DAY 1: TAKING THE FIRST STEP
Photo > Steven Lee. “October 1, 2023 Subverted Selfie Project Post.” Flickr, 1 Oct 2023.
As we begin this month of opening up to seeing ourselves with kindness through our cameras, what are you hoping for?
It’s October 1 & this month I envision cultivating a new relationship with myself. One where I’m kinder, & more gentle with myself. One where I’m more mindful about how I approach experiences & people in my life. One where I remember to get some exercise each week. One where I’m more aware about what I eat. One where I tackle a little bit of the many chores I have to do each & every day. One where I take a moment to breathe & reflect. One where I get things done.
What would you love to feel in this experience?
To that end, there’s something that I would love to feel in this experience - a sense of completion. I don’t want to live a life where my wheels keep spinning in the mud. Today, I envision that the mud is drying & the vehicle that takes me through life is finally able to gain traction again.
Are there certain types of selfies you hope to capture?
As such, I’d like to shoot selfies this month that are creatively interesting, & paired with reflections that help me reveal a little bit of what’s buried in my soul.
IT CAN BE POWERFUL TO GIVE VOICE TO WHAT WE'RE NERVOUS OR FEARFUL OF TOO. WHAT FEARS OR WORRIES ARE ON YOUR MIND?
Of course, I do worry that I won’t finish the things I’ve started. My life seems to be full of that: 1 step forward, & 3 steps back. For once I’d like to take some steps forward, and little to no steps back. That’s always been my biggest fear, where I not only let others down, but myself as well.
By giving them space to be heard and knowing that they might come up again, it can help us begin to diffuse their power over us!
WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR IN THE JOURNEY AHEAD THIS MONTH?
Finally, I’m hopeful that my feet heal fully, so I can start my daily walks again. It’s scary to think how I came so close to losing toes on the right side of my foot. I know I shouldn’t have waited so long to seek treatment. I’m not beating myself up for my choices, but I’m going to learn from them.
HAVE YOU TAKEN YOUR PHOTO ALREADY? IF NOT...ARE YOU FEELING RESISTANT? IF SO, IT'S TOTALLY OKAY AND LET'S EXPLORE WHY!
You might fine that with this or any prompt, you feel resistant. That is totally okay and it can actually be really good thing as it's a sign that there is change ahead. Your inner critic doesn't want you to change and it works really hard to prevent that. So when we feel that resistant feeling it's usually a sign that we SHOULD do it, no matter what our inner critic says. So let's compassionately and playfully step into our resistance to a prompt, keep going...keep trying. Out past our resistance is our realizations!
Plus, we're on Day 1 of a class, beginning a process of taking a photo every day! Today is about creating that motion in the process and this space it to let yourself acknowledge the resistance and see what happens next!
Today, I wasn’t sure what kind of photo I should take. I wanted a closer shot of my foot but I was hooked up to my IV when I snapped this picture, so I’m going to live with it.
HOW DID IT FEEL TO TAKE YOUR FIRST STEP?
How did it feel to go for it and take your photo? How did it feel to go past your resistance? What are you excited about in the journey ahead?
I felt apprehensive about the photo I took today. I cringe a little seeing the wrinkles, & the discolouration on some of my nails. My feet look dry, harsh, worn, & old. I need to keep them moisturized, by using cream, & by drinking more water. I’m also apprehensive about posting this photo, but it’s a good starting point for it shows me what I don’t want my feet to look like. With time, care, & attention, they can be healed. They can feel & look great again.
(274/365)
This was originally posted on Instagram and Flickr.
Today’s photo prompt and reflective journaling questions for today was a part of the BE YOUR OWN BELOVED photo workshop challenge which is run several times throughout the year by photographer VIVIENNE McMASTER. It’s well worth signing up for, and doing alongside other participants.