I have always loved aesthetics. For those who do not wish to read about hair, makeup, and clothing, I suggest abandoning this post right now.
Anyway, the art of style- whether it be hair styles, hair color, makeup trends, or style trends- have always intrigued me. Style is art, and art has always been one of my passions. The other day I got a huge haircut. By huge I mean a drastic change; from long bob (lob) to pixie cut. It's incredible how the perceptions of myself and my ability to act on the confidence of an idea have inspired me to cut my hair so short and since then. I know that sounds a bit silly, but if we all think about it, hair is part of our identity. Many people, especially females, are willing to suffer pain of death before surrendering to a hair style they feel is ill-fitting or unbecoming. When I showed my hair stylist the picture of what I wanted, her only response was: "when you cry I am not holding you in my lap." But my resolve did not waver. I had made an appointment, I had found a pixie cut that is flattering for curly hair, and we were doing this. Well, I did it. The last time my hair was this short was when I was an infant. It feels good. Drying my hair takes all of ten minutes (maximum), and styling means a pump of mousse (that can be any old drugstore brand, mind you). It also makes me perceive other aspects of my appearance or aesthetic differently as well. I think more critically about what I am putting on my body because once one statement piece is taken away (hair), it will be replaced with another. Focusing on pieces of clothing that to me scream "chic", such as off the shoulder tops, loose silhouettes, and dazzling shoes have become more important. Summer is an excellent time for the creativity of fashion to come alive because warm weather provides a plethora of options. I am so excited to buy my first big-brimmed hat and strut my stuff down the street. I mean, come on people, this is what dreams are made of. In the next few weeks when I decide to go shopping (I do this about once per month when I have allowed my budget a certain amount) I will certainly be more strategic about my choices in an attempt to formulate looks that emphasize my very bold new haircut. I also went nuts at Sephora yesterday. More to come on that, because that in itself is a novel. But in summary, it was eye opening to see how many ways a face can be complimented and structured when hair is no longer a distraction. Definitely more soon, but here's to a new chapter of feeling older and potentially more sophisticated.
0 Comments
It was not until recently, and when one of my mentors pointed it out, that it was blatantly obvious that I committed to too many things at once.
I want to do it all. Be everywhere. But I have learned, what that does is not only stretch myself thin to a point of exhaustion, but it also decreases the quality of my work. For years, I have watched my mother do it all. I thought that was the way everyone approached challenges and took on a day. But not all of us are super human, in face, I am most certainly not. This past fall semester is a great example of me trying way too hard to do too much. I was taking double the amount of credits that any undergraduate student should take, I was assisting in two research projects, I was trying to found a club, on the executive board of two other clubs, and I was working two jobs. Who does that? It's kind of weird writing about myself, seeing as I am relatively new to this whole personal blogging thing, but when I re-read the above paragraph I laugh a sort of exasperated laugh and roll my eyes. It's just typical me. You can imagine me trying to get from one place to another. Trying not to be late. Re-applying my deodorant in the bathroom because I had to run to my next meeting. When we do that to ourselves, I think we sacrifice more than we think. By doing more, we are giving up freedoms that we would typically take for granted. The best example I can give is during this fall of running everywhere, I didn't get the chance to dress well or do my makeup accordingly. I know that sounds kind of stupid, but it is something I enjoy doing at the beginning of each day. I am definitely a firm believer in looking the part, and even over dressing if that is what is necessary to look nice. For me, having my hair done, nails done, makeup complete, and clothes presentable is a key institution in my day-to-day life. When I was running everywhere I did not have that luxury and I had to surrender that part of my individuality. Appropriately timed, my mentor (the same one mentioned before) was giving me a mid-semester review. He said, "Allyson, you would be so great if you stopped stretching yourself so thin." I thought about that, and I agreed. I finished out the semester but vowed to never do anything like that ever again. This morning I was reading this article on Medium about improving habits to make yourself more productive. Letting go of extraneous commitments was one of the strategies. I smiled as I read the article because I know the author is right. It is a relieving feeling when you vanquish commitments, projects, or ideas that no longer carry any weight in your continued journey to fulfill larger goals. There is more time for things that matter, people that matter, and strategy that matters. There are those who can do it all, like my mother, but for those of us that cannot, it is not settling. It's making us more thoughtful, more focused, and more likely to achieve our greater goals. And I like the sound of that. A dear friend of mine recently published a Facebook status update that encapsulated many of the hopes but also fears of a generation that is about to or have just graduated college. An excerpt from her post read: Everyday I am a traveler. In Hong Kong, I was my best self-- fearless and willing to say anything, do anything. I got to know my waiters because they were in a new country, I looked in awe at the trees because I would never see them again, I kissed all the boys because my time there was short. But we are travelers in our lives! Even in State College, or wherever you are, our existence is temporary. We are only passing through, so doesn't that mean we are just traveling everyday too? Talk to the waiters, look at the trees, kiss the boys; wherever you are. This is something I have also been investigating in my own time in State College, Pennsylvania. It is a place notorious for its college town vibes and populous, but if you look even a bit closer, there is so much more. There are so many opportunities to be your best self. What I believe my friend, myself (sometimes) and many others lack in their daily lives is the willingness to stop being lazy and to go out and find things that will make us our best selves. Places of greater fulfillment, whether they be quirky coffee shops, intelligent people to learn from, or a new hobby all exist. Sometimes we are out greatest opposition when it comes to breaking out of our bubble or every day routines. It is sometimes hard to break habits or to seek things of greater fulfillment to be our best. Sometimes it is scary or requires more confidence than we are used to, but these should be treasured moments of growth. This past semester I did something that I found very scary. From the advice of a grad student, I started taking interesting professors, grad students, and just general people out for a cup of coffee or to have a beer, all to have a conversation. The amount of intellectual stimulation and sense of companionship that this provided did an excellent job in slaking my thirst for more. I also began to teach myself things. I would read books and do research to find more and also be educated when I spoke with some of the greatest minds in the world. In this finding of more I also became more; being more well read translates to a better ability to write and communicate. It also assists in how problems and ideas are approached. Additionally, when speaking with such great people, I felt inspired to dress well and exhibit outstanding manners, among other things. As my friend stated, you do not need to be in Hong Kong to be your best self or to find more. All you have to do is simply look. I have always heard that writing in the morning is the best thing you can do. Morning time is a time for production, not consumption, because that is when the mind has reached peak performance.
As I have spoken about before, I am a creative junky. I love the thrill of the journey, each step toward creating something new. Each word. Each brush stroke. Each mile. It is all so intoxicating because it's a point I have not reached yet in my life. Before I write in the morning (keeping in mind the term 'morning' is subjective; for me, that can be until about 1 PM) I always make a list of things I need to do. Some are easy, some are a bit more time consuming. Writing, meditating and yoga always make it to the top of the list as things that need to get done ASAP. Usually after I make my list of things to do, I meditate on it. I move on it (meaning, I do some of my favorite Vinyasa, or flow, yoga) to strategize and power through how I plan to complete each task. I cannot speak enough about the importance of understanding not only your body and how it moves and reacts through an entire day, but also the correlation between that and productivity. My best example is that I will not work out in the morning unless it is after 10 AM, and I will not do any sort of creative writing around 3PM because my mind will not be there and I will not be present. It has only been in the past year that I began to make lists. I keep a journal, I keep a planner, I have an online to-do database (TickTick) and I readily use my iPhone's calendar. Adulting can be hard. Especially for college students or teenagers that are beginning to take on more responsibility. I remember my grandmother berating through my room and scolding me for having clothes on the floor. She would repeat her mantra: "Everything must have a home." And I did not realize how right she was. Every task has a place in the planner, every book and notebook and sweatshirt have a home within a room. Taking the time to return them to that home is what I found has made me so successful in the past year. The time it takes to plan and organize will cut down the time it takes to complete the task by half. Another grandmother quote: "Perfect planning prevents piss poor performance." I could not agree more. I can readily speak to the importance of this for young adults, young professionals, college students, and high school students. If I could go back and do anything over again in high school it would to be more organized and more put together. It would have changed the way I see the world earlier, and I would have gotten to where I am now much sooner. But, ya live and ya learn. Writing, organizing and executing on a daily basis can be hard. Especially when I am tired. I think pushing through, doing some yoga, or just practicing some mental toughness in those times can go a long way. It's character building and a skill that will definitely be needed in the future. Today has been a great day. I have done everything I have set out to do, find, and create. Progress on my painting has commenced, I went to the gym, I exchanged a pair of Lulu Lemon leggings that I needed to do, and I have managed to eat lunch.
I would consider today a win. I was thinking about all kinds of things at the gym-- for me, when I exercise and when I drink coffee is when I feel most creative. The gym feels like a place to multi-task: I am creating a body that will (hopefully) enjoy the privilege of good health and longevity, but also I am usually writing, reading, or planning new adventures. Thank goodness for the Y. Physical fitness is such a good thing for not only the body, but the mind. I know yoga is the practice of centering both in synchronization, but I think anyone (even if you don't want to do yoga) can use 20 minutes on the elliptical as a means of clarity. This will be the second time I mention Lulu Lemon in my post today (I am a big fan of their lifestyle blogs and their corporate culture), but on their bag it says we should exercise for at least 20 minutes per day. I agree, I believe even just a twenty minute walk can change a perspective. About a year ago I was severely depressed. Functional, but I could not shake my creeping anxiety. I used to be an athlete, way back in high school, but my freshmen year of college I stopped exercising. I directly notice a drop in my productivity, creativity, and mood when I do not exercise for longer than a week. Last year when I fell victim to severe anxiety and depression, I began what I called a daily "run-walk". I was not in-shape enough to run for twenty minutes (sad, I know), so I would alternate between walking and running for about half of an hour. I made myself do it every day for two months, and the results could not have been more clear. I felt better, I was more sociable, I had more inspiration, and I slept better. All of the things that I really, really needed. I know some people hate exercise and don't want to for a variety of reasons. It does not have to be body-image related to decide it is a good idea to exercise. Mental health's relationship to exercise is even more important than the physical benefits. As I said before, exercising is another way to create for me. I create the body and the mind that I want. And it feels good. Today has been a great day. I have been home from school for two weeks today; no deadlines, expectations, or assignments.
Damn, it feels good.
One thing I got caught up in this past week is conforming and submitting to laziness. I woke up late (like, getting out of bed at noon late) and then went about watching Scrubs (my favorite show on Netflix at the moment) and going to the gym. Although rest is necessary, in my book, a week like that is wasted.
This is not because I was doing nothing, but because there are so many more constructive things to do with free time that are both exciting and make me feel good. The purpose I chose an internship with time off before the start of it was because I wanted to effectively utilize my time reading, writing, doing yoga, and creating. The things I feel most passionately about, but may not always have time for. I also enjoy reading blogs and contributing to a site called Medium because it is a home of ideas that are both constructive an inspiring. Last week I forgot all about this and I am a bit bummed because of my laziness in pursuing what really makes me happy. I read this article this morning, which actually inspired me to get up, put on my 'funky' channel on Spotify and start painting. It is exactly what I needed. I am all for rest and relaxation, but Jon Westenberg, the author of the article I linked above, reminded me that even while resting and relaxing, it is important to keep hold of who you are and do things that make you happy. We should all do this, because making time for inspiration and ideas are what I believe to be the essence of the soul. I feel more inspired today, and I hope you do, too. Recently I have been confusing the landscape of my hometown in Pennsylvania with that of a Twilight movie, or an ad for Burberry. As my wonderfully English Grandmother has affectionately phrased it, "if I wanted weather like this I would have never left Manchester [England]."
In my opinion, the weather has been horrible. I have gotten so used to the pitter patter of rain and the inability to motivate myself to leave my house that I have slowly begun to do things that I would never have done otherwise. The best example I can present to you is cleaning out all of my stashed notebooks from middle school. You heard correctly, middle school. I am slightly ashamed that I have not done it sooner, however, it feels good to finally cross the threshold where I have let go of the grand majority of things that plague the bedroom I grew up in. In a way, I feel like a new person, beginning a new chapter of life. I have also begun to plan and pack for my travels to Seoul, South Korea in the fall. I have to say, I am extremely excited. Seeing all of the possibilities of integrating into such a fascinating culture and urban landscape is nothing short of a dream come true. There are so many good blogs about places to eat, things to do, and places to go in Seoul. Also, the amount of additional places and countries that can be visited and accessed through Seoul's international airport, Incheon, is incredible. I have started to put together a list of places I wish to visit. At the top of the list is definitely Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia Hong Kong, mainland China and Vietnam. Although I have done an extensive amount of traveling prior to this trip, it all feels new and exciting. The thrill of exploration, new challenges, and also new things to eat is enough to make me want to leave as soon as possible. It is odd to think that right now I am in a phase of relaxation where I have the ability to plan and look forward to the future, however, in two weeks so many things will be changing: I will be moving to Baltimore, starting a new job, meeting new people, and exploring once more. Not even two weeks after my internship ends I will be headed to Seoul. I know time will go by so quickly, and before I know it I will be reading this post and I will have already gone to a few of the places I have wanted to go on the list above. There are so many good things to look forward to. So many changes, both positive and negative that will allow me to grow and thrive. It is so cool because I finally feel that I have reached a point in my life where everything is coming together and I am lucky enough to be living the life I love and have always wanted. Here's to rainy days that allow us to be introspective and inspired in even the smallest of ways. Cheers to that. I am the first person that will readily admit that I read about strategies that make others successful; whether they be entrepreneurs or yogis, I read it all. Not only that, but I try to adopt and integrate some of the more realistic things that I read into my everyday life.
Some of what I have tried has really stuck. An example of this is mediating every morning, setting daily goals for myself, and using to-do lists. I also try to not eat sugar (in accordance with Jack Dorsey's do's and don'ts list)... But that usually is not successful because most things that are good in life have sugar in them. Setting long-term goals is also something that I know many successful people do, but long-term goals are something I find both harder to both keep track of and achieve. Since it is the end of another semester, and because I have been approaching a transition phase in my life, I have been setting more and more long-term goals. The difficulty of juggling long term goals is creating deadlines for each, and strategically devising time tables that support a realistic victory of the goal. This must also be done in a manner that is conducive to continual and steady growth as a person and a professional. One of the long-term goals that I have just created for myself is to learn a new language. I have always shunned language training and instruction because I have never been good at it. But, in a leap of maturity, I would like to embrace my weakness and learn regardless. That is after all what makes you better, right? So, this summer, amongst other long-term goals such as perfecting my HTML, working up the courage to cut my hair extra short, and making time to blog everyday, I will be learning a new language. Deciding which language leads me to my next dilemma: how do you coordinate your goals with achievements of your past and future, while using these strengths to place you in the best position moving forward. This is where I get a headache. Being an undergraduate and still not knowing QUITE exactly what I want to do means that making long-term goals and decisions such as second language creates boundaries, while simultaneously catalyzing opportunities. The juxtaposition of this phenomenon is something that intimidates me. If nothing else, I plan to learn from everything and allow goal setting to be a road map to where I wish to find myself in the future. |
Author: Allyson DitizioGeographer, yogi and occasionally creative writer. Archives
September 2016
Categories |