June Journaling 7

I found a list of daily prompts for journaling in June and thought I'd give it a shot.

7. The best thing about your day:

Today has been pretty unremarkable, but I enjoyed sorting through yesterday's pictures for the Beloved Beginnings self portrait photo series I'm working on.It's a self-paced 10-day course or workshop on "cultivating self-love through self-potraiture" by Vivienne McMaster.

I first did it two and a half years ago and came across it again as I was organizing some files. It's been long enough that the prompts feel fresh and new.

Yesterday after work, I parked at a park near my house and tried to find a path down to the creek. The first I saw was densely lined with poison ivy. The second, however, was clear and well-trodden. I kicked off my shoes, rolled up my slacks, and climbed down a small embankment to wade into the water, careful of the mossy limestone bed. I brought my selfie stick so I'd have a greater range of options.

You can read more about the course and sign up here.

A photo posted by Moniqa Aylin (@fierymon) on Jun 7, 2016 at 12:38pm PDT

Beloved Beginnings, Day 10

Step into the frame.

See the photos that didn't make it here on Instagram.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9

Beloved Beginnings, Day 9

Self care:

Going to bed as early as I please, even if it's 7:15 local.

There are days I drop words of comfort on myself like falling leaves and remember that it is

enough to be taken care of by my self.

--Brian Andreas

See the photos that didn't make it here on Instagram.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8

Beloved Beginnings, Day 8

Something about yourself that you are grateful for:

My perseverance

Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.

--A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

See the photos that didn't make it here on Instagram.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4
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Day 7

Beloved Beginnings, Day 7

"'Playfulness is an antidote to Fear' and I think its an antidote to frustration too, and to our inner critic!" I did not enjoy the playfulness theme as much as others. But looking back at what I shot, these are pretty fun after all.

We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.

-George Bernard Shaw

See the photos that didn't make it here on Instagram.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4
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Day 6

Beloved Beginnings, Day 6

I took a few days' break since the Spartan Race consumed so much of my time. I shot these yesterday for the theme: movement.

Dancing

Hair blowing in the breeze

In the process of high kicking

Walking past a mirror

Spinning

I didn't pay attention to times or distance, instead focusing on how it felt just to be in motion,

knowing it wasn't about the finish line but how I got there that mattered.”

--Sarah Dessen

See the photos that didn't make it here on Instagram.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4
Day 5

Beloved Beginnings, Day 5

Today's theme is Light and it is a rainy, gray day, making this a special challenge.

There is a crack in everything.

That's how the light gets in.

--Leonard Cohen

See the photos that didn't make it here on Instagram.
Day 1
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Day 4

Beloved Beginnings, Day 4

A reflection treasure hunt:

I’ve finally stopped running away from myself. Who else is there better to be?

-- Golden Hawn

See my honorable mention photos on Instagram.
Day 1
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Day 3

Beloved Beginnings, Day 3

"Today we are going to invite a different part of ourselves into the photo. Our feet!
As you're discovering, self-portraits don't just need to be our whole bodies. Having our whole bodies in a self-portrait doesn't make it more valuable or 'better'. Every time we invite a little bit of ourselves into a photo, we are taking a self-portrait and telling the stories of ourselves in our world!"

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.

--Marcel Proust

See my honorable mention photos on Instagram.
Day 1
Day 2

Beloved Beginnings, Day 2

Pay attention to how you interact with the world around you and photograph your hands. I've never taken this kind of portrait before, so I really enjoyed the "assignment" and have several favorites to share. #BelovedBeginnings

When you start using senses you've neglected,

your reward is to see the world with completely fresh eyes.

--Barbara Sher

See my honorable mention photos on Instagram.
See Day 1 here.

Beloved Beginnings, Day 1

I downloaded a 10-day e-course called Beloved Beginnings by Vivienne that teaches self-love and awareness through photography. I thought it would be fun to follow the provided prompts. Day 1 is a photo taken at arm's length with one hand over your heart. I'm starting with cell phone selfies because it's handy and will later break out the camera, tripod, and timer. #BelovedBeginnings

Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.

--Meister Eckhart

See my honorable mention photos on Instagram.