and I’m considering them to be not so random.

 

First, “shadow artists”.

“Artists love other artists.  Shadow artists are gravitating to their rightful tribe but cannot yet claim their birthright.  Very often audacity, not talent, makes one person an artist and another a shadow artist–hiding in the shadows, afraid to step out and expose the dream to the light, fearful that it will disintegrate to the touch.”

Read more at:http://skinnyartist.com/an-artists-bookshelf-the-artists-way-by-julia-cameron/

Second, these people followed me on Twitter.

Third, this TED talk. I’ve heard of this person, but always glanced on by.

Fourth, today: A reading deprivation exercise. (The Artist's way, page 87)

"Reading deprivation is a very powerful tool - and a very frightening one. Even thinking about it can bring up enormous rage. For most blocked creatives, reading is an addiction"

"In my teaching, the week that I assign reading deprivation is always a tough one. I go to the podium knowing that I will be the enemy"

 

A what? Yep, I was as surprised as you might be now. Deprive yourself of reading material for a whole week. Watch out for all the fillers too, radio, TV, mindless consumption of information.

 

Reading material? Deprive myself? No way.

 

Yes way.

I’m choosing now to stop ignoring the signs. I’m not religious by the way. I am spiritual though. Yep, there’s a difference, but I digress.

It felt right to move on to the next chapter of the Artist’s way. I’ll tell you more about that one day.

And on the first page came a warning: “Do not ignore the reading deprivation tool”. The author knows us human beings and how we shy away from challenges, things that might seem too hard or impossible. She knows. She says “even at the safe remove of the written word, I can feel the shock waves of antagonism about trying this tool" Too right, you can. Twenty odd years later (the book is that old).

Out came the excuses, (as predicted by the author) :

- how will I get through my day without reading?

- all the blog posts I can’t read

- the magazines

- the news

- how will I occupy myself?

-I can’t do this! I will die of boredom!

- and so on...

I had in mind to delay this, but the signs are too strong. I start now, or not at all.

 

I’ve made a plan.

-All my favourite blogs are in an aptly named “Favourites” folder in my Reader, and they will conveniently still be there next week for me to catch up on. There will be 30-40 articles in there. Yikes.

- Social media is limited to posting links to my blog (as I’m definitely allowed to write/create).

- No TV, radio or news

- No reading books.

 

What I can do:

- I can read patterns to make things (I’m currently crocheting something awesome).

- I respond to emails as part of my job, so I still need to do that.

- I can check my email twice per day, once in the morning, once in the evening. Anything that is a newsletter, blog update or other “no-reply” item, will be put in a folder to read later. I can read comments on my posts and respond.

- The author gives us permission to read the chapter in the book, and the tasks for the week.

 

 

Why on earth am I doing this??????

- Because my mind feels saturated, full to bursting, and there is little room for me to come up with my own ideas.

- I mindlessly consume my favourite blogs, the amazingly inspiring articles, and they don’t have a chance to impact me in the way that they could if I had space to take in their message.

- Reading is my addiction because I think that if I read enough, I will eventually have the courage to write.

- Because the signs are there, random or otherwise, and I’m choosing to notice them. I could safely ignore them, but I’d always wonder what if. I’d also be forsaking/limiting any benefits of this challenge.

 

Yet another challenge????

- I love challenges. They are fun/scary (at the same time). They are educational. They inspire growth. They encourage reflection. They take us out of our comfort zone, and that is only a good thing.

- I could speculate on the benefits of this challenge, I could take it with a pinch of salt, I could do it half-heartedly. Sure. But then I won’t discover the full benefits, and may end up considering it pointless.

 

How do you feel about this???

-Scared

-Apprehensive

-Excited

-Surprised

-Anxious

-Doubtful

- Worried

 

These feelings are all good signs of growth. Personal growth is scary, induces anxiety, and uncertainty. And as Brene Brown said in her talk, it makes us vulnerable (in a good way - I invite you to watch the video).

 

I’m going cold turkey on my addiction to information, blogs, articles, facebook, twitter, books and other reading material.

 

Flippin heck. Why do I do these things to myself??

 

The challenge starts now, and runs until 10pm Thursday 18th April.

 

p.s. you might see more posts from me in the next week. If I don’t die of boredom first ;)

 

What do you think? Have you done anything similar before? I'd love to hear from you in the comments.

 

Challenges up ahead

I’m sitting on the floor in my room, taking advantage of the rays of sunshine trying their best to convince me spring is on its way. It’s nice to feel the warmth of the sun after such a long and cold winter.

There are challenges up ahead. I’ve decided to delay the start of my no-spend challenge slightly, to April 1st, to coincide with a new season of the Project 333 challenge. I’m also extending the no-spend challenge to six months - from April 1st to Sept 30th 2013. Why?

Because I’ve recognised the need to appreciate my efforts this winter. I’m not very good at rewarding or appreciating my achievements, and it’s time. So, today, I am buying a new camera (assuming they have it in stock), a new beginners DSLR camera, so I can develop my photography.  I’ve outgrown my digital compact camera, shown in my frustration that I can’t take good photos of my craft projects without a good macro setting.

I think it’s so important to recognise our achievements, and I would encourage everyone to do so. Still, it feels hard to do that for myself. I am genius at dumbing down my achievements when really they are cause for celebration and reward. Therefore, I am delaying the challenge until Monday, April 1st.

April 1st is also the start of a new season in my ongoing Project 333 challenge. I will be refreshing my 33-item wardrobe, ready for another 3 months. I’m very excited to go shopping in my wardrobe for different items. I get to see new clothes, and spend no money. Win-win!

I will be sharing my 33 item wardrobe and some outfit combinations in the next couple of days. I may also document the whole decision process as I feel it’s time to let go of some clothing that I don’t need.  You can see my other lists here and here.

 

I’m excited for a challenge. Is there a challenge you've been wanting to take part in?

How about:

A photo challenge

a clothing challenge

a decluttering challenge

a Writing challenge

Challenges are fun, and encourage us to learn something about ourselves. 

5 month no-spend challenge

I’ve been getting caught up in buying things, because I don’t feel particularly fulfilled in my life at the moment. So the first thing that I go to is a “treat” to help cheer me up. Flowers, crafty things, magazines.

Inevitably, the cheer-up-effect doesn’t last long, so I look for the next thing I can buy.

I know where this is coming from. I know that I want to be doing work I love. I know that I would like to see more of the world; and while I’m not doing these things, or enough of them, I feel deflated, unfulfilled. Then I go shopping to cheer myself up. And on it goes.

But really, in doing this, I am taking myself further away from being fulfilled in the long run. Trips abroad rely on money. I wish I could go for free, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Anyone got spare plane tickets? pass them this way! Didn’t think so!

The little things I am buying for very-short-term cheering-up effects, are taking me away from what I really want. Not things, objects, trinkets, but contribution, helping others, travelling. Those are the things I want to spend my money on.

So, with slightly fearful commitment, I am signing myself up to a 5-month no spend challenge.

By no-spend, I mean objects and non-essentials. I’ve created some rules, as follows:

 

1. I will not buy any objects that will clutter up my home.

1a. I can buy materials to make gifts, but no ready-made objects.  I can also buy notepads for journalling because that is essential to me.

2. I will set myself a £20 weekly experience budget. Dinner out, time with friends. Experiences are so much more worthwhile than stuff.

3. Bills, rent and food are allowed, but budgeted.

4. All other money will go into savings.  I will keep my emergency fund in my current account.

5. Anything left over from the weekly experience budget will go straight to savings, or be used to replace a worn item of clothing. Only 1 item per month, and I will donate/throw away 2 items from my current collection.

6. Post here with updates.

 

I’m writing this to be accountable. If I write concrete rules and post them here, I will be more likely to follow them. I am very very good at justifying something I want to myself, and find it very hard to resist.  My partner is also genius at convincing me to buy things if I want them.

By the end of the summer, I will hopefully have saved a decent amount of money, and I will have learnt what else there is to life than owning more stuff. Further, I will have more time to think about what matters instead of thinking of the next item I want to buy.

 

A prettier copy of the rules:

 

 

 

I have a feeling I will encounter difficulty when the summer sales begin. But I will just remind myself why I'm doing this, and come here to write about it instead.

 

Anyone want to join me?