 We carry in us an insatiable desire for more. Desire for more money, more friends, a bigger house, nicer car. It's natural to want more and desire more, but when you get into the mindset of needing to get more, it makes you feel empty and look for other ways to fulfill yourself.
The wish for happiness exists within every single human being; however, the concept of happiness varies depending on the development of each individual. The desire for more, bigger and better is never-ending, and that doesn't just mean material things; we are always looking for the long-lasting emotional high as well. But, often, this is the wrong way to go about it. Think about it. Happiness isn't something that we chase; it's something that happens naturally, and this is why the pursuit of happiness is entirely flawed. We have this conception that happiness means joyfulness and excitement, but humans aren't meant to stay joyful or excited at all times. So if one is focused on pursuing happiness, even momentarily achieved happiness, what is one to do when these feelings wax and wane? It can set you up for a trap when you begin to realize that all of your life cannot be joyful and exciting at all times. Before you question that, I'm not saying you can't have moments of happiness; of course, you will, but you will also have moments of sadness, fear and pain. Just like any other human, you feel many emotions. The thing that is missing is being entirely in the present moment with our thoughts. We get so caught up with the idea of, "In the future, I'll be happy, I'll be happier once I get a better paying job," by doing this, we are not allowing ourselves to realize that usually in the present moment, most things are joyful and calm. It's time to reimagine happiness and give a new definition of what that word means. Genuine happiness is when we can go within and work through all of the things that are holding us back. It also correlates to other stuff like cultivating gratitude, embracing all feelings that arise with curiosity and compassion, developing the capacity to create a meaningful narrative of our life, and developing enough intimacy with ourselves that we can engage in relationships with others.
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 “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” --Albert Einstein
Fall is a beautiful time of year. It's a time where the heat of the summer fades away, and the crisp chill in the air comes in to create perfect sweater weather. So before the brisk winter cold kicks in, take advantage of this weather by going outside and connecting with nature. If you have hiking trails nearby or a natural park, take a morning or afternoon stroll down the trails. Not only will it allow you to get your body moving and your heart pumping, but it will also allow you to be present with yourself. Use this exercise as an opportunity to disconnect from technology. Take this time to turn off your phone for a while, live in the moment, and reconnect with your body and mind. For example:
It doesn't have to be a race; it's about the journey. Again, it's about disconnecting and being present with yourself and your surroundings, along with quieting your mind from the hectic motions of your daily routine. If you want to enhance your experience, why not listen to some relaxing music, have one of your favourite drinks at hand, or write about what you are seeing and feeling in a journal? Spending some time outside and in nature brings us a state of mental and emotional clarity that relieves stress. It's been proven that spending time in nature creates positive emotions and reconnects us with ourselves. So before it becomes too cold outside, take advantage of the fall weather by spending some time outdoors and connecting with nature.  Inspiration can come at any time and any moment, and I can’t even begin to express how many times I’ve seen something and thought, “damn, I wish I brought my camera with me.”
Once you get into the art of photography, the options are endless when it comes to creating a digital masterpiece, but first things first, you need to know how to control the beast and tame it in the way you like it. Yes, I’m talking about your camera. There are so many ways you can create a beautiful shot, and depending on what you’re shooting, there are a few basic skills every beginning photographer should have in their rule handbook.
The easiest way to solve this is to pay attention to the direction and softness of the light. If the light is too harsh, you could get bad shadows going across your subject, which is especially a problem for portrait photography. If your light is coming in and creating an unflattering look on your subject, see what you can do to move around your light source, whether in a studio or outside, wait until you can see your subject correctly through your viewfinder.
That’s why it’s best to be selective and remember quality over quantity. Sure, you can take over 2000 photos over the course of eight hours at a wedding, but a lot of the time, only about 500 turn out great, and that’s ok. So promise your clients quality over quantity.
ISO: Controls the camera’s sensitivity to light. Shutter Speed: Controls how long the shutter stays open when you take a picture. Aperture: This is the opening of your lens and controls how much light gets through the camera sensor. If you can apply all of this into your daily manual, I promise your work will start being more consistent, more clear and you’ll be proud of yourself!  2021 has been quite the year. Between lockdowns, vaccination roll-outs, an election with political division, it's understandable how people might feel uneasy, scared and unhopeful about where we are heading coming out of the pandemic.
With all that's going on, let's not forget to be thankful for some things that we may take for granted. Being Connected Throughout this pandemic, a big thing to be thankful for is that it's 2021, meaning that we have technology that keeps us connected and busy. There's a lot of anger and fear being spread online. Still, one giant plus for always being connected through social media and numerous devices is that it allows us to communicate with family and friends when we aren't allowed to see each other. Also, because of technology:
Imagine if this pandemic happened before the early 2000s, before iPhones, Netflix and all the other apps and devices we have at our disposal. People would feel even more uncertain and disconnected than they already are. Family and Friends When people are losing loved ones due to COVID, take a moment to be thankful for the friends and family you have in your life and cherish the relationships you have. The lockdown has put a new perspective on how we view our relationships, so we shouldn't take time with our loved ones for granted. Employment Unfortunately, some businesses had to close during the pandemic, which meant many people lost their jobs. If you are still employed or recently got a new job after losing your last one, take some time to be thankful for your current employment status, as many people may have lost work during this time. Finding new ways to be self-sufficient During the pandemic, there was a spike in DIY projects. Since people had more time on their hands, what better way to pass the time than to catch up on fixing things around the house or building a fence in your backyard? This time also saw a spike in cooking and baking as people tried out new recipes to cook for themselves and their families. It's this type of self-sufficiency that should continue long after the pandemic is over. The little things Don't forget to be thankful for the little things, which can include:
This Thanksgiving, take a moment to be grateful for the small things you may take for granted daily. Especially in times of uncertainty, take a moment to remember the good things you have going on. |
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