I submitted photos for the Southwest Environmental Center's 2012 photo contest, another first for me.
Although I wish they had selected some of my better work (there goes the inner perfectionist again), I'm still pleased to have some selections in the contest!
You may vote for my photos through the links below; the 12 with the most FB 'likes' make it into the calendar! I'll take all the help I can get!
Southwest Environmental Center 2012 Photo Contest
Southwest Environmental Center 2012 Photo Contest
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Biting the Proverbial Bullet.
I've been procrastinating on the New Mexico Magazine photo contest submission for awhile now, and apparently there are a few good reasons: some psychologists argue my inner perfectionist is the culprit. Others say it's my impulse- wow, I'm pretty sure I suffer from both of those afflictions. While I've been known to blame my inability to stick to tasks on imaginary ADD, the truth is this: I don't have the disorder; it's just that my BRAIN suffers from dis-order!
I keep thinking I'll have time 'tomorrow' or 'next week'. And before you know it, the deadline arrives and I'm running around trying to get everything done. That inevitably never works out either; something goes awry, adding to my stress level AND my annoyance at not getting things done sooner. I'm only fooling myself- I don't put things off because I'll have more time later. I believe I subsconsciously do it knowing that rushing through a task will not only lead me to stray from perfection to complete it, thereby allowing me to blame myself because I didn't do something perfectly. How's that for sick and twisted?!
"Well, if I know the problem, why can't I correct it?' you may ask. I think it may all revolve around my apparent fear of success. What if I actually won a contest? I might place impossible expectations on myself (because I don't already do that), or cause my ego to inflate to the size of the Goodyear blimp (is that thing still operable?), maybe even lose sleep contemplating my newfound fame...oh, the horror.
So, I have another contest deadline at the end of this month (the 29th to be exact). Let's see if I can learn my lesson and bite the bullet EARLY (check out the Prevention Magazine article that seemed to be written for me this month) http://www.prevention.com/tips/health/pump-your-will-power/3-dont-procrastinate .
I keep thinking I'll have time 'tomorrow' or 'next week'. And before you know it, the deadline arrives and I'm running around trying to get everything done. That inevitably never works out either; something goes awry, adding to my stress level AND my annoyance at not getting things done sooner. I'm only fooling myself- I don't put things off because I'll have more time later. I believe I subsconsciously do it knowing that rushing through a task will not only lead me to stray from perfection to complete it, thereby allowing me to blame myself because I didn't do something perfectly. How's that for sick and twisted?!
"Well, if I know the problem, why can't I correct it?' you may ask. I think it may all revolve around my apparent fear of success. What if I actually won a contest? I might place impossible expectations on myself (because I don't already do that), or cause my ego to inflate to the size of the Goodyear blimp (is that thing still operable?), maybe even lose sleep contemplating my newfound fame...oh, the horror.
So, I have another contest deadline at the end of this month (the 29th to be exact). Let's see if I can learn my lesson and bite the bullet EARLY (check out the Prevention Magazine article that seemed to be written for me this month) http://www.prevention.com/tips/health/pump-your-will-power/3-dont-procrastinate .
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| "Friends" |
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| "Gone But Not Forgotten" |
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| "Isolation" |
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| "Tres Hermanas" |
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Another tired Mama tirade.
As I sit here watching my son's little chest rise and fall during peaceful slumber, I wonder how anyone could suggest they'd rather be at work than staying home with their kid(s).
It's been all of three weeks since I witnessed a woman uttering those words, and I thought I could let it go. After all, everyone has their opinions and we can agree to disagree, right? Not this time- she acted as if it was the ultimate punishment. Give this time clock Mama a BREAK!
Am I missing something? Perhaps I'm still in the honeymoon stages of being a mother (if there is such a thing) and don't see the "real" work of being a stay-at-home Mama. I'm going to take a giant leap of faith (sarcasm) and say it's more rewarding than my paycheck job. While I'm extremely grateful to have a dependable income, my "volunteer" time seems far better spent. Where else can I induce a chuckle for singing the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and babble like a medicated manic without someone questioning my sanity? Certainly not at the water cooler or in cubicle land.
Do I sometimes reminisce about my days pre-baby? Briefly, but I can't remember what exactly my days consisted of and I've concluded that none of it was too important. Do I wish for a leisurely bath, a few uninterrupted moments to curl up with my Kindle, or the ultimate of sins- sleeping in? Occasionally, yes. But those notions are quickly replaced by the joy of bath time or a round of peek-a-boo. Oh, what sweet punishment!
It's been all of three weeks since I witnessed a woman uttering those words, and I thought I could let it go. After all, everyone has their opinions and we can agree to disagree, right? Not this time- she acted as if it was the ultimate punishment. Give this time clock Mama a BREAK!
Am I missing something? Perhaps I'm still in the honeymoon stages of being a mother (if there is such a thing) and don't see the "real" work of being a stay-at-home Mama. I'm going to take a giant leap of faith (sarcasm) and say it's more rewarding than my paycheck job. While I'm extremely grateful to have a dependable income, my "volunteer" time seems far better spent. Where else can I induce a chuckle for singing the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and babble like a medicated manic without someone questioning my sanity? Certainly not at the water cooler or in cubicle land.
Do I sometimes reminisce about my days pre-baby? Briefly, but I can't remember what exactly my days consisted of and I've concluded that none of it was too important. Do I wish for a leisurely bath, a few uninterrupted moments to curl up with my Kindle, or the ultimate of sins- sleeping in? Occasionally, yes. But those notions are quickly replaced by the joy of bath time or a round of peek-a-boo. Oh, what sweet punishment!
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