No Such Thing as Ordinary

So I'm into photography. If you've read some of my other posts, you'd know that. But if you're new here, I'll say it again:
I'm into photography.

My absolute favorite thing about it is that I can use my photos to show others how I see the world. We all look at things a little differently, so we experience things a little differently. For example, the other day I was driving with a friend (I think we were getting dinner or something) and the sunset was stunning. So I got all excited and mentioned it to him, and he responded with "What? It's just a normal sunset."

NO. No sir. Normal sunsets do not exist. Each one is different, each one has its own gorgeous blend of different colors that paint the clouds and the sky. Each one is exquisite. (Kind of like people, eh?)

See, both gorgeous, yet so different :)


Anyway, times like these make me realize that I see things differently than a lot of people. And for me, there is no such thing as "ordinary." Everything is extraordinary! (Though that word doesn't make much sense, does it? Extra ordinary... whatever.) And there is so much beauty in the smallest everyday things.

That's why I love photography :) I can show people that simple things we often overlook can be just as beautiful as the most breathtaking sights.

This week I took a trip to Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah. It's in the absolute middle of nowhere, but it's the darkest place in the US, which makes it perfect for stargazing. And you can get gorgeous photos, like this one.
Stunning, right? And most people can appreciate the beauty of a sight like that. But what about something less obviously beautiful?

This, friends, is a rock. Just a big ol' rock. But I think it's really interesting, with the crooked lines and the contrasting colors... And a lot of people wouldn't ever think to take a picture of something like that because it's just a rock. And yet I see so much more, so much potential to be more than just another run-of-the-mill rock.

Whether it's a puddle, a car, a lil bug, your baby cousin, anything you think is extraordinary is extraordinary :)

It's amazing, how we see life in so many varying ways. And it's even neater that combining our different views can create a new idea that's so much greater than any one of us could've imagined :) So friends, share your view with the world, through writing, photography, whatever. Find a way to express how you see this wonderful earth. You never know who will be inspired by what you see :)

You Have to Love You

Today's lesson, kiddos, is about loving yourself.

Society is brutal sometimes, especially when it comes to how you look. Looks are a big deal in this messed up world of ours, and people like to convince you that if you don't look exactly perfect, that makes you fat or ugly or whatever. But you know what? That's all a fat load of crap.

So I'm a 19-year-old girl, and for the most part my self esteem is (more or less) through the roof. I know I'm a pretty neat gal and I can admit that sometimes I look really dang cute. But then sometimes society's weird, skewed standards of "beauty" get to me. Like today, for example, my mom was getting me new jeans and needed to know what size. I'm like a 6 usually, which is just fine, right? But I caught myself wishing I were a few sizes smaller.

That's not cool.

Our standards of beauty shouldn't make someone feel bad for not being a couple sizes smaller than they are. When that happens, you know something is seriously wrong.

It shouldn't matter what other people think, yet for so many of us it does. Society is teaching us we can't love ourselves if we don't look a certain way, which is utter garbage. If you're a size 4, awesome! If you're a size 14, fantastic! It doesn't matter, as long as you love yourself.

When you love yourself, it's so much easier to ignore what other people think. It's easy to see yourself for what you're really worth. It's easy to be confident in yourself no matter what lies the media is trying to tell you. There is no such thing as a perfect body--remember that.

Remember that it's okay to be confident with who you are and how you are :) Remember that it's okay to love yourself (until you cross over into narcissism, at which point it gets a little weird). If you're healthy and happy with your own body, then who cares what anyone else thinks?? People can be mean and judgmental; don't let them get to you.

I know this has been more geared towards girls, but dear boys, this definitely applies to you too. I don't know if you face the same pressure to look a certain way, but either way it doesn't matter one bit.
Everyone is beautiful in their own way and we all deserve to be able to love ourselves :)