It is hard to believe that October marks the fifth month of Ember Grey”s 12 Months of Bliss. For those unfamiliar with this year long challenge, each month Emily posts a challenge which encourages self reflection, loving yourself better and demonstrating kindness to others. Basically, this challenge encourages one to slow down, show mindfulness and gratitude.
October’s challenge was to become aware of moments and things which bring one bliss and capture the moment with a photo. No retakes;, just one shot of what we were seeing (filters were allowed). These photos could be taken with a camera or phone camera. I absolutely loved this challenge and enjoyed taking the time to see what was bringing me happiness and bliss. Most of my photos were taken with my phone as I have it with me most of the time. However, there are a few which were taken with my DSLR
The above photo was taken on my way to work. We must drive by a local park which includes a reservoir. With the changing temperatures, it has simply been beautiful but most mornings I am either in the second lane or traffic is moving at a pace where I can’t enjoy it. Fortunately, during one of my morning commutes, I found myself sitting right next to this view. Beauty right outside my car window.
I do not take for granted that I live in a beautiful area. The above photos were once again taken while I was sitting at the stop light waiting to leave and enter my neighborhood. The morning sunrise (left photo) was one of the most amazing sites I have ever seen. The whole sky was ablaze with color. The horses (right) were grazing last week as I came home a little earlier than my norm. They truly make me smile each time I see them. (PS, I do not take photos while I am driving. Each of these were taken when I was stopped. However, I do think this makes an excellent point of rather than being upset with traffic lights and traffic, it is best to enjoy the view.)
Of course my month had to include some food. The Starbucks photo was from a Saturday morning coffee date with my friend Jennifer and we both loved the barista’s handwriting. As I eat gluten free, I can no longer have McDonald’s egg McMuffin’s and sometimes I really want one. James found the Udi’s version at Target and surprised me. I’m very lucky to have a guy who tries to help me with my food issues. The final picture is a plantain crusted whitefish at Brasbana during a recent date night. This restaurant has some of the greatest food.
These photos are from a date night (left), a Halloween party where the banker went as a bank robber with an accomplice (right) and a selfie I wasn’t too upset about. Sometimes you just need to document the regular events of life. Also, today is my beloved’s birthday!!!
The collage is of the things that make me happy. My cat Sam is always supervising in his own way (hence the sleeping photo). Although I have an office, I typically use the kitchen bar to use the computer. Sam loves to assist. I also recently made my first donation to my alma mater the University of Louisville. If you are not from Kentucky it may be hard to understand but I teach at the University of Kentucky and there is a huge rivalry between schools in sports and academics. I’m proud of my graduate school education and proud to have finally made the decision to donate. The final photo is my Thanksgiving table dreaming at Pottery Barn last week. Pottery Barn makes me happy!
Fall is actually one of my favorite decorating holidays. I love the pumpkins and the colors. Of course, we have to have a monogramed pumpkin at the front door. The top wreath is my fall door wreath from last year. I didn’t have time to create a new one this year. The bottom right wreath hangs in our front hallway. It is a knockoff wreath from Pottery Barn that I made for about $15 compared to $60 from Pottery Barn.
Somewhere along the way, I’ve become a fan of acorns and the acorns in the lantern make me happy. I have the small pumpkins sitting on a table on our front porch. Finally, the leaf collage is very important to me. In my Mom’s large family Bible, I found these beautiful pressed leaves from my childhood home. I created the collage last fall and keep them out year round.
This month’s challenge has been one of my favorites. Most everyone is so busy that it is rare to slow down and examine the world. I encourage everyone to begin noticing what makes you happy. Are there moments that make you stop and take a deep breath. Emily welcomes everyone to take part in 12 Months of Bliss and it does not matter if you haven’t been a part of the previous challenges. After all, we have 6 more to go! Visit Emily for information on November’s challenge.
How often and what do you take photos of? What brings you bliss?
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