Onward and Upward

Onward and Upward is a series where I explore my thoughts, wishes, dreams and other things. It's a little bit of introspection and a lot a bit goal sharing. Sometimes I will find questions from another blog post, sometimes from books... feel free to join me in answering the questions or even leave some that have helped you figure out your best day to day life.  


I took a bit of a break from Onward and Upward while doing The Fire Starter Sessions but here it is, back again. I really like this series a lot. I hope to find more questions and more inspiration for it throughout the year.


1) What is it that I am really good at?
Reading. Listing. Organizing

2) What do I enjoy so much that I would do it for free if I had $20 million?
Reading, photography, talking to people about life, writing, traveling

3) What would I stop doing tomorrow if I had $20 million?
laundry, my movie theater job, anything horribly boring, oil changes, grocery shopping...

4) What would I do differently with my life if I only had just three years to live?
Figure out a different want to make money faster so I could do the things I want to do like swim with the dolphins, re-visit Argentina, see Greece, go on a hot air balloon ride, stay in a cabin in the snow, stay in a house on the east coast by the water, meet as many awesome people as possible, take as many pictures as possible

5) What do others regularly tell me I am good at?
making them laugh, getting myself into interesting situations, sometimes photography, organizing

Short answers but definitely interesting thoughts.

xox o

Onward and Upward

Onward and Upward is a series where I explore my thoughts, wishes, dreams and other things. It's a little bit of introspection and a lot a bit goal sharing. Sometimes I will find questions from another blog post, sometimes from books... feel free to join me in answering the questions or even leave some that have helped you figure out your best day to day life.  

50 things I am grateful for (in no particular order):

1. soft kittens

2. bananas

3. cotton balls

4. cozy blankets

5. the love of my family

6. my friendships

7. the ocean

8. my senses

9. contacts so I can actually see

10. money

11. pictures

12. funny things

13. my sense of humor

14. my hair

15. my family (believe it or not that's different than #5)

16. my friends

17. clean water to drink

18. clean water to shower in

19. soap

20. make up

21. dolphins

22. baby laughs

23. baby smiles

24. roses

25. laughing until I cry

26. pens and paper

27. the founding fathers

28. the internet for so many reason

29. books books books

30. pretty little liars

31. sleep

32. rain

33. tattoos

34. dogs

35. "call me maybe" it may be annoying now but it's created so many dance parties and funny jokes. worth it

36. the blog community

37. trees

38. sweets

39. delicious food that tastes good too

40. bean and cheese burritos

41. french toast

42. good smells

43. perfume

44. plane rides

45. San Francisco

46. Portland

47. the ability to exercise even if I don't want to

48. flirting

49. forehead kisses

50. snuggles

xoxo

Onward and Upward

Onward and Upward is a series where I explore my thoughts, wishes, dreams and other things. It's a little bit of introspection and a lot a bit goal sharing. Sometimes I will find questions from another blog post, sometimes from books... feel free to join me in answering the questions or even leave some that have helped you figure out your best day to day life.  

The prompts today are from a blog post over at The Happiness Project, I just finished Happier at Home and felt very inspired (I feel like that word is overused, I need a new one). The post is about knowing yourself better, I found these questions relatively easy to answer, so maybe I'm getting closer. 

If something is forbidden, do you want it less or more?
It depends on the thing. If I know it will not be good for me, or if there is a really good reason behind it being forbidden, sure. But if the reason seems half hearted or underdeveloped then I will want the thing more.

Is there an area of your life where you feel out of control? Especially in control?
Money. I am not spiraling out of control but it feels elusive and scary to deal with. I want to cry every time I start to make a budget. No, that's not a go-getter response but even when I keep repeating "I can do this, it's okay" to myself I still find I spiral into a funk. One that makes me want to cry or sleep for hours. Just writing this makes me want out of my skin.

Especially in control? Nothing right now. 

If you unexpectedly had a completely free afternoon, what would you do with that time?

Not know what to do probably. Maybe read, I find myself at Barnes and Noble or target when this happens if it's too hot to sit at the beach and read. Must get out of that habit. That's where the loss of control with money comes in. Otherwise, take pictures if I can think of a place. Take a nap...

Are you comfortable or uncomfortable in a disorderly environment?

Uncomfortable.

How much time do you spend looking for things you can’t find?

Not very much, I know where to find the stuff I haven't gotten rid of. It's pretty nice.

Are you motivated by competition?

I am haunted by competition. I get really hard on myself and then lose focus and want to get better. I want to be the best at everything from the beginning, and seeing other people that are better makes me feel frustrated, not inspired. Unless they are on tv or something, then I'm inspired. But if I know them or are in the same room/environment, then I'm easily broken and discouraged by competition and comparison.

Do you find it easier to do things for other people than to do things for yourself?

I feel like answers are easier to find for other people. I feel like the road to success is more easily mapped out, not because they have something I don't, but because my emotions and feelings of inability don't come in.

Do you work constantly? or think you should be working?

Little bit of both. I go through an ebb and flow of working vs not working. I always think I could be doing more.

Do you embrace rules or flout rules?

I am more restrained by rules and perceived authority than I want to be. I need to find a balance between respecting some rules and finding my way around others.

Do you work well under pressure?

No.

What would your perfect day look like?

Time for picture taking, time for inspiration hunting, time for blogging and exercise and reading. Waking up when it's just starting to get light outside and enjoying a healthy breakfast. Doing some writing. Getting out for a walk, getting ready for the day, doing some work. Taking pictures and then having a great dinner with a champion of a man that I will one day call a partner (no prospects yet, still dreaming). 

How much TV do you watch in a week (include computer time spent watching videos, movies, YouTube)?

Maybe an hour.

Are you a morning person or a night person?

Want to be a morning person but I am definitely a night person right now.

What’s more satisfying to you: saving time or saving money?
Saving money should be more satisfying but, usually saving time is.

Do you like to be in the spotlight?

Yes. I like when my pictures are seen and liked, I like when I tell a good story or I dance and people appreciate it. I don't like it when I don't feel prepared, I am not one to make it up on a whim. I'm very choosy though, I want the spotlight at chosen times, celebrity status would not work for me.

Is your life “on hold” in any aspect? Until you finish your thesis, get married, lose weight?

Yes. Until I make more money, until I figure out what I want to do. Until I move out.

What would you do if you had more energy?

Energy is not the problem, my relationship with time is.

If you suddenly had an extra room in your house, what would you do with it?

pole studio, no doubt.

What people and activities energize you? Make you feel depleted?

energize by: dancing, having a good time with friends, taking pictures, making something new, trying something new, traveling, organizing, writing, reading, making a good suggestion to someone

depleted by: cleaning up after others, paying bills, getting ready (for the day or for bed... probably my issues with sleep)

Is it hard for you to get rid of things that you no longer need or want?

Not really. I have a small space with no closet that all of my stuff fits in, if I don't want it it's gone. If I don't need it and have emotional attachment to it, there's more work involved.

Do you get frustrated easily?

One hundred times yes

On a typical night, what time do you go to bed? How many hours of sleep do you get?

1-2am, not enough. Probably around 6 or 7.

If at the end of the year, you had accomplished one thing, what is the one accomplishment that would make the biggest difference to your happiness?

Making enough money to pay all of my bills while having some left over for my projects and adventures in a job that I enjoy with a flexible schedule.

xoxo

Onward and Upward: Six Questions

Since this is the first post I'll explain a little. Onward and Upward is a new series where I explore my thoughts, wishes, dreams and other things. It's a little bit of introspection and a lot a bit goal sharing. Sometimes I will find questions from another blog post, sometimes from books... feel free to join me in answering the questions or even leave some that have helped you in your day to day life.  

I filled out these questions months ago and I kept putting off publishing them in a post. But I kept coming back to read the, and I liked my answers and they didn't change much over the months. So here they are, feel free to answer your own.

I don't remember where I got these from, if you know shoot me a comment and I'll link back!

1. What do I absolutely love in life?

reading, photography, toy photography, some old things like trinkets and memorabilia, looking good and put together, freshly washed, cut and dyed hair, new piercings, new tattoos, a good conversation with a friend, plans, a new love interest, feeling wanted, feeling appreciated, feeling attractive, dancing, feeling strong, feeling smart, feeling necessary, feeling creative, sharing something great with others, making the perfect recommendation...

2. What are my greatest accomplishments in life so far?

- Daphne Loves Derby at The Epicentre selling 300+ tickets which then led to my boss getting them booked and the show selling out.

- Graduating college cum laude

- being a part of a kick ass essay writing team for the Media Literacy class, the essay was entered into a competition

- getting through the hard winter in Portland

3. What would I stand for if I knew no one would judge me?

Write, make art, paint, run my own business, teach classes, train dolphins, life coach, plan events, blog for money, be a nude model for an art class

4. If my life had absolutely no limits and I could have it all and do whatever I wanted what would I choose to have and what would I choose to do?

Friends, family, time with both, enough money to live comfortably and send my child to college.

If this started tomorrow I would move into a one bedroom in San Francisco and start writing for online and in print publications. I would travel around, take pictures, go to seminars, blog, learn, teach, share, make blankets, read, drink tea, cook new things sometimes in a clean and bright kitchen. I would learn piano and Spanish and see the sun and I would have a perfect wardrobe of classic pieces. I would be able to fit my life (sans bed, desk, nightstand and a couch) into my car to move. I would have a clean house with a beautifully made bed, whites, grays, dark blues and a tad of yellow. I would have a kitten and a boyfriend. I would have a pole to train on and a studio to go to and I would perform at least a couple of times a year. I would be strong but constantly working to be stronger and more flexible, to improve in several types of dance outside of pole (contemporary, tango, shakira type... hip hop).

My sleeve would be under way not at a complete halt. I don't need anything to be there immediately I just want progress and right now I still feel that I am at a stand still. I would have time to take pictures weekly, adventures to go on, prints to sell...

5. What would I do if I had one billion dollars?

Move to SF

Book my 6 month trip to Argentina to study spanish and photography

Come back and study more photography on the east coast

Live in a beach house on the east coast and write

exercise

Visit, if not live in, Nashville Tennessee

Take classes on graphic design, photoshop, painting, writing, finance

All the places I would want to live in wouldn't be 70's style, they will have a decent view, big windows, good window coverings, access to pole classes and exercise studios, a nice bathtub, natural light in every room. A room for a pole.

6. Who do I admire most in the world?

Lauren Conrad

- down to earth (seems like), true to self,

Dad

- hard worker

- dedicated

- determined

- stable minded

Tara

- lives her life with little apology for who she is

Emma Stone

- funny, smart, pretty, talented, multi faceted, down to earth

Hayley Williams

- great voice, great attitude, powerhouse voice

Zooey Deschanel

-funny, quirky, cute, smart, talented, charismatic

xoxo

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