We grabbed some red lip stick, a cigarette, a fur coat, some daisies and a lamp as we made our way outside. We had a vision and for the first time in a long time we felt inspired. Remember that awesome giddy feeling you got as a kid when you invented a new game or had a rockin' new idea for your next pillow fort? That feeling of excited anticipation as you were about to bring an idea to life? Well sadly, as we "adults" (lol) slip into our weekly cycles of classes, caffeine and crunch time; doing things we want to do always seems to take a back seat to doing the things we have to do.
When you find yourself spending all your time on things you don't love, it's easy to feel like you've lost yourself. Nothing feels inspiring, nothing seems to excite you. Then, when those few sparse moments of freedom appear, do you find yourself taking a freaking nap? Too exhausted from all those tasks you had to do. Before you know it, it's been weeks since you did something simply for pleasure. I've been attempting to finish this post for a few weeks and every time I try, I find something I "need" to be doing instead. Sitting here typing, I feel pangs of guilt as I write this post instead of studying for my exam tomorrow or getting a head start on my journals due at the end of the month. With so much to do all the time, slowing down seems impossible. Any minute you spend not building your resumé or planning your future seems like a waste, because that's one more minute your potential competition is doing that.
We all want to be the best. We want the quickest, easiest, most efficient way to do things at all times. We are a generation that is impatient, competitive and selfishly motivated. We are obsessed with having the newest, most-expensive models whether it's phones, cars or clothing. It's like we are all racing each other, but the thing we have yet to realize is that we are all running a different race. Well, when something is impactful enough to slow the sprint, I think it's something to take note of. For me, that something was my film photography class last spring.
My first day in class, my professor asked the why we had all decided to take film photography. We sat there as everyone cycled through the expected responses and I thought for a while; why did I want to take film photography? I have a nice digital camera, and these days iPhones even take pretty high quality pictures. Then, I realized why I wanted to take the course. I was excited to learn the process. I was excited to have to work for an end result. Our generation is so accustomed to having instant gratification, I think having to slow down and work for something makes it that much more satisfying in the end.
This class was the reminder I had so desperately needed. Between what seems like endless psychology and education courses, it's easy to drown in the routine of it all. We seem to forget to find time to do the things that make us the happiest. Whether it is reading for pleasure, painting, exercising or even exploring; everyone seems to forget to pencil these things into their planners. Last semester I was lucky enough to have been forced to slow down.
Now I understand that maybe film photography isn't for everyone. All I'm trying to say is remember to take time to do the things you love. Remember that life exists beyond your transcript and outside of the library walls. I know how hard it can be to slow down when it seems like the minute you stop, everyone else is sprinting ahead of you. But maybe that's not what it means at all. Maybe it just means you've decided to run at your own pace. When you stop competing and stop comparing, you start to create a life of your own.
