How to bring beauty to the world

Georgia O’Keefe said:

“I know now that most people are so closely concerned with themselves that they are not aware of their own individuality, I can see myself, and it has helped me to say what I want to say in paint.”

~

I think that maybe the way to bring true beauty into the world is to know who you are and be that person.

Jam of the day: Billie Holiday “Pennies From Heaven”

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Psycho

So I mentioned I had a big test yesterday morning. I think it went well, but I tend not to dwell on these things after the fact. Before a test, however, I am an absolute psycho.

I am awake by 5:30am without fail and my morning typically looks like this:

Coffee.

Notes.

Banana chia protein oats with almond butter.

Baker’s unsweetened chocolate.

And I’m out the door for more studying!

I don’t really even taste food on the days that I have a test. It’s just fuel for the brain. Thankfully it’s only on test days that I’m completely looney tunes – because I usually start studying two weeks before! It’s not as bad as it sounds, I promise. I just like knowing that I gave it my absolute best shot.

 

So maybe you don’t think I’m a psycho…
~

…yet.

Curry oat bran with peanut butter in a hummus container.

 

Don’t worry, I waited for the oat bran to cool a bit before putting in the plastic container. I’m not that crazy!

Jam of the day: Band of Horses “Laredo”

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More daytime and more me time

There is some scientific relationship between these two factors that has me feeling good:

1. The sun is out for longer.
2. I am making more of an effort to do nice things for myself during the day.

Hypothesize away.

I am a day person all the way. I’m more productive, happier, and energetic when the sun is out. Every morning for the past week, I’ve been waking up with the sun and watching it rise with a cup of coffee.

I’m taking more tiny moments for myself here and there as well. I’ve found I don’t need a lot of extra time to do little things for my well-being, although with the longer days I do feel as though I have more time. Watching the sun rise for ten minutes is just one example.

• Taking a few minutes to read a chapter or two in a “pleasure book” instead of a text book.
• Journaling and listening to music.
• Making stove top oat bran*.

~

More sun —> more time —> time for me —> happiness.

~

Thank you sunshine!

~

*Prior to returning from break, I only made stove-top oats at night in the apartment because it took too much time. Oatmeal still takes a long time to cook, I don’t care what they say. But oat bran only takes five minutes. I have five minutes!

Yesterday morning’s breakfast was a perfect example of “me time”:

Banana and coffee.

Oat bran with curry powder and coconut butter.

~

I also put a bit of effort into dinner last night.

Tofu scramble with zucchini and spinach, and toast with Earth Balance.

If you can take a few minutes of yourself today, what will you do? My few minutes will have to wait until I’m done with my big test this morning! Eek!

Jam of the day: Jenny and Johnny “Big Wave”

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