Intentional Happiness: Fun with the Camera Edition
by Kym on September 3, 2010
Sometimes life gets a bit mental. Demands, both the real and the imagined, outnumber our energy to such a degree that curling up in the fetal position whilst rocking and moaning suddenly seems like a viable option. The best way to break free, for me, is to do something different. Something new. Colour my hair. Reorganize a closet. Write a letter. Something that feels like a very real, solid, undeniable CHOICE.
It keeps the chaos at bay, making choices. It breaks the grip of the paralysis that tends to set in when life gets too dreary and same-old-same-old.
A couple weeks ago, I did something small, something simple. I pushed a few buttons on my camera. Changed a few settings. And laughed delightedly over the result. Just a little something different. A small choice. But I made it, and that matters. Besides, how cute are those girls of mine? I mean really.
Even so, I should probably read my camera manual some day soon. I don’t have the faintest idea how to use the darn (but lovely) thing.
p.s. I’ve been interviewed for Sarah M. Eden’s I Need Friend’s Friday!
22 comments
I read a book once (actually about three times, really) that said that being able to make a choice is one of the few things that can truly make us happy. When we give that ability away, through addiction or through allowing other people to decide our fate or whatever is it, then we immediately give away our ability to be happy.
Brilliant thoughts this morning! And the pictures are darling!
by Eowyn on September 3, 2010 at 9:08 am. #
I enjoy reading your thoughts here, and then checking myself and nodding, yes, I’ve felt *exactly the same way* — and recently, too. :)
“It keeps the chaos at bay, making choices. It breaks the grip of the paralysis that tends to set in when life gets too dreary and same-old-same-old.”
There are hours, days, when any choice overwhelms. (I hate that.) But choice making can free us from some of that paralysis.
Love the pics, I’m a huge fan of black and white!!!
PS: Happy Friday, do you feel it? I’m nearly giddy!
by Terresa Wellborn on September 3, 2010 at 9:20 am. #
I have no idea how to use mine, either. After looking at your pictures, it seems a pity b/c I don’t even know how to do *that* and *that* looks so fun! I think another appeal of cleaning a closet or tweaking photos, or whatever, is b/c it is so satisfying b/c it STAYS DONE. We spend so much time doing things that don’t stay done, it feels like we are just spinning our wheels and it takes such a long time to see the results of our efforts. Much of what we do will never have any kind of measurable reward attached to it. Doing something that makes a difference that lasts more than a few hours helps so much!
by Heidi Ashworth on September 3, 2010 at 9:28 am. #
I love fooling around with the settings on my camera! These photos turned out awesome. The exposure is neat. :) You’re girls are sooo cute!
by Kenzie on September 3, 2010 at 10:44 am. #
They’re beautiful! Keep up the fiddling; it’s working!
by Luisa Perkins on September 3, 2010 at 11:13 am. #
I can’t believe how big the girls are getting! My how time flies! I hear ya on the camera thing. I’m sure mine is more than a point and shoot camera and can do fun things, but again that would require me to read the book…there are so many other books on my “to read” list, that the manuel is not even on the bottom :) One day maybe….
by Nicole H. on September 3, 2010 at 11:58 am. #
This !!! exercise is so much fun – and I love what you’ve done with it, camera manual be damned!
by Jane on September 3, 2010 at 1:36 pm. #
Yes! Yes yes YES! And no, I don’t know how to work my camera, either, yet, pictures are taken.
by Krista on September 3, 2010 at 4:38 pm. #
I love how those pics turned out. You’re right, those kids are utterly darling. It can’t be helped. So glad to see you choosing happy. *hugs*
by L.T. Elliot on September 3, 2010 at 4:45 pm. #
Beautiful photos and beautiful girls. I do this a lot when I’m not feeling as happy as I could – I go out and take some photos and look at the world in a new way. Works every time.
by VirtualSprite on September 3, 2010 at 5:42 pm. #
Love your black and whites. A wise man once told me that a woman’s hair is her glory. I completely agree. And every now and then we need to change the color of our glory, just to throw our men off and shake things up a little bit.
by susan on September 3, 2010 at 6:50 pm. #
The photos turned out so darn cute! I want to learn to intentionally mess around with photos too!
Your girls are beyond cute. I would call them pretty, even at such a young age. :)
by Kazzy on September 3, 2010 at 10:53 pm. #
These turned out lovely! Frame them! Look at them! (I should take some of my own advice!) :-)
by Beth on September 4, 2010 at 10:34 am. #
The photos are beautiful! And I never bother with the manual. That way you find out something new about your camera and are all happy that you find this amazing feature, that you can then use and take even more beautiful photos.
It could also mean I am just a lazy sod!
by Mara on September 5, 2010 at 2:48 am. #
gorgeous gorgeous. the photos and the heart behind them. sorry I’ve taken so long to get over here. well I was here, below, just didn’t comment. even the hubby is starting to use this computer… geez. I get on in smaller and smaller snippets lately. need to get my laptop fixed.
hope your vacation was all kinds of awesome.
and camera manuals. ugh. but I’m trying slowly. for now. picnik. :)
by deb@talk at the table on September 5, 2010 at 6:47 am. #
I do this too! Sometimes a little change can pull me out of what may have become a week-long funk.
And yes, your girls are beautiful!!
by Becky on September 5, 2010 at 10:00 am. #
The simplest activity can do an amazing job of getting us back on track, can’t it?
Very neat effect on the photos. Your girls are cute!
by Brownpaperbaggirl on September 5, 2010 at 2:23 pm. #
I like the photo’s! I keep thinking I need to read the camera manual too. But then it wouldn’t be as fun to just randomly have fun pictures turn out :) Keep having fun and I like the happiness that came through on this post!!
by Lesa on September 7, 2010 at 11:25 am. #
Such gorgeous photos! It makes me wonder what my camera can do … though now that it is over 5 years old, I think it is slowly dying.
Choice. I think I need to give more thought to this amazing gift we have been given.
by An Ordinary Mom on September 7, 2010 at 11:58 am. #
“Something that feels like a very real, solid, undeniable CHOICE.”
That, to me, is one of the best feelings in the world. My girls are both the same way. If given the choice (or enough choices) they can be very reasonable.
Love those photos.
by CK on September 7, 2010 at 4:52 pm. #
Aw, sweet pics!
(Going over to read INFF!)
by Annette on September 8, 2010 at 8:39 am. #
I love that something old is new again. And that you have these photos to remind you of this day, this time, this change. Throw away the manual. You’re doing great without it!
by Jen on September 17, 2010 at 4:45 pm. #