Understanding the Underrated
October 20, 2019
Now with this post, I'm going to be honest, I'm not sure where exactly I want to take this. I'm about to share a thought that I've been pondering for some time now.
Awhile back, I was at home having lunch with my parents. We were munching on the deli slices my nana had purchased from Natali, an authentic Italian grocery store just outside of Chicago. As I was constructing a gorgeous Italian sub, full of Prosciutto and Mortadella, my mom looked at me and said, "I love that you love food."
I'm sorry, what?
This phrase seemed so strange. As I looked at my mom quizzically, she elaborated. She went on to say she loves that I don't over think anything and always eat what I want. In no way was this judgmental, she was merely stating a fact. When I eat, I will eat whatever looks and sounds good. I don't overthink by looking too far into things such as calories and so forth. This, this is an important piece of information.
I eat what I want because I can. I am lucky to say I have a healthy relationship with food. Again, this seems strange to be writing about, even pointing out but the gravity of privilege that weighs into this phrase is strong. A phrase unfortunately many cannot relate to. But why- why is this a privilege? Well, here's why.
Food can be a huge obstacle, even the evil villain in some peoples stories. There are people who have an eating disorder, or have some type of disease that prevents them from eating, rather being feed through a feeding tube, or people who need to take medication but then in turn, disrupts their appetite. So again, the fact that I can say I have the ability to choose what I want to eat and when I want to eat is a privilege. Something that seems so simple to most but is not to many.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is that things in life seem simple but always understand the gravity of everyday abilities. We don't understand what we have until it's pointed out to us which again is another strange thing.
Why can't we see why we should grateful everyday? Why does it always have to be other people who point it out to us for us to see?
I feel blessed and understand how privileged I am to say:
I have a healthy relationship with food.
I have the ability to control my body of what it eats.
I have the ability to control when I eat.
I have the financial ability to eat how I want to eat.
Besides just eating food, understand that food is a gateway into understanding cultures, a different and savory way of experiencing life. A level of normality that is unfortunately unattainable for some.
I guess the message I am trying to relay is that this is, no pun intended, a food for thought moment. A thought that ties into my recent posts about the 30 Day Challenge. Understanding and appreciating what you have. Know that privilege is presented is many forms; it's not always big things.
Though we should carry this mindset daily, it is a fitting topic to take with you as we transition into the holiday season. By understanding what you have this will help to understand what you can give to the world because there's so much on person can do. So much you can do.
The world can never have too many acts of kindness and love.
Till next time, cheers!
Clo
Cultivating Creativity
October 18, 2019
Being 22 means that I am a member of Generation Z; the generation that grew up with the privilege of having traditional and new ways of learning, playing and being creative. I was able to draw on paper but I was also taught how to draw on the computer- thanks for those fond memories Kid Pix.
From here, that software was just the beginning of my exposure to technology. I feel as though I am aging myself since I grew up during a time when the iPod was a strange 'thing' and the company Apple seemed like a strange new futuristic company that may or may not work out. (Little did we know the impact it would have on the world). I had witnessed the evolution of these gadgets, the company and the internet as a whole.
Facebook was the latest 'it' thing to have around 2008. MySpace who?
Then, Twitter was the next platform I eagerly joined in 2010. While Twitter took a hot sec to takeoff, since people took awhile to understand how to work and properly utilize it beyond a space to fangirl over celebrities, it slowly become Facebook 2.0. A platform that allowed for more creative freedom. Then next thing I knew, new platforms kept popping up left and right. Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest and Youtube.
During this time, I was finding new outlets that let me continue to grow creatively in a way I wasn't able to do before. I was watching videos of fashion hauls, following accounts for fashion, hair, and beauty inspiration, while also having a place to store and share my photos and thoughts with others.
As I previously mentioned in another post, fashion is my safe haven. My comfort blanket that I love to share with others. Unbeknownst to me, the pictures I had been sharing of my outfits either on myself or laid out on the floor followed by descriptive captions would soon become known as 'Outfit Of The Days' and 'Flat-lays.' Techniques that are now constantly used by fashion bloggers today.
Fast forward to 2019, a time where bitterness is as potent as a sour Warhead, these media platforms have grown. They've become a place where it seems as though,
"Everyone on Instagram is a photographer. Or a chef. Or an artist. Or a fashion blogger. Or a dancer. Which is pretty awesome actually. People didn't get this chance to showcase their talent earlier. Do your thing. Be creative. Let the whole world see it. Sorry if you were expecting a joke," (Anonymous).
Too often, there is a stigma and mockery that follows being excited or even passionate about being creative, especially when it comes to Instagram. It seems like everyone is a chef, fashionista, dancer or photographer because for the first time, these people have been given the opportunity to share their gift with the world. The first opportunity to share and display their passion, thus the overload of similar accounts.
On another related note, this stigma is a general normality that's carried with the arts. In terms of academics in school, if one understands and excels in traditional courses, they're deemed as smart. If one isn't able to keep up, then it's embarrassing to not be good and need extra help. But if one isn't good at fine arts, then it's okay, "not everyone was made to be creative." A traditional job is on a higher pedestal, whereas a job in the creative arts is not deemed as credible and risky.
Now, this is not an argument of who deserves more praise than the other, or who is smarter. Rather, I am merely questioning why each worlds aren't looked at as equal? Equally, they are both challenging, important, and made for specific people. Weaknesses do not make people any less of a human, rather just an area they have room to grow in. With weakness comes strength; no matter the strength, allow people to celebrate what they were made to do.
More often than not, social media is a joke. In some regards, yes the Sugar Bear Hair and other useless brand deals do not help this stigma, but nevertheless, I stand behind the platforms since at the end of the day, they're a creative outlet. Being 'extra' in order to bring your vision to life, organizing your feed by color or filter and connecting with people based on similar interest is the point and thrill of it all. Clicking through endless artistic accounts is what gets my mind racing 1,000 miles an hour. There's endless creative possibilities of what visions I get, want to bring to life and research I can conduct to gain further inspiration.
If you don't understand or see the point, there's nothing wrong with that. To all their own. There are other passions people have that I don't understand. But just because you may not have the same passion as another person does not make their passion any less.
Are there aspects that need to be changed? Of course! All of this is still new. So as the platforms continue to alter for the better, continue to say your jokes, make the memes- they're pretty entertaining and at times true. But understand that these platforms have cultivated a creative spark and spirit that is not going to be dulled anytime soon.
Till next time, cheers!
Clo
Food For Thought
October 8, 2019
Today marks the end of the 30 Day Challenge. A challenge created by Alfie Deyes; a challenge that surprised me and made me reevaluate my life. Now, that sounds deeper than I intended it to but I guess that's fitting since this challenge ending up being deeper than I had originally anticipated.
In my previous post, I discussed how my challenge was to focus on what I have rather than what I don't have. Within the first week, I had an epiphany. That epiphany being that I have the power to change the narrative. It's up to me to understand what I have, appreciate that but to then, figure out which steps I need to take towards accomplishing the goals I have for myself.
Not only did this new mindset allow me to understand what I actions I need to take in my life moving forward, as well as revamp my positive thinking, this challenge also allowed me to take charge of my life again. I've been able to have a new outlook moving forward when it comes to my finances, relationships, career, etc.
Although the challenge Deyes had set-up for his followers is technically 'over,' I challenge you to think of a goal for yourself to complete within 30 days. Try this challenge out for yourself! It doesn't have to be as in-depth as mine. It can be as simple as trying to read 2 hours a day for 30 days, or working out more, or unplugging from your phone. Whatever you choose to do, be dedicated to making those changes in your life!
Sometimes you have to be challenged in order for you to actually make changes in your life. So, here's to bettering yourself!
Till next time, cheers!
Clo
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