soul food friday | universal truths

I've been a bit of a sad sack these last few weeks. I've done a lot of crying, been tangled up in thoughts and indulged in much soul searching.  In fact, it's all been a bit...

[yesterday's fat mum slim photoaday pic - a favourite word]

And while I said that I wouldn’t make the blog a diary of my personal trials and tribulations, it occurred to me that there have been a few light bulb moments lately that may be worth sharing. Some universal truths if you like. Things that have hit me over the head and not, I dare say, for the first time in my life either! In no particular order:

• Uncertainty is anxiety inducing, so make sure you get the answers,  even if you don’t like them.
• Not knowing is much, much worse than knowing.         
• You can’t look forward while you’re constantly looking back.
• Everyone owns a piece of the truth about a situation – you should find out what those truths are.
• Exercise really does help, much as I hate to admit it :)
• Find something to immerse yourself in. Develop a new interest or rekindle an old. For me it’s been a digital photography course (I've got a long way to go but here are some early attempts...and remember possums, Rome wasn't built in a day!)

...this was a serendipitous (hi Felicity) event, having booked the course a while ago, but it’s been a life saver...

• When you're very sad you should be kind to yourself, kinder than you've ever been. 
• You always need something to look forward to...for me it's travel. Morocco in December, and a work trip to Shanghai in September.
• Let yourself feel all the emotions you need to feel, whether they're 'worthy' or not, but probably think for a bit before acting on them.  Not one of my strengths I'm afraid :)
• There will always be a reason for what’s happening, even if it’s not clear and even if you don’t like it, or even if it’s just to confirm that sometimes there really is no good reason! 
• Remind yourself of timeless wisdom - I'm re-reading The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, especially the part describing how we feel sorrow because we've previously experienced joy, and vice versa - it's comforting. It's ageless. This too shall pass right?
• Take any help that’s offered, but only if you’re ready to receive it – sometimes it’s not quite the right time.     
• There’s no such thing as perfect. No, really, there isn’t, but imperfection can be ok too. We just need to see beyond the imperfections.

I read somewhere a long time ago that the universe keeps on giving you the same old lesson until you get it through your thick skull (I’m paraphrasing of course). This seems to be very true for me, and to be honest I'm a bit tired of it. I get it. Enough already! 
And if all else fails, take the day off work and go on a road trip with some buddies to that place that sells the Swedish meatballs (yeah, that one)…that’s what I’m doing today. Have a fab weekend. I've got a photography course field trip to Captain's Flat tomorrow. Fun. Yes, it surely will be...if only I can find my memory card. Sigh.
all images: kerry martin / a tranquil townhouse

in my dreams...

It won’t be any surprise to people who’ve been following along for a while that I can get quite immersed in new things :)

Photography is the latest (I won’t say fad), but instead, let's just say it's a bit of a consuming interest at the moment.

I dream of being able to take photos like these I saw at the NationalPortrait Gallery on Sunday. What amazing captures of extraordinary faces. The winner...

by Roderick McNicol

...and some other favourites. It was mainly, but not always, the older faces that grabbed me. And the stories behind them of course.

Peter West

by Matthew Abbott

 by Andrew Campbell

by Eryca Green

 by Miles Standish

I'm so lucky to live in Canberra. 

I’ve started a photography course...I’m only one week in and completely bamboozled by F-stops, apertures and ISOs. But I’ll get there!