Beautiful, encouragement filled words from Ralph Waldo Emerson- Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. He is rich who owns the day and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety. Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in. Forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely with too high a spirit to be cumbered with old nonsense. This new day is too dear with its hopes and invitations to waste a moment on the yesterday’s.
Yet another packed week! Does the grind ever stop? Somehow, this weekend has left me feeling more exhausted than actual working days. Friday was fairly easy going. My school hosted a throwback day where we each dressed up as a character from our childhood. My friends were interested in a Mean Girls group costume so we planned for that. I was to be Karen- so lucky, hey? Unfortunately, I don’t own a pink mini skirt and wouldn’t like to either, if I’m honest. Two of my friends managed to pull together realistic outfits, complete with plaid skirts, a pink cardigan and more. A single friend and I were the odd ones out. Me with my grey tee and ice cream sundae skirt and her in all black. I like to think my outfit was Queen’s Gambit inspired. Non uniform days will never get old!
On Sunday I embraced a day at home. Still on the hustle but just doing life at a slower, more manageable pace. Saturday was spend in a similar fashion. I popped on my comfies, took a long relaxing bath with candles and bubbles, redesigned the space above my chest of drawers and began reading a new book. I absolutely adore the Three Birds Renovations. With over four hundred pages of design secrets, It’s a book absolutely chock full of tips and pretty interiors to swoon over. What I love most is that the women behind the Three Birds are just like you and me- creatives with a work ethic and ideas to good to pass up on! Bonnie, Lana and Erin have their own boutique renovation company. They are mums, renovators and best friends from Sydney. In the evening I began rewatching Dexter, the only show I literally cannot move past. I suppose the transformative journey really holds appeal for me. There’s a familiarity and comfort that goes along with a show that speaks to your inner self. Better still, I got my favourite takeaway to enjoy while I watched. Anyone else a fan of Turkish Gozleme? I just had to recreate the perfect set up I’d achieved the first time around!
Today has been a mix of sleeping in, blogging, coffee, posting reels on Instagram, creating a resume of achievements for my college scholarship application and just lounging around. It’s either rained outside or threatened to all afternoon so we couldn’t have gone anywhere. Nonetheless, I was happy to put on a pretty outfit from my favourites boutique brand merri the label and pretend I had big plans! College preparation has taken up a lot of my time lately. As soon as I submit one document, there is another that requires my attention. It can be mind boggling at times but I keep reminding myself that this marks a new stage in my life. In a month I’ll be out of High School for good. The craziness certainly won’t back down then, haha.
On a positive note, I spent a good half an hour digging through our study for old certificates, report cards and relevant bits and pieces that would elevate my resume. I have no prior experience with such a formal document. A portfolio provided me with opportunity to showcase flair but a resume is more traditional. Quite frankly, it’s incredibly annoying to have to list all your achievements in sequential order, even though it makes sense to. At the beginning of this task I’d struggled to identify many of my accomplishments. The more I dug through boxes however, the more it came back to me. In Year Three I’d written to Australia’s Prime Minister at the time, Julia Gillard. It was in regards to a traffic incident where a friend of mine had been hit by a car at a crossing that wasn’t well marked. In Year Six I’d become a part of my Primary School’s Student Representative Council. In Years Three, Five and Six I’d scored marks that were off the charts during NAPLAN testing. In Years Eight and Nine, I spent every Wednesday afternoon volunteering at a local Nursing Home instead of going to school sport. There is so much more to me than I’d cared to remember. Besides this, there’s an interesting concept I’ve been considering of late. What percentage of ourselves are we truly? How far does the influence of another extend in shaping us? I want to share a few quotes so here goes.
“I make my ramen the way a friend taught me in eleventh grade. Every fall, I listen to a playlist made for me by a boy I drove across a border to hook up with. I eat sushi because a girl who won’t talk to me anymore encouraged me to try it. I eat Indian food because my best friend’s parents ordered for me before I knew what I enjoyed. There are movies I watch because someone I love adored them first. I am a mosaic of everyone and everything I’ve loved and encountered, even for a heartbeat.
Oscar Wilde is quoted as having said “Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.” In response, Jorge Luis Borges replied “I am not sure that I exist, actually. I am all the writers that I have read, all the people that I have met, all the women that I have loved, all the cities I have visited.
Lovely post!! Sounds like you have been busy. And ah, it is crazy when you get near the end of high school and have to get all that college stuff done!! I’m graduating next Spring and still have piles of things to figure out… Good luck to you, though!! I’m sure God has absolutely amazing plans in store for you. 😊
Thank you beautiful Friend! A busy time indeed- it’s been as such for the last couple of months! I can however see major shifts in their initial stages of occuring in my life so I’m grateful. To finally be afforded the freedom to pursue further education in the arts will benefit me greatly, I can already tell. I won’t have to feel low anymore or as if my talents would be better appreciated and put to use elsewhere. Thank you for your sweet encouraging words. What are your plans for college Keziah? What would you like to study, if you’ve gotten around to thinking about it yet? x
Indeed! It is nice to think over that. 😊 Well, I’ve thought a lot about college… As I plan on being a professional photographer and have looked at various schools, I simply think that my time, effort and money could be put elsewhere, to a better cause. So, I won’t be attending college… At least, not a formal one. I am still trying to figure out what I’ll do, next year. Most likely, I’ll attend a couple Bible conferences and things like that, to better grow in my faith. And to volunteer at a worldview camp, and at pregnancy crisis centres… Otherwise, I’m not entirely sure. I’m really waiting to find some things out, and trying to trust God with it all. 😊❤
Lovely inspiration as always! If you’re looking for fans of gozleme (or any other Turkish food tbh), I’m here! 😂
What a thought-provoking question – “What percentage of ourselves are we truly?” I love the quotes you shared and honestly, I agree, we are a composition of so many other influences around us. But all those influences combine to create a beautiful, unique human being! ❤
Wishing you a fantastic week ahead Maryam x
Ah yes! Us fans of Turkish food should stick together. In my old area there was a little joint that served authentic Turkish Pide. It was a real treat. That humble shop had even served Australia’s Prime Minister and his vice. Incredible opportunity for them!
I’m so glad you found this week’s inspiration to be so thought provoking. We are such multi faceted human beings who are the cumulative work of a very faithful, steadfast and loving God. All the influences put forth to us on our individuals paths have paved the way for more goodness and learning in our lives.
Hope you’re having a beautiful week! x
Wow, that’s so amazing, to be able to eat at the same place as the Prime Minister!! Turkish Pide truly is delicious, though!
Well said, Maryam. Love reading your insights! And I wish you the same 💛
Yes, I was so surprised to hear that also! They have a framed picture up which they are, rightly, very proud of.
Great post. I really like “Cleanse for Seasons.”
Thank you Tim (: I trust you’re keeping well this week?
I loved it!
Thank you so much!
maryam– your posts never fail to inspire me. every time i see your posts in my feed and scroll through your experiences & aesthetic graphics, i feel this urge to be productive and re-vamp my life ^_^ especially now, this post reminded me to step back and relax!
school *has* been quite exhausting, which sucks. throwback day sounded so fun though! is karen your favorite character from mean girls? if so, ICONIC. and writing a resume is tough fs, reflecting on all the experiences & accomplishments that have shaped who you are is a difficult task. writing mine, i got to realizing how much they have defined me but also how much i have left to do, and how much i’ll have grown by the time i next update it. it’s really a moment of self-reflection. hope your college application process goes smoothly, and hope that your week is enjoyable🖤🖤
Oh my, thank you so much Vaishnavi! that is the highest of compliments. You’ve definitely put a smile on my face! Pretty design and maintaining my blog is just one of the many things that brings me joy. I’m so privileged to be able to share that with you all. Seeing your blog posts makes me feel a similar way, that’s for sure!
I’m sorry to hear that school has taken so much out of you.. it’s not the most pleasant experience, that’s for sure! Just make sure to keep balance and accept time off where possible. Remember, time spent caring for oneself is time spent being productive and ensuring you don’t experience burnout down the line!
I wouldn’t say I have a favourite mean girls character or one that I resonate most with but they are certainly iconic in their own right! They epitomise the early 2000’s. I much appreciate all the well wishes! Where are you in terms of the college process? Being able to write a resume is such an underrated life skill. They should teach that in schools!
Enjoy your week and stay well love x
Well aren’t you a busy bee! 🐝 I looove the mean girls dress up idea! 🤩🤩
Toma 🦋 https://www.tomaruh.com
Haha, yes! Thank you love. It was a fun day! x
love this post 💕