thoughtful thursdays.

i'd like to write these thoughtful posts when i'm feeling, um, thoughtful.  like today. 

 

this time around, i'm using the extraordinary photographs of alicia bock as the eye candy surrounding my thoughts.  think it adds just a spot of whimsy to the post ;)

recently i've been thinking a lot about how to be the most authentic "me."  

you know how in the happiness project she always comes back around to "be gretchen?!" (what do you mean you still haven't picked this book up?!  hehe).  well, i've got to "be diane." 

the good news?  i've actually come a long way on this in the last couple of years.  so it's been more of a reflection on where i am successful in this "quest" versus where i can become a more authentic version of myself.

 

i've started to notice that there are two areas where i need to pay more attention to who i am and what i want to be.  

the first is in my career.  this isn't exactly a new revelation either, but i've brought it back to the forefront.  i'm young, i'm at the beginning of whatever lies ahead, but that shouldn't stop me from taking active steps toward a fulfilling career now.  

i don't want to get caught just going through the motions.  we spend too much of our lives in our day jobs for that to be worthwhile.

i do not necessarily want to stay in my current career path (law) for the rest of my life, but that does not mean that i shouldn't try to find the most meaningful way to spend my time while i'm in it.  i can still find the "me" in there.      

 

the second area of focus is right here on the blog.  many of the blogs i look up to and love most attended the altitude design summit last weekend, and through their tweets and their recaps (some favorites: oh, hello friend, design*sponge, creature comforts, marta writes, old sweet song, sarah jane studios blog, twig and thistle), i gleaned bits of advice i can apply right here. 

advice like knowing yourself.  knowing your readers.  knowing your sources and making sure to give them the credit they deserve.  

i plan to do all these things as i work harder to be the best "me" there is on a spot of whimsy.

 

thinking about "me"  sounds a little (ok a lot) narcissistic, but, in this case, it is in a way intended to benefit others.    

let's go back to the happiness project: "one of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself." -p. 147.  

so being happy with who i am - be diane - has the benefit of making others around me happier too.  

seems pretty worthwhile to me!  what do you think?  do you sometimes struggle at being "you" in all areas of life?  you don't have to comment, feel free to just think about it yourself.

and while we're hovering around the subject of knowing your readers, do you like thoughtful posts?  or should i keep the self-reflection to the pages of my journal?    

xo. di.

*images via alicia bock's etsy shop