January 27, 2015

#Blessed

bloglovin

In the past few years I’ve found the saying, 'the grass is always greener on the other side' to be undeniably true. More often that not, I picture that thing that’s on the other side to be a bright light at the end of a super long tunnel. When I moved to Geelong almost five years ago, my new school and new home were those bright beacons of light I was racing towards. When I ran into the light, everything seemed pretty similar to what it was like before I moved and I couldn’t work out why. 

When I scroll through Instagram, I get serious FOMO (fear of missing out for those of you who aren’t up with the internetz). This is partly because I follow a lot of people who make a living out of travelling and taking photos (#jealous), and partly because right now, my life isn’t really all that exciting or #magical. It’s easy to make fun of those people who like to remind us on a daily basis that they are so #blessed but I’m also a teeny bit jealous of them. 

Now I know that Instagram is only a highlight reel of someone’s life. If someone was to analyse my feed, they would discover than in the past three weeks I’ve gone to the beach and eaten a ridiculous amount of delicious food but my reality has been quite different. While I’ve been posting photos of the beach and my diet, I've been test driving an insane amount of cars and applying for so many rental houses with no success. 

Obvi what I share on social media is exactly what I do IRL (in real life for you oldies).

Now you’re probably thinking, ‘Carolyn, what the heck does Instagram, #blessed and your boring everyday life have to do with that old green grass saying my parents have been telling me over and over since I was like, five?’ Well chickens, I’m here to tell you that Instagram graced me with an epiphany this morning.

This time last week I was adventuring around The Twelve Apostles and  Loch Ard Gorge (see photos). Today I’m sitting in my pyjamas on my unmade bed in my super messy room that I probably should be cleaning, whilst I contemplate how acceptable it is to have chicken nuggets for brunch. Only moments ago, I was scrolling through Instagram, feeling pretty bummed out about my current circumstances when I realised that it’s not about what is on the other side but it’s about what you make of it.

I can sit here and feel sorry for the fact that I don’t have my license, and that I'm suffering from major cabin fever while people on Instagram are out eating brunch with friends and visiting amazing places. OR I can make the most of all of this spare time I have and use it to read books, watch new things or you know, actually edit some photos. 

It’s about what I do with the time I have that determines whether or not this side of the grass is greener. 

It’s like a lightbulb just switched on in my brain. If my fifteen year old self realised this in 2010, I probably would have had a better time enjoying my life rather than dwelling on the past.


So this long weekend I decided to make the most of my life. I went to see some friends perform in a musical and I spent all of Sunday lounging around at the Australian Open watching some awesome tennis with my little brother. Although the introvert inside me is wanting to hide under a blanket and spend some time away from the rest of humanity, I'm glad that I seized the weekend.


Hopefully you also had a nice long weekend (if you live in Australia)! Let me know what you got up to in the comments below! 

bloglovin
bloglovinbloglovinbloglovinbloglovinbloglovinbloglovinbloglovin


12 comments:

  1. Totes what you make it, when I think of all the fun people I've encountered in my life they all share that same quality :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. amen. it's all what you make of it. it's easy to create and curate the picture perfect life, but everyone, EVERYONE, struggles underneath. be grateful for what you have every day. the big picture changes all the time. and while maybe not everything is possible, a lot of things you haven't even thought of yet are. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel like so much of my time is spent curating a picture perfect life. Thanks for your input, Petra!

      Delete
  3. To be honest I wish I discovered the world of blogging 5 years earlier, because I think it's blogging that has made me realise that if you want something to go out and get it. You can be the person with all those amazing photos and moments - and those people sometimes reconfirm to us that they live unsightly lives like the rest of us too. P.S. "actually edit some photos". ME. I'm so forgetful with this, I know I have to do it but I forget what photos I even have!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha! Aw Shani! I've just been avoiding editing lately because I'm not particularly enjoying the process. Normally editing is my favourite part so I obviously need to change up whatever I'm doing!

      I think blogging has had that effect on me too however, I still feel so limited by money, Univeristy etc. Maybe I'm just crazy.

      Delete
  4. These pictures are so gorgeous!! The water looks almost like an oil painting! You make a really good point though about focusing on living instead of gazing longingly at other lives? Social media is great, but I think it makes it hard not to try and live vicariously through others?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't particularly find myself living vicariously through others, but I do find myself questioning my own life and priorities sometimes when looking at other people's photos. I just think it's so easy generally to compare your self to someone else and social media makes that process 1000 times worse and more accessible.

      Delete
  5. Oh tell me about it! I get serious FOMO too when looking at other blogs and social media. But I always try to remind myself that people only show the very best part of their lives online and that behind the camera, they're probably feeling exactly the same way thaI I am. Recently I've been trying very hard to feel more grateful for what I have right now instead of focusing on their "what I have to have". And it works! xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. First- oh Carolyn! these photos are just gorgeous, seriously, the colors, movement. landscape, eveything- it's just perfect. some of the best pictures I've seen in a while!
    Second- I'll be honest here, I hadn't checked your blog for some time (not only yours, but any blog at all) mostly of because what you're talking about right here. As you may know, I've had my blog for many years now, and it used to be a HUGE part of my life, I'd spend a great amount of time working for it and reading other blogs as well. But at some point it all felt wrong. When I'd go on a trip/having an interesting experience my mind was already thinking about how I'd blog it instead of living in that moment. So yes, last year I decided to forget about it and enjoy the present. barely blogging at all. But truth be told- I love doing it, I love photographing, and writting, and documenting, and sharing. And I want to do it again, but the input will be different. I'm keeping everything real and raw, but also with the knowledge that no one's life is perfect in mind. Anyway, I think that I just wrote an essay on here, sorry! It's lovely to read you again, please never stop shooting, you're one talented lady!
    Much love, Ursula xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Super true! Its totally how you make it and how you choose to see situations too I think! And thee beaches are gorgeous, could do with escaping there for a month!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful photography Carolyn and an equally brilliant sentiment :) It's great watching others grow and learn in their little spaces on the internet :) x

    ReplyDelete

Please leave a comment below! I read every single comment that's posted and reply to as many as I can! Your feedback is appreciated :)