close
SM-Stamp-Join-1
  • Selfish Mother is the most brilliant blogging platform. Join here for free & you can post a blog within minutes. We don't edit or approve your words before they go live - it's up to you. And, with our cool new 'squares' design - you can share your blog to Instagram, too. What are you waiting for? Come join in! We can't wait to read what YOU have to say...

  • Your basic information

  • Your account information

View as: GRID LIST

Something strange has happened…

1
Something strange has happened in our household and I am very excited about it. I’m not sure if turning 40 has anything to do with it (I blame that for most things), or whether it is something that has always been in me but suppressed ever since my art teacher told me I’d never pass art GCSE (harsh, yet fair). But since restarting my blog I’ve discovered a love of Instagram and taking photos. And @suits_muddyboots is really enjoying getting her creative on.

I started writing again because I missed it and because it brings me a huge amount of joy

SelfishMother.com
2
– something of which we all need more. I am interested in people, their lives and what they have to say (ie I’m nosey) and my FOMO meant that I wanted to rejoin the conversation. But I also wanted to create something visually beautiful, so that the people who read my posts didn’t just see words. We know that the proverbial picture can paint a thousand words, but photos can also enhance themes and ideas played out in paragraphs of text.

It was also important to me that my work was authentic and real, because that is how authentic and real

SelfishMother.com
3
connections with people are made. I am finding my own voice in the words that I write, and so I decided that the photos I use on my blog would also be taken by me. Risky call for someone who has never shown an interest in, nor indeed flare for, photography! So where to begin? Anyone who knows me well enough will know that I cannot start anything new without purchasing at least one book about it. For example I have books on acrylic painting, glass blowing and dog training. I don’t even own a dog. And so for my new #instaproject I have treated myself to
SelfishMother.com
4
three new tomes. My favourite so far is Hashtag Authentic by Sara Tasker.

Now, the one thing which made me hesitate before picking up my iPhone to start snapping was the worry about the amount of time we spend on our phones. But something that really struck a chord with me from Sara’s book is the idea that a good photo can make the ordinary, everyday things special. Being a huge advocate of meditation and mindfulness this resonated with me. Normally people say ‘put away your phone’, but nowadays a phone is so much more than, well, a phone. It is

SelfishMother.com
5
also a camera that can be used to record the ordinary things in life, giving them new meaning and making them extra-ordinary. This morning, when I was taking the photo above of my LO munching on his toast, I was totally present and in the moment. I saw the details you don’t usually see in the bread, the jam, the bowl, his hands and even the table top. Things you don’t normally notice in the rush to get out to school. Taking a photo makes you pay attention, pause, and think. It also reminded me that I had forgotten Pancake Day…!

So, here we are

SelfishMother.com
6
– something other than the camera shutter has definitely clicked with me. I am loving learning something new – you are never too old to do that. Even when you’re 40. I have no idea where I am going with it, if anywhere, but that is the beauty. I always have a plan, but for the first time I am doing something where there is no real aim or goal. I am just enjoying it and seeing what happens – and that is hugely liberating.
SelfishMother.com

By

This blog was originally posted on SelfishMother.com - why not sign up & share what's on your mind, too?

Why not write for Selfish Mother, too? You can sign up for free and post immediately.


We regularly share posts on @SelfishMother Instagram and Facebook :)

- 5 Mar 19

Something strange has happened in our household and I am very excited about it. I’m not sure if turning 40 has anything to do with it (I blame that for most things), or whether it is something that has always been in me but suppressed ever since my art teacher told me I’d never pass art GCSE (harsh, yet fair). But since restarting my blog I’ve discovered a love of Instagram and taking photos. And @suits_muddyboots is really enjoying getting her creative on.

I started writing again because I missed it and because it brings me a huge amount of joy – something of which we all need more. I am interested in people, their lives and what they have to say (ie I’m nosey) and my FOMO meant that I wanted to rejoin the conversation. But I also wanted to create something visually beautiful, so that the people who read my posts didn’t just see words. We know that the proverbial picture can paint a thousand words, but photos can also enhance themes and ideas played out in paragraphs of text.

It was also important to me that my work was authentic and real, because that is how authentic and real connections with people are made. I am finding my own voice in the words that I write, and so I decided that the photos I use on my blog would also be taken by me. Risky call for someone who has never shown an interest in, nor indeed flare for, photography! So where to begin? Anyone who knows me well enough will know that I cannot start anything new without purchasing at least one book about it. For example I have books on acrylic painting, glass blowing and dog training. I don’t even own a dog. And so for my new #instaproject I have treated myself to three new tomes. My favourite so far is Hashtag Authentic by Sara Tasker.

Now, the one thing which made me hesitate before picking up my iPhone to start snapping was the worry about the amount of time we spend on our phones. But something that really struck a chord with me from Sara’s book is the idea that a good photo can make the ordinary, everyday things special. Being a huge advocate of meditation and mindfulness this resonated with me. Normally people say ‘put away your phone’, but nowadays a phone is so much more than, well, a phone. It is also a camera that can be used to record the ordinary things in life, giving them new meaning and making them extra-ordinary. This morning, when I was taking the photo above of my LO munching on his toast, I was totally present and in the moment. I saw the details you don’t usually see in the bread, the jam, the bowl, his hands and even the table top. Things you don’t normally notice in the rush to get out to school. Taking a photo makes you pay attention, pause, and think. It also reminded me that I had forgotten Pancake Day…!

So, here we are – something other than the camera shutter has definitely clicked with me. I am loving learning something new – you are never too old to do that. Even when you’re 40. I have no idea where I am going with it, if anywhere, but that is the beauty. I always have a plan, but for the first time I am doing something where there is no real aim or goal. I am just enjoying it and seeing what happens – and that is hugely liberating.

Did you enjoy this post? If so please support the writer: like, share and comment!


Why not join the SM CLUB, too? You can share posts & events immediately. It's free!

Post Tags


Keep up to date with Selfish Mother — Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media