One of those projects that's been nagging at me!

Creative Carmelina, a blogger friend of mine, started something awhile back. She did this awesome self portrait that really spoke to me. We all want to define ourselves. But not in any permanent way that can't be changed. We all want the world to see us they way that we see ourselves. A self portrait can be a very hard project to even attempt.




Blogging has a certain safety in that people can only see what you allow them to see. The picture we create with our words, the story we tell with our art, the glimpses we share with our photography. But a self portrait should be honest. Its not that it can't be pretty- but the truth of it, the heart of it should be un-adorned. The truth should shine forward, beautiful in itself.

I used to believe a story about myself. I took parts of messages I heard from my Mother and believed them to be true. Now I realize that her truths don't have to be my truths. As a young adult I took in the messages from people around me and thought they must know more than me. Now I realize how much we all didn't know back then. Now- I realize 'that' story never really fit and I knew it all along.

I challenge you to know yourself truthfully. It sounds silly to say that if negative words come out of your mouth than positive words should follow- but really- if you ever do dwell on negative things about yourself you need give yourself a good mental shake and state the positive side of things as well. Its only fair to be completely accurate. I mean come on'- if you're going to be hard on yourself go all the way- realize that yeah, you're not perfect and you're not all that bad either. Somewhere in the middle is a big space to be in. A big wide open, full of wonderful possibilities space.

By the way, Creative Carmelina is #103 on the blog hop. Go visit her. She's always doing something amazing. She'd love to have you- she's a great host!