Have a nice day

P H O T O  O F  T H E  D A Y

MARCH 28, 2010

Life is a very time consuming thing sometimes.  There are days where I wish I had about 12 more hours in the day.  I would use those extra hours to relax and calm down.  There are days when I just need to relax and let everything go for just a minute.  

This past week was somewhat trying.  I had a day where I thought my world was crashing down and I would not let anyone get close to me.  The next day it made me open my eyes and realize that I am only human and everyone has different emotions.  

There are things people say and can effect the way you think, the way your day goes, and the way you treat people.  Thursday was one of those days.

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The other day I was headed to a party, and they asked if I could bring flour.  I stopped at a Walgreens off the highway.  I hadn't been to that store for anything but a flu shot in over two years.  I went up to the lady, and said, "Excuse me, can you help me?"  She looked at me and said "how can I help you?"  I asked her where the flour was and she lead the way.  I made small talk with her and told her I hadn't been into a Walgreens in a couple years.  She responded saying you should come by more often.  

As she handed me a bag of flour, I thanked her, paused and told her I hope you have a good evening.  I looked at her facial expression.  I think it was the first time in awhile or if ever that someone said that to her.  She looked at me confused and said thanks, you too.  

I am not exactly sure why I told her to have a good evening because I just usually say thanks for the help and continue on with my business.  Everything inside of me was telling me to say that.  So, I did and I left with a warm feeling that I possibly could of made her day.  

Something small and something so simple made me feel good.  I am not bragging about what I did because I want people to tell me how great I am or anything.  It is not my purpose.  It is knowing what you do and say can change someone's day or even make the smile.

Smiles are something wonderful to have.  Next time you are out.  Smile at that little old lady, the man who has velcro shoes on, the kid with mismatched clothes, or the woman who looks like she is on verge of a breakdown.  It might make their day even if they don't smile back.  They could think about it later that day and realized there is someone out there with a heart.  

Count your blessing and smile just a little bit more.

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Remember, I can make ugly, pretty!

Lesley

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I want to thank you / for giving me the best day of my life / Oh just to be with you / is having the best day of my life -- Dido
 

No photos, please

P H O T O  O F  T H E  D A Y

MARCH 21, 2010

 

 

People say they know you.  People say they wish they were you.  People say all these things about you, but are they really true? Do they really mean them?

People are very interesting creatures.  People want to be the people the see.  Do they really understand how much effort those people put in each day?  Do they see the hardwork they put in each day? Or do they think it is all luck? Do they know the suffering they experienced?

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There are days, I wish I was someone else living a different life.  I dream of what life will be like when I finally grow up or when I get a job -- if my business doesn't get off the ground. Yet, I thank God for the life I have.  There are things I want to change and memories I want to relive, but at the end of the day I am grateful for the family I have, the friends that I made, the memories that were discovered and all the other little things that keep going when the day decides to call it quits. 

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The other day I was blessed with one of the most touching jobs I could of ever received.  People brag about jobs they got, the celebrity they got to hang with and the money they got paid. I am not saying I have never done this.  I know I am guilty of doing it, too.  I am only human.

As days pass, the more and more I get connected to the Salvation Army.  It is an organization more in-depth than you will ever know and more fascinating than you can ever imagine. 

Each time, I go there I learn a little more about myself and who I am, along with getting an understanding of people. 

For the first time, yesterday I photographed a soup kitchen.  Most of them where regulars who came in to get a hot meal, to socialize and maybe to even get a hot shower.  There was a community forming before my eyes.  This was their way of life. 

It is hard for me to edit those pictures -- you learn so much from the facial expressions.  You sit back and realize that there really are people living on the streets, can't afford food to eat and haven't bathed in over weeks.   All that comes out from a simple photo.

There was a guy yesterday, who stated 10 year's ago I was giving to the Salvation Army and today I am here receiving from Salvation Army.  He went on to talk about how he used to be a business owner and now couldn't even afford food. 

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As I write this I can barely gather my thoughts and emotions to tell you about this situation.  It may be hard on me, but when the day calls it quits I know that is exactly where I need to be.  I am learning from people who I actually look up to.  They may not be the prettiest people, or the wealthiest people, but they are people that are inspiring me to live out my dreams. 

I try not to wish to be anyone else because there could be much more pain and suffering that I have experienced.  I can't handle that, but I can tell you this, I look up to people. Whether you are rich or poor, you can change someone's life.  It happened to me over the passed month. 

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I have no words to describe the emotions that I feel.  It is just something I wish all of you, young or old can experience.  I do not want to be put on a pedestal or be put down because of this.  I don't want to be thanked or under appreciated.  I just want you to experience this emotion that I am feeling.  

As I close this, I want you to be thankful for what you got and what you don't have.  I want you to understand that there are people out there who have a story that is worse than yours, and when you finally meet that person who is in worse condition than you are, listen to their story -- it probably is a good one.  

Be blessed.

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Remember, I can make ugly, pretty!

Lesley 

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"If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way."

In the last month

P H O T O  O F  T H E  D A Y

MARCH 21, 2010

 

It sure has been awhile since I have written an entry.   It was not because I was slacking or didn't want to -- it was because I had no energy.  I went full force at having this art show that it knocked the winds out of my sails.  I found myself doubting myself, second guessing what I was doing, and just flat out feeling overwhelmed.  

 

Many nights left me in tears or having an unnecessary argument with someone. I could tell you that was the last thing I wanted.  I just wanted everyone to be my friend, everyone to understand what I was going through and just to listen to me bitch [for lack of a better word] then tell me everything was going to be okay.  

 

I realized it was not healthy for me to be doing this, and before I knew it I was sitting at church at 8am listening to a priest talk.  It was just what I needed to keep me motivated.  As all of this was going on, there was nothing but sunshine.  The perfect sign of what I needed.  It brought me a smile and a little bit of hope.

Before I knew it, it was Thursday night and I was three hours behind schedule.  And of course everyone knows that brings frustration, tears, and thoughts of second guessing,  not something I wanted to happen the night before my show.  After a long night of hanging my photos, I still wasn't ready.  Friday was there before I knew it.  I wasn't nervous, I was more overwhelmed.  I thought what the hell am I doing.  

 

And before I knew it, it was all over.  The opening went perfectly. My brother kicked my night off perfectly.  He sent me a red rose with a note that made me cry. My mom dealt with me yelling and many friends listened to me panic right until the start of opening.  

 

I would like to think that I had the best opening there with the biggest crowd.  I don't know how many people where there, but it was fantastic.  I sure felt love that night.  I sold eight photos from about seventeen of them.  I consider that a success.  I have yet to hear something negative about show.  And I applaud myself for that.  

I know I couldn't of done it without certain people, and they know who they are, but I stand proud of what I did, who I am and what I continue to be.  

 

As I write this, I am filled with emotion.  I have come a long way. I have grown and blossomed into something beautiful.  I learned a lot in the last month.  I finally listened, finally saw, and finally believed -- I can smile, pat myself on the back and realize that I can do anything that I put my heart into. 

 

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If you know me, I might of told you about the one bird and the symbolism behind it.  [If you haven't heard it --  just ask me] I believe the symbolism was spread into many different things right before my opening.  

 

I let my dogs out two days prior to my show and looked and saw a red bird sitting there.  How cool, I thought. Just a simple way of him saying you can do it.  It was something that kept me smiling throughout the day.  

 

The next day I was driving with my sunroof open and I just happened to look up and there was a red airplane flying above me [He once had his pilot license].  This made me smile even bigger, he really is cheering me on -- he usually did when I had something big coming up. 

And on the day of my show, I got a single red rose from my brother.  I know it was my from my brother, but he always gave my mom red roses on special occasions.  I feel that it was part him too along with my brother.  

Signs may freak you out or simply may amaze you.  The amaze me.  It always brings things into perspective to me. They always happen when I seem to need them.  

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A lot has gone down in the last month and I hope I can keep updating this on a regular basis.  So, please stick with me.  These times have been trying, emotional, overwhelming, and successful, but it is hard for me to get situated to settle down to write.  I will do my best to keep you updated.  

Thank you for your support, your love, your warmth, and your hospitality.  Without you guys, I wouldn't of made it through.  Remember to make things beautiful -- go say hello to a stranger, hold the door for an elder, or put a quarter in an expired parking meter.  Also, know someone has a worse story to tell than you do. 

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Remember, I can make ugly, pretty!

Lesley

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"Everything will be alright in the end. If it's not alright, it's not the end" --anon.

Duck, Duck, Goose

P H O T O  O F  T H E  D A Y

MARCH 3, 2010

 

  “Take only memories, leave nothing but footprints.”  Chief Seattle

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Remember, I can make ugly, pretty!

Lesley

Good Seeing You Today

P H O T O  O F  T H E  D A Y

MARCH 2, 2010

 

 

Food for thought:  Have you ever thought about someone or something and an hour or two days later you see them?

Let me know if that has happened to you?  

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Remember, I can make ugly, pretty!

Lesley

 

Rabbit, Rabbit

P H O T O  O F  T H E  D A Y

MARCH 1, 2010

 

 

My energy is running low.  I have no motivation, but try to push myself on pure caffeine and adrenaline.  I successfully spilled coffee all down my leg while driving and getting it all over the driver side of my car.  This art show is a lot of work.  Don't get me wrong I am having a blast doing it, but there are a lot of details that you don't realize.  

The promoting, the planning, the finalizing, the framing, the showing, the art work itself.  Let alone what do you say to people, how do you act, what do you wear.  It is getting to me.  I feel I bit off more than I can chew.  

I need ten more hours in the day and interns to be doing my grunt work.  I need three point 7 of me and a money tree to shake.  

Please don't get me wrong.  I am learning alot from this experience and alot about me, but the panic button was pushed.  Less than two weeks, that is crunch time.  No turning back.

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Happy note! My new flyers look amazing and stand out quite well.  So do my business cards, magnets, post cards and rack cards.  I also received a mouse pad, which I gave to my mom.  Looks pretty amazing to me.

My flyers now hang in Rubber City Clothing, Made in Akron, Acme Artists, Cyrus Custom Framing, Absolute Tattoo Shop, Sonnets, Whole Day Cafe, and the Wadsworth Post Office.  

Tomorrow the list will continue to grow.  A skateshop, another Artish gallery, Possibly a club.  I am trying to think of other places but my brain is not currently working.  Hopefully more will be spread around.  I love networking, but it sure is a lot of work.  

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Remember, I can make ugly, pretty!

Lesley

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There's always gonna be another mountain / I'm always gonna wanna make it move / Always gonna be a uphill battle / Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there /  Ain't about what's waiting on the other side / It's the climb -- Miley