Making Things Happen: Progress

It has been a little over six months since my first MTH experience! And I've really stalled on writing this post. I mean, opening and closing Live Writer, Blogger and quite a few Word documents trying to get the guts and focus to write everything that I've felt since October! But, here goes!

Making Things Happen was life changing for me in one very specific way. Are you ready? It validated my feelings of humanity. Sound silly, I know! But here's the thing, I'm a perfectionist. Not just in a little tiny nitty gritty detailed sort of way, but in both that and a large big picture the whole-things-gotta-be-perfect sort of way. I don't accept less. I won't  accept less. But throughout the day of MTH, that perspective started to change because I realized that the room was full of successful, amazing and human women. Even as I type it, I realize it sounds hilarious, but somehow I had formed this idea of these women as super-women who never had bad hair days, didn't wear clothes that were mismatched and had an alltogether perfect life. Which is definitely not reality.

I started to realize that these women had insecurities and fears. They felt the same things I was feeling (even if some had overcome them far before I ever will) and continued to have doubts about their own abilities every day. That's what made them strong. Their ability to push beyond those doubts and make the things happen that were important to them. Like I said: LIFE CHANGING.

Since MTH I have:
a) Spoken with someone I admire and request them to be my mentor.
b) Created & printed business cards
c) Started the process of branding Isle of View (yay!) & possibly Isle of View Photography
d) Started the process of becoming a CPA (materials ordered and shipped, awaiting them anxiously!)
e) Applied with a company that I am very excited about, regardless of whether I get the job or not
f) Started working on many of my MTH goals including prioritizing and actually doing things that matter
g) Creating a bucket list (which I will post soon!)
h) Creating a what-fires-me-up list (also posting soon)
i) Established relationships with people who I want to learn from and be around. It matters. Choose people who lift you higher not tear you down.
j) Working on creating a broader clientele for my photography
k) Last: decided what is really important and what I really want to go after.

MTH gave me a kick-start on how to go about it. It's not rocket-science and it's not even a new way of doing things. It's a support team of normal, human, women who push beyond their doubts and daily "oh-no's" to do what really matters. It's beautiful. And I'm thrilled to be a part of that journey!

Philippians 4:13 is often quoted by people as being their favorite Scripture. You remember the one "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me" ? I count that among my favorite verses but my true favorites are the following: II Timothy 1:7 which reads " For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (KJV)." or in the NASB " For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline [I love how this version broadens the text]." The second verse is Matthew 16:26 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (KJV)"

These two scriptures speak to what I felt throughout Making Things Happen. I want to be someone (and create something) that feeds people's positive energy and brings them closer to God. I want to make things happen that matter in the long run...don't you? I hope to mirror these changes throughout my life and blog in the rest of this year. It takes time, effort and lots and lots of discipline. But hey, it's worth it!

What are you making happen that matters to you? I would love to hear about it! Remember, the small things matter too ;-)

Productivity Please

We all want to be more productive. It seems like there's "an app for that" for everything and there is this to "help boost productivity" everywhere. So what really works? I think what works for some of us doesn't work for others, but here's two things that have helped me recently.

1) Coffitivity: This website is for those who need some sort of background noise to focus. Or you just like working in a coffee shop! I was homeschooled, so I never really learned to study in a group or had to have a bunch of people around in order to get my 'study groove' on. But, some people do! I've actually been using this while I study for the CPA Exam every morning. The idea with the CPA Exam (at least from Roger Philip review) is that you should get up and study while no one else is up so that you don't have to worry about distractions. Perfect! However, I'm gradually getting up earlier because going to bed at midnight and getting up at 4:30 just ain't happening...its a process! Yesterday 7:00, today 6:30, etc. Go to bed earlier, get up earlier. Anyhoooo, back to Coffitivity! Because I'm not getting up uber early, my family is usually up by the tail-end of my study session, the part where I really need to focus because I'm actually doing homework not watching lectures. It's quiet. Or noisy depending on who's doing the dishes, walking around, packing lunch, etc. Enter Coffitivity. It's the perfect combination of voices and clanks to block out everything and it's a stable volume level which is what really matters. Check it out! (you can use music with it, but I haven't tried that, for obvious reasons)

2) My new Canon Scanner: This puppy helps with productivity because if I find an article or page in a magazine or the newspaper I like, instead of stashing it somewhere in a growing mountain of paper, I can scan it right in in the right place and/or use it on my blog, etc. I know they have the bar ones which save space and stuff but I bought this with two purposes in mind. One I stated above, the other is for old photos. Going to my Grandparents and scanning old photos so I have a digital copy and don't have to worry about the paper ones (Yay for old family photos!). I don't love the idea of the scary possibilities my mind created with the bar scanner such as stuck photos, crumpled photos or (God forbid) ripped photos. I'm a photo. freak. (I get it from my mother.) I don't want those lovelies getting destroyed. I've used this scanner several times in the month I've had it and I love it. It's perfect! (Good price and good quality too! Can't go wrong with a Canon!)

A couple of other tips I've learned?

 Multi-tasking reallllly doesn't work. I used to think I was great at it. I now know the truth: no one is great at multitasking. Ever. Anytime. You can never give yourself 100% to more than one thing at a time.

 Carly explains it perfectly in the Theory of Threes post. I love it. I use the theory of threes for everything from time to getting dressed (yeah, I'm an accessories freak but too much of a good thing ain't great. At all.)

Procrastination is the largest stumbling block  to progress. Guess what's holding you back? YOU. You're not too busy. You're not too tired. You're not too scared. You're procrastinating. What really matters? The time you spend on Instagram (preaching to myself here) or the time you spend trying to better yourself and follow your dreams. Stop the glorification of busy.

Scripture of the Week: Forever Reign

hillsong forever reign 

personal image

 This sound always speaks to my heart. Especially "The riches of your love will always be enough." I love it. He will always be enough. (I have this on a chalkboard in my room God is Enough as a daily reminder.) 

Recently, I've felt various quotes and portions of songs on my heart leading me to Scriptures in a new light. I suppose that's why they say music is the language of the soul? This song, or rather this passage of the song reminds me of Psalm 5: 7,11 " But as for me, I will enter Your house through the abundance of Your steadfast love and mercy; I will worship toward and at Your holy temple in reverent fear and awe of You...But let all those who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice; let them ever sing and shout for joy, because You make a covering over them and defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You and be in high spirits." His love is enough. In worship of Him I am made complete. I can rejoice, because He covers me and surrounds me. Just like these sweet kids running towards the creek, I can run into His loving arms, and He is enough. No worrying about the next step or about potential disasters. If I run toward Him, He can be my protector. Which leads me to the next paragraph: His love is no accident. We were created to be rescued by Him.

I'm reading through She Reads Truth I Peter Bible Devotional every morning through the YouVersion app on my phone and I am amazed at seeing this book through new eyes . Words are powerful, the word of God even more so. One of the quotes from the devotional yesterday struck a chord in me: Our redemption is no accident; our rescue was no afterthought. We call on the One who sets us free.  As a Christian, I know this. It's not new. But it was such a strong reminder of who we really run to in times of need and that He had me in mind. It was followed up with this quote "Know who and by whom you were ransomed and act accordingly."  Good reminder, right? 

I pray that you go out knowing that He loves you! Sometimes saying "I love you" is enough. 

Fancy Friday: TGIF

image

Yay for Friday! Enough with the writing posts this week...ready for some good summer weekend fun! Something nice & classically simple ...kinda like Proenza Schouler's 2014 Resort Collection. Have you seen the photos? The designs are nothing short of beautiful! I love the classic lines and easy flow (plus they are a little warmer looking for this SF Bay Area Weather!). Plus, some new favorite things that remind me of a light urban summer!

 source 

Sources 

terrarium copper dish room design 

I hope you have an amazing weekend!

Isle of View Review: ONA Camera Bag

You know when you've looked for that certain something forever and you never did find something that could meet those expectations? Well...meet me. The persnickety camera-bag person who can never decide if that will be good enough.

Except. I finally found good enough. I found better than good. I found what finally met (and exceeded) my expectations! Enter: the ONA Chelsea. ONA bags have great reviews and I can definitely see why! I found them through one of Jamie Beck's (Ann Street Studio) blog posts.

If you've followed my blog for a bit you know my love of all things cognac leather. Or leather in general. Or cognac (color, not the drink) in general.

One of my graduation gifts from my Mom was this gorgeous bag! I absolutely love it. I cannot rave about it enough. The perfect size for a camera bag. The perfect weight (not too heavy but just enough structure). The perfect leather and the perfect fit for my build.

(p.s. can you tell from the grin on my face that I was over the moon about this bag?! It's amazing.)

Scripture of the Week: Matthew 16:24-27

image (best source location I could find)

text added by me

Storyline, Donald Miller's blog is one of the most thought-provoking blogs I've subscribed to in a long time. I also love the emails from the Storyline community as well. This morning's email was "Two Critical Questions for a Meaningful Life." The two questions were the following:

What are my primary goals in life? 

What will be lost if I don't attain them? 

Thought-provoking, right? I love that these two questions remind me of many of Jesus' parables and the questions that he asked of His followers (which include us today). 

One particular passage that it reminded me of was Matthew 16:24-27. 

 Then Jesus said to His disciples, 

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, 

he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. 

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it;

 but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? 

Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 

For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, 

and will then repay every man according to His deeds. 

The photo above is all neat and in perfect order (which most beaches are not) and it reminds me of how I like my life. Accounting and balance is in my blood: I want everything neat and orderly and to all fall into place just as planned. Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way. But in the end, the primary goal that matters to me is if I pleased the Lord. Sure, I have other goals, I have other goals that I'm working on even right now. But the main one? It matters. I won't just lose things if I don't attain it, I lose me. I lose my identification of who I am, who I want to be in God's eyes and my very future itself. 

What goals are you setting that matter most? 

What will happen if you don't attain them?

Do you think of cause and effect when setting goals?

Scripture of the Week: II Corinthians 12:9

personal image

Guess what? Life isn't perfect. It isn't always roses, and it isn't always our best idea of happiness. But this verse helps me get through those times. HIS Strength. Not mine. 

A friend posted this quote on Instagram yesterday "The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything." Isn't that true? We can choose to make it a mountain or a molehill. Or just choose to acknowledge the existence of something in our life and move forward. 

Choosing to make the best today!