A Suggestion

Live as if everyone you meet will be gone tomorrow. Treat them as if today were their last day on earth. Don't waste an opportunity to be kind to them and to just be with them.

Maybe if people lived like this, the world would be just a little bit better.

{Image via We Heart It}

To the bloggers out there,

Judging from my latest posts (which are usually full of pictures instead of words), you can probably tell that I am in the middle of a block. A fat cement block in my mind, mainly driven by my lack of will to just get off my butt and do things, that is keeping me from producing forth art and writing that I can be unfeignedly proud of. But as I was going through my Inspiration page, editing another piece of my little blog for the nth time, and visiting a number of other blogs, I was greatly inspired. I was inspired by all of you. I loved reading about your different thoughts and aspirations. I loved looking through your pretty photos. I loved--and I still do love--your blogs and I want to thank you for creating them and making them unique and your own.

I'm not a hundred percent certain that my artist's and writer's block will end forever because of this, but I know one thing that is sure. It is that you have all sincerely inspired me, and for that I am grateful. Keep up the awesome work and remember,

{Images via We Heart It}

Present Happenings

Salutations, dear readers! I apologize for the lengthy amount of time I've been gone. I really hope that I'll be able to write more during the next month or two. Meanwhile, here are bits of what's been happening in my life lately.

realizing

that trips from the western side of the northern hemisphere to the eastern side of the southern hemisphere are extremely long, especially if they are taken via a series of connecting flights. For example, I spent about 26 hours in planes and airports the other day. Yes, I have now arrived in the Philippines! Surprise, surprise.

conjuring

up exciting thoughts of meeting with friends and family.

studying

math, language, social studies, and French while on vacation. Oh well. C'est la vie.

promenading

on the glossy tiles of SM malls, wandering from store to store, taking in the cool aircondition-ed air and the sound of chattering people.

seeing

my adorable little cousins' smiles.

awaiting

the moment when I meet up with friends from my days as Junior Art Director for a local girls' magazine.

missing

the cool North American breeze. The heat here in the Philippines is quite intense!

feeling

mixed emotions.

eating

Shakey's pizza and mojos, Jollibee's burgers and hotdogs, and soy taho.

wanting

adventure.

The Bookshelf

Photo of the Week

• The stars in the background were a failed attempt at decorating my bookshelf.
• I love fantasy, mystery, and historical fiction books.
• A lot of my books are a bit worn out, with bent corners and lines along the spines (hey, that rhymes). The neat freak in me is not amused.
• Do you also see the Keri Smith book? I'm quite proud that I'm in possession of one.
• The blurred object in the bottom left corner is a melted glass artwork of a deformed snowman.
• If you've watched Spongebob: The Movie a few hundred times like I have, you will know that today, March 14, is the day Mr. Krabs is supposed to fry.
• I'm sorry this post was so pointless. My brain cannot settle down and produce a good blog post!

{Image (c) Hannah G.}

Creative Efforts

Hello, Reader

Here are two announcements concerning this blog:

1. I will be posting photos more often. Specifically, I will be posting an original photo or two every week. This will prevent me from losing the habit of taking pictures and preserving memories, and it will remind me of the little things in life there are to capture with a click.

2. I'm going to be online a lot less (sanguinely) in order to focus more on school, my relationships with my family and friends, ministries, my art, writing, and my relationship with the Lord. I need to spend less time online. Unfortunately, that means I will only be posting once a week. I will try to make sure, though, that what I write will be of good quality. I hope you understand.

Also, before I forget, another reason I won't be able to post much for the upcoming months is because my family has planned something. I can't say too much about it so I'm only going to say that I am terrifically excited for "it" to come. ;)

Meanwhile, here is my first photo of the week. It's of a bridge in Bataan, Philippines. The sky looks so lovely, doesn't it?

I hope you have an awesome day; see you soon!

{Image (c) Hannah Gold}

Inspirational Pieces I

Bonjour, tout le monde! I'm introducing a new feature on FOTM called "Inspirational Pieces." As the name suggests, each post will have about five or so inspiring pictures, whether they be artistically, musically, spiritually or just generally inspiring. Enjoy & be inspired!

Have a wonderful day!

{Images via Tumblr}

Hello, March!

Once again, a whole month has gone by and now a new one has come to take its place. Time goes by so quickly, eh? (That was me trying to speak like a Canadian. Anyway...) Don't you wish time would go by a bit slower? I certainly do. I often find myself just drifting through life's happenings and then getting sudden wake-up calls, reminding me that I don't have all the time in the world to do the things I want to do (hello, bucket list). Yup, time is one of the greatest thieves. But amid all this crazy time business, one should always remember that God is control.Things might look a bit strange and probably not what you've planned it to be, but God's got this. He always has and He always will. 

Have a marvelous March!

{Image via We Heart It}

February 2012's Cheer

 Friends

Extra love

Books

Unexpectedly enjoyable times

Kids (not of the goat type)

Adventure

Laughs

Music

Memories

Potatoes

Siblings

Excitement

{Image (c) Hannah Gold}

{This post looks like a big-headed robot.}

Acceptance: A Little Reminder

Dear Friend,

     I know that you and I do not always get along, but we sure have weathered some tough times, have we not? Though it has not been easy, or especially fun, I have something very important to say to you now.

     This will probably be one of those "I never thought that you, of all people, would say this to me" moments, but what the heck. I like you a lot. No, it's more than that. I love you. Yes, this is from me. I know that I've been a friend to you, and I've also been your mortal enemy, but I have discovered that you are a pretty darn cool person. This is real, not one of those you-did-something-really-awesome-and-I-worship-the-ground-you-walk-on type things. I love you for who you are, because you, my dear, are amazing.

     I love how you smile and laugh and make others succumb helplessly to giggles. I love how your personality draws people in until they feel like they have known you forever. I love how you take the time to do thoughtful little things for others without thinking about it twice.

     I admire your struggle to be you, how you can fail, forgive yourself, and try again. I admire the strength you show when you have none at all, the way you continue to give when you've got nothing left. I admire that you do not see asking for help a sign of failure, or asking for a hug a sign of weakness.

     I love how you live with passion. You pursue things with all of your heart, and though you do not always succeed, you never give in. I have watched you accomplish huge things in your life. I have seen you take pride in your victories, and I have rejoice for you, also.

     I have learned from you that no matter what praise you receive from others, you must be pleased with yourself to truly be happy. I have learned that loving yourself, faults and all, is a really hard thing to do. But I do love you. It has not been easy. Hard times have come before, and they will again. We are not perfect by any means, and I can assure you that there will be times when I will be furious with you. Just never forget that I think you are a wonderful, amazing, and beautiful person. No matter what, I will always love you differently than anyone else in this world, because to tell you the truth, there is no one else I would rather be.

Lots of love,

Me

-Sara Guilliam

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I came upon this little letter in a book I received a few Christmases ago. I wanted to share it with all of you guys, not to enlarge your heads or anything like that, but because there are thousands, even millions, of people around the world, girls especially, who constantly compare themselves with others and feel like they don't measure up. They do anything and everything to try to fit in, but it never really seems to be enough. There are many people who smile and look okay but are secretly hurting inside. I know that that might not even be the case for you who are reading this (considering I only have seven followers and all), but I don't want to risk the chance that it could be. I don't want you guys to forget that each one of you is special. I'm sure you've all heard that before, but I want you to really think about it and believe it's true. You guys are God's children, uniquely and exquisitely made. Don't think for a moment that you are nothing because in God's eyes, you are everything. He has plans for you, to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and future. He loves you, and so do I. :) Have an awesome day!

{Letter (c) Sara Guilliam; Image via We Heart It}