~Once is Not Enough~

This is one amazing idea!!! So Richard Radstone has a blog in which he find 365 strangers in 365 days. I think its brilliant and really want to try this out. First I am going to need a camera. But check out his stuff! Here is what he has to say about this blog:

 

The goal, every day for the next year, approach one stranger, photograph them and promptly blog the experience.

Rain or shine, hot or cold, healthy or ill, no days missed.

I’ll do my best to create interesting photos, and for the sake of entertainment, work to get myself into a sticky situation from time to time. It’s a huge commitment. I’m sure there will be some hero photographs and some not so magnificent ones.

Let’s see what happens!
~Richard

 “If you want to reach a state of bliss, then go beyond your ego and the internal dialogue. Make a decision to relinquish the need to control, the need to be approved, and the need to judge. Those are the three things the ego is doing all the time. It’s very important to be aware of them every time they come up.”

~Deepak Chopra

A Little Thing that I have noticed is the amount of hurt going on lately and it makes me sad. I see friends hurting and lost in their emotions, and I don’t know how to help other than be there and make up for past decisions. So here is the little advice I have to give to you.

1. Change Your Perspective
Don’t Points Fingers but Look in the Mirror

This was a particularly hard lesson for me so I almost assume everyone goes through it because we always hear “think about others!” as we grow and learn. But the truth in this statement isn’t going to just help with perspective in a situation, but open you mind to understand things greater.
When we forget our own egos and stop trying to defend ourselves and take a step back and look at the situation we can see our responsibility in the situation that has unfolded in front of us. For example, spreading a rumor. It will come back and bite you in the butt because rumors spread like wildfire (especially if you are in a school setting), and the fire will roar till it eats away from the person who started it and to the others around it. Or for another example, if you are involved in a sport or an extra-curricular activity and you feel sick so you choose not to go to practice, thinking nothing of it, and your spot is given to someone else. It would hurt, badly, I understand and I recognize that fact but are you going to blame the person who has come every single day or worked hard? Or will you look in the mirror and use it as a chance to change, grow, and learn. That’s the point of life right? To learn and grow wise?
Flip that perspective and allow yourself to shed that ego and realize that it isn’t other people’s fault and it will open you to a door that will allow to grow and succeed in anything you do! I promise you that!

2. Find the Healthy Balance
The Id and the Super-Ego

       According to the dictionary the ego is:  The part of the psychic apparatus that experiences and reacts to the outside world and thus mediates between the primitive drives of the id and the demands of the social and physical environment. Alright so that basically means the ego is what is stuck in the middle of the Id and the Super-Ego. Now the Id, as stated above, is the primitive drives that lead us toward survival, i.e. hunger, tiredness, sexual drives, anger, those are all examples of primitive drives. Now the Super-Ego is the big party guy. The Super-Ego is our need for socializing and the need of attention from our physical environment.
The ego lies somewhere in the middle. It combines the pulls from our primitive drives, and the glittering lights of our environment. The ego (in the context of this post) is necessarily the need to protect oneself, as a kind of social survival. The ego is not bad, but when the balance of the ego, Id, and Super-Ego are really wacko (i.e. anorexia-social demands over survival drive) then problems occur. The same with balancing the ego with our morals, ideals, and perspectives on the world. If one is egotistical than one is conceited and “self-important”.  So it is the balance that we need to learn in life that will awaken wisdom.
Look for ways that you could make simply changes in your life that would affect your ego. Those “little white lies”? Blaming others? Hating on others? Judging? Snide comments? I understand that some of these things are basic human acts. We cannot help but make judgements on a person the second we meet them because it is a part of our psychological need to survive and it has been defined by our culture. Try to recognize when your ego is stepping in front of you, limiting your vision. As Deepak Chopra said, relinquish the need to control, to be approved, and to judged. Be aware of these things constantly because your ego is you! Its not going to disappear. But I believe that you are strong enough to make the right choice, what ever that may be.
Do not be a person that blames the world for every circumstance. Dont allow the world to walk over you. Find the middle. To where you can see others clearly and recognize their perspectives, and to where you can still protect yourself from the primitive drives and social demands.

Remember:
Everyone has the opportunity for greatness. Sometimes its easier for some than it is for others, but we all have the opportunity or the choice to be great and live with wisdom, hope, and love.

Most of all.
Don’t forget to love. Love yourself. Love your friends and family. Love your enemy.
Love heals. While Hatred destroys.
Be the Change you wish to see in the world.
Be the Love.

Rise and Rise and Rise and Rise
The dead are coming back to life,
And all who live in Christ will Rise!

                                                 -Rise by The Skull Church band

No I didn’t get bit by a snake. But I did get a little wake up call. From who you might ask? Well, from God. Tonight was Skull Church, it is a church service that is put the first Wednesday of every month, it includes a rocking Skull Church band, pastor Levi Lusko’s sermon, and a guest band. It is actually one of the coolest things ever and if you would like more information or to watch Levi’s very inspirational sermon from tonight, please go to www.skullchurch.com or to learn about the church that puts in on (Freshlife) go to www.freshlifechurch.com. Who knows it might change your life. Skull Church is viewed in over 100 countries in the world. There are only four campuses and the main one here in Kalispell, but every event is online! So, what do you have to lose? Check it out.

Pastor Levi Lusko has an amazing way of preaching and teaching God’s word. God speaks through Levi in a way that is very inspiring, easy to relate to, and understandable. He always says that it’s all about the relationship and loving God. Not about not sinning, but about repenting your sins. Claiming your sins and repenting and asking for forgiveness because God is always there and always loving.

Skull Church is always fun but before Skull Church my friend Elise and I have a little tradition. We always go somewhere to eat (in the summer it was a little shop named Norms News, now we usually go to DQ), then we walk a block to the thrift store and thrift away! We try on crazy outfits and find the most horrid things in the store and make each other wear them, but we always ending buying something vintage we find adorable. After thrifting, we walk a few more blocks to the Freshlife campus where Skull Church is held called The Liberty. When we arrive it’s usually around 5:45-6 (doors open at 6:30) and the lines well exceed the block but because of our high-class connections we casually walk up to the front of the line and join in with our big group of friends. Annoying and middle-school like but better than standing in a line for three hours.

I always look forward to Skull Church for the fun times with my friends, and listening to the band, but most importantly it’s because I love seeing all those people dedicating their life to Christ. I know that the world is slowly healing then becoming more injured as a kind of cycle but I feel that if 50 people can dedicate their life to a higher cause filled with light and love (any religion not just Christianity) than the world slowly becomes a better place.

Wake Up, New Life Awaits.

Photo is done by my amazing friend Emily Moore. Please check out her stuff it is amazing. Emily Moore Photography

Today my family and I went on a carriage ride. You know, just like in all the movies. Horse drawn sleigh, everyone huddled around for warmth, warm coffee, and laughs the whole time. Except on this carriage ride we didn’t ride in the snow to some fancy scene or romantic get-a-way, today we drove the three miles it took to get to the fast food restaraunt Wendy’s. Yes, it’s no joke. Even the news paper showed up and took pictures of us! It was lots and lots of fun. People driving by had smiles from ear to ear, little children were standing on their porches and asking us if they could pet the “horsie”. I love the way simply riding around in a horse drawn carriage can bring such excitement to everyone who is witness to it. Even this little adventure brought so much joy to people.

During the ride my father looks back and says, “Guys! Dream big. Anything can happen. This was one of my dreams and it has come true, thank you.” I don’t know what I dream for in the future. I know I want a loving relationship with my husband, family, friends and God. I want to be successful in life, but what I want specifically? I have no clue. So I have thought a lot and  hope to eventually come up with something good for you.

This is one of my little brothers; his name is Dakota and he is a little cutie. All my brothers joined us on the cariage adventure we went on today and it was bundles of joy!

I will throw you an update when the pictures are in the news paper.

Dream Big. Anything Can Happen.

Well here is a little about myself:

I am a 17 year-old student in Montana. I have four brothers and one sister, two amazing parents, four dogs, three cats, two birds… the whole package. My father is optimistic and he helps me see the beautiful things and life and helps me understand the things that everyone should know, so I wanted to share these little nuggets of advice with you. My mother is a photographer and knows how to find the beauty in any situation (in a photo, I mean) and I think photography is a great way to relate to others in a deeper level. Words can speak to us but the colors can make us feel. That’s why I hope to include photos of my life and things I find beautiful. I am no photographer, i give you that, there are plenty of people better than I am but I believe everyone can capture the beauty around them. That is exactly what I hope to do for you.

I love life and I love beautiful things! Life is difficult and confusing sometimes but I believe the beautiful things in life make it all worth while! So I want to write about my life and the little things that I find absolutely beautiful and worth living for; things that just make my day better. So it’s a new year! Its time to show the world what your about, how to make a difference, and how to enjoy EVERY little thing in your life.

Its 2012 baby, let’s get this party going.

(photo by: Kurt Shaffer Photography)