tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53906519473989831202024-03-19T23:21:35.697+11:00True My LensTrue My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-20434034762479378692014-06-06T03:00:00.000+10:002014-06-06T03:12:49.081+10:00on wholeness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's 3am, I'm up, when I shouldn't be. <i>So why am I up?</i> Writing up my last essay for the semester, that's why. And I know what you're thinking, girl's procrastinated like a typical first year and left it to the last minute again. You'd be wrong! It's three days till due date, so I'm starting way, way too early... am I right?<br />
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Late nights also bring about deep reflections, naturally, and lately I've been having a lot of those. Amidst nights of the quiet and undisturbed, one word has been on my mind lately and that is... wholeness. Yes, wholeness.<br />
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Wholeness is something we all gravitate towards in our life, isn't it? In the things that we do, in the goals we make, in the dreams we have, in the people we connect to -- they are all the makings of this perceived wholeness. But it seems, that sometimes, we have failed misgivings as to what true wholeness is. I know, at least I do. Sometimes... I mistake happiness as wholeness. I think, that to be whole, that I should be happy, almost like happiness is the default setting of each and everyone of us.<br />
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But the truth is? If that was wholeness, no one in this world could achieve this.<br />
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I refuse to believe that when life hands us bruised lemons, and we're not crazy happy about making a lemonade -- that this means we're not whole people. <i>But</i> believing that the pursuit of life is to strive for happiness can lead to that. Living life entirely and solely for happiness is a dangerous thing... because it can lead to this fear, this inacceptance, this rejection of sadness. Life just can't be lived like that... it's not happiness. And it most certainly isn't wholeness.<br />
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I <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/327550.Hugh_Mackay">read a profound excerpt recently</a> about how sadness, disappointment, frustration and failure make me us who we are. And how true that is. Society is so quick to dismiss it when life chews us up, so quick with their familiar "it will be okay!", "move on!" or "chin up buttercup!" messages, when it is through these hard times that we truly grow. Thing is, these moments of hardship might not make us feel whole (or rather, happy) at the time, but lately instead of dismissing a bad day altogether, I'm learning to ask myself, "Is this contributing to my wholeness?"</div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-4693035089634685042014-04-21T22:40:00.000+10:002014-04-21T22:43:22.031+10:00reset<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's no lie that I've been posting less than usual in the past three months. Oh of course by less I mean one post a month less, kind-of-thing. Strangely enough, I don't feel a pinch of guilt. But then again... this is what documentation has always been for me. As much as I love documenting my life (boy it's been good to look back at this blog for those good, hearty moments), I've never really felt this obligation to document. I document, when I feel like it, and all the other times, I just simply experience.<br />
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And it's a good thing too, because who knows what this blog would be like if I felt obligated to document. It may not even be around, because we all know me and obligations don't always work hand in hand. I love stuff to be free flowing, free-spirited and this is what this space has been for me.<br />
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Can you believe we're a quarter into the year already? I know, unbelievable! I can't say that I've come out of this quarter a better person, or that I have come out of it unchanged. Despite all these changes, I feel like I'm still the same person I was before. I think some of you can relate. But one with a greater resolve... to love, to learn, to live. And that's why, believe me when I say, I wouldn't change these last couple of months for a dime.<br />
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That as it may be, I'm going to approach 2014 from this year on end with a <u>reset</u>. Start afresh, both in mind and soul, and look at the world from a set of eyes I haven't seen through before. Not in that short-lived euphoric 'yay it's a new year! new beginnings! new me!' kind of way (although there is nothing wrong with that), but just fresh in general. I feel a sense of renewal coming, so today, I press reset and hope for the best.</div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-30711973412347857622014-03-29T01:11:00.000+11:002014-03-29T08:21:56.297+11:00nineteen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For some time now, my birthday was just another day to me. I'd tell people cheerfully, "hey, to me it's just the same set of numbers I always fill on forms." and they'd look me like, '<i>dude, what?!'</i> short of saying, 'were you hugged as a child?' Haha, but hey, it's true, and I don't look at it like it's a depressing thing, but to me, it just ain't a big deal.<br />
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This year, though, something was different in the air. I was surprised, touched by people both close and far, dear and distant from me: <a href="http://instagram.com/p/mCDlWQMekf/">a friend who I hadn't caught up with in a long time</a>, an old friend from high school and people who went out of their way to make my day special, as if to say <i>hey,</i> <i>it isn't just another day</i>.<br />
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As if that wasn't enough, tonight my cell group completely threw me off, surprising me with a lit birthday cake right smack in the middle of a gathering.<br />
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As the birthday song filled the room, I looked around at everyone circling around me--some faces I knew, some I just got to know, and many I didn't know--I was again reminded of how awesome it is to be surrounded by good people. It wasn't the cake, or even the birthday part, but just being around such good people... felt amazing, undeserving and out of this world. And right in that moment, my heart was filled to the brim, overcome with love and gratitude. Right there and then, I realised, it shouldn't be called <i>birthday</i>, but <i>gratitude day</i>. Of course, that should be everyday. But today, I am especially grateful.</div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-65880843673221997362014-02-09T22:41:00.002+11:002014-02-09T22:47:12.899+11:00on spontaneity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>{shots taken by my dear friend sonia, thanks bud}</i></span></div>
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Went out with the loveliest girls one day, purely for city adventuring aka walk around the city all day with no actual agenda in mind. As soon as we got into the city, it all changed. We spotted a random piano sitting right on the edge of the flinders train station on our way out, and <u>of course</u> like good friends would, these people who I believed were my friends two seconds ago were pushing me towards the piano and I won't say force, but you know how, ahem, convincing friends can be.<br />
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And let me just paint you a picture of what I was getting myself into: flinders is the main station of melbourne, center of the hustle bustle of the city, which means you can be sure I'd have eyes on me. But, you know, friends and their darn you'll-never-hear-the-end-of-this-if-you-don't-comply mantra. It won out, as usual. And thinking "hey, it's only once, what do I have to lose?" I played. And okay, it was pretty cool.<br />
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But as it turns out! that's not the only piano in the city. There were plenty scattered all over the city. It's part of this really cool art movement called "Play Me, I'm Yours" (check it <a href="http://www.streetpianos.com/">here</a>!), and has already reached nearly forty other cities in the world. So we went around looking for these pianos and before you knew it, I slid into the pianos like I was born to do it. It was just the coolest, and many times a day, we'd kick ourselves and think, "wow, this is actually real?!" Having kids singing on the either side of you as you play a childhood favourite do-re-mi, playing 'hey jude' simultaneously to the buskers playing it on the guitar a few metres away from you... oh, the beauty of music and people and the whole city vibes just sat so well with me.<br />
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It was the most spontaneous day, the kind that I wished I could relive again just because of how incredible it was, how light it felt and how full it made my heart.</div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-28374461105580411672014-01-16T17:48:00.001+11:002014-01-16T19:50:37.931+11:00lucky girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Someone recently said to me, "You're living the life." It was probably the most surprising thing anyone has ever said to me, and of course, I did a double take "um, what did you just say to me?" for good measure. It's funny and flattering hearing that, but at the same time, I realised how lucky I am to be able to travel, go on adventures and roadtrips. In no way do I think I'm living <i>the life</i>, but I'm discovering that with each passing year, I have a greater resolve to live my life the best I can.<br />
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What does <u>best</u> mean exactly? To me, it's just doing the things that makes you happy and feel good about life. I'm learning that being happy also means being open. Doing things that you've never done before, doing things another way, and just carpe diemin' the heck out of life. When I went on this impromptu roadtrip to Cowes, I remember one night we just ordered a pizza and had it on the beach as the sun set and the boats reeled in, and it was just <u>the best</u>. I remember thinking to myself, "ah, life. you can be a bit of an ass sometimes, but today you're doin' mighty fine." </div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-45753739445092580102013-12-24T14:13:00.004+11:002014-01-15T11:40:59.181+11:00december grams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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December has been a good one, full of prefestivities and time to myself, as well as taking time out to spend with the loved ones. Let's see... passenger concert, roadtrips, a getaway by the coast and channeling my inner santa -- gift wrapping and swinging my little santa sack and dropping gifts to friends. Oh, and of course, what would December be without me being under the pretense that I'm a gifted singer? Yes, my friends, I've been belting out Christmas tunes (as if I wrote them) all around the house, and sometimes humming in the public too. In other words, I'm gettin' my christmas spirit on. <i>Big time</i>.<br />
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And let me tell you, I'm not a shy performer. I do the whole finger clicking, staring into the distance like all A-class acts like Michael Bubl<span class="st">é do. Only, I probably look pretty silly, but you know what? It's Christmas. Tis the season for shameless singing, daggy swaying to the perfection that are Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and ohhhh, the Bubl</span><span class="st">é.</span><br />
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<span class="st">Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas ahead, friends. Have a smashing one, and please don't ever hesitate to pull out a daggy move or ninety to christmas carols, swing side to side as if your life depended on hip action, and just <i>laugh</i> and be happy and jolly with your family and friends. We only get to do it once a year, and for all you know, I'm probably pulling out waaaay more<strike></strike> inventive moves, laughing away twenty times louder and making a waaaay bigger fool of myself than you are.</span><br />
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<span class="st">Whatever Christmas means to you, wherever you are, I hope you'll have a great day, friends... the kind of day that warms your soul, makes your heart flutter and blossoms all the feel-good parts of your life. You are loved, and tomorrow is here to remind you of that, and for you to remind the loved parts of your life that they, too, are loved.</span></div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-6292001113311998542013-12-19T22:38:00.000+11:002014-01-15T12:25:20.526+11:00sunshine bloggers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A <i>big</i> thank you to the lovely lovely <a href="http://alwayswithyoo.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/sunshine-bloggers.html">Jane</a> for tagging me as a Sunshine Blogger! It's honestly one of the grandest compliments I've ever received, as the sunshine is one of my favourite, favourite things in the world. <u>Here's how it works</u>: stating five random facts, answering five questions, tagging five bloggers and asking five questions of my own.<br />
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You ready? Okay, let's go!<br />
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">RANDOM FACTS</span></span><br />
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<b>01 //</b> When I was five, I had my life all mapped out. "What do you want to do when you grow up?" was always eagerly replied with "A construction worker! I wanna dig into the ground and work bulldozers all day and everyday!" I'm pretty sure my parents weren't sure what to do with me, ha. I was so insistent, they worried it wasn't just another phase.<br />
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<b>02 //</b> Roadtripping is hands down my favourite thing to do.<br />
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<b>03 //</b> While many people grew up with their parents, I lived with my grandparents for the first ten years of my life. Needless to say, we share the closest bond and I still call them every night for a chat. You know when you meet older people and you think, "<i>man,</i> I hope I'll be half as cool as they are when I get old". My grandparents are the epitome of that. They are so, darn, cool.<br />
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<b>04 //</b> I'm only afraid of two things in the world: showerheads and dolls. As a child, my (so-called) friends thought it was hilaaaarious to freak me out with dolls every so often. I was <i>not</i> amused, and often thought of withdrawing my friendship with them. ;) <br />
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<b>05 //</b> When I discover a good song that I love, I often listen to it on repeat, over and over until I become somewhat sick of it. This sometimes lasts for about two weeks.<br />
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">QUESTIONS FROM JANE</span></span></div>
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<b>01 // where is your happy place?</b><br />
I'm at my happy place whenever I call my grandparents. Even on a bad day, their voices sooth my soul and evaporate my worries instantly, even for just a while. <br />
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<b>02 // how do you unwind from a stressful day?</b><br />
Going for a walk, because sometimes all it takes is a bit of fresh air, the gentle swishes of the leaves, blossoming flowers, to remind me that a bad day doesn't make a bad life. If it gets real bad, I actually nap for a while, and often wake up feeling a lot better.<br />
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<b>03 // what is the one act of kindness that you still remember to this day?</b><br />
Earlier this year, I was going through a really rough patch. It had been a few weeks into it, and a classmate of mine noticed this. He said to me one day, "you don't look good." Confused, unaware, "yeah?" was my response. He continued on to say, "oh, I just noticed you haven't been smiling much lately." I was taken aback, because I remembered he had randomly told me before that I'm always smiling whenever he sees me, and that it looks nice. We weren't exactly close, but yet he managed to notice these little things about myself I didn't even see in myself before. <br />
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And just before he left, he said swiftly with a soft smile, "just be happy." Such simple words, and yet, they've remained etched in my mind ever since. Whenever I was going through a hard time, I'd hear his voice echoing the words, "Just be happy." Even in the toughest of times, hearing these words have comforted me.<br />
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<b>04 // what is a cause that is near and dear to you? and why?</b><br />
Recently I volunteered as a community visitor at an aged care. As a community visitor, I visit an elderly every fortnight to just have a chat with them. Being at an aged care can be so eerily lonely, often with not many people to talk to. Although these elderly people are physically weaker, I have found that many of them are still very much alive mentally and can run laps around you when chatting with them! The older generation has so much to offer and teach us, that I often feel so grateful that my elderly would take some of her time out to talk to me, rather than the other way around.<br />
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<b>05 // share one tip or advice on anything - life, school, work, on living a happy life, etc. </b><br />
One thing I've learned this year is that there are some things in life that are beyond our control. Indeed, it's almost instinctive for us to want to <i>make</i> things better, <i>fix</i> things. When we can't, life feels like a failure and we compensate by worrying endlessly... which doesn't fix anything, as we all know. I've learned that sometimes we just have to let go and accept that there are things in life that happen to us that we have no control over. Not everything in life falls into place, and it's not our job to make sure they do.<br />
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Thank you for reading! I'm passing on the sunshine and tagging the following blogs that I currently adore -- <a href="http://lovecourtxoxo.com/">love court</a>, <a href="http://brittanys-notebook.blogspot.com/">brittany's notebook</a>, <a href="http://www.hislittlelady.com/">his little lady</a>, <a href="http://www.sweet-dreamer.com/">sweet dreamer</a> and <a href="http://saltskinned.blogspot.com.au/">what anita said</a>.</div>
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<b>my questions to you bloggers --</b></div>
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01 // what do you love most about yourself?</div>
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02 // if you could travel anywhere right now for free, where would you go and why?<br />
03 // what is a piece of advice someone's given you that you'd pass onto your kids?<br />
04 // what were you like as a child?<br />
05 // 2014 is just around the corner. what do you most look forward to in the new year?</div>
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True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-45408331920426643432013-12-17T15:29:00.000+11:002014-01-15T11:53:26.547+11:00it's just a number, they say<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<div class="mag_copy">
And whoever <i>they </i>are, they're right.<br />
<br />
We received our results yesterday for our final exams - which actually seemed like a century ago, since it seems so much time has passed since then (okay, it's only been a month, but a month of no obligations sure feels gloriously long, man). I've never put much emphasis on the ATAR (our overall score), in fact it never even really crossed my mind until a friend asked, "what ATAR do you want to get?" And I had no idea. Obviously I knew I needed a certain score to get into the course I wanted, but it never clicked with me to put much emphasis on it. As clich<span class="st">é</span>d as it sounds, I just wanted to do my best, give it my all and that's all that mattered to me. I've never liked numbers, anyway.<br />
<br />
But even so, as I keyed in my student code and password to get my results online, I had a little bit of anticipation built up in me. And when I saw my ATAR... I was overjoyed. In fact, I barely ate for the rest of the day, because I was just so <i>full</i> of happy. <br />
<br />
I wasn't the only one, of course. It was good to hear that others were happy with theirs too... but there were also friends who weren't quite happy with theirs. Even though to me, they did BEYOND AMAZING, but to them, it was just short of their expectations. People feel what they feel, and no amount of reassurance can change someone's disappointment in themselves--I've learned that through others and through myself. But to those of you who do feel slightly down about your score, I just want to say--don't be too hard on yourselves. We are often our worst critic. Perhaps your score won't get you the scholarship you wanted, or your first preference, but it's not the be-all and end-all.<br />
<br />
You're probably thinking, who is she to say that? She's happy with her score. And you're probably right. But mum did pose a question to me last night, and she asked, "what if you didn't get an ATAR that scored you a spot in Arts?" And I thought about it. I would worry, for sure, and probably agonise a little (okay, <i>a lot</i>) over the fact that I won't get into my first preference. <i>But,</i> I wouldn't regret. Looking back at all the wonderful memories I've had this year, I know no ATAR could ever amount to the incredible times I've had with my peers throughout the year, and the memories we've carved together.<br />
<br />
I mean, let's be honest, twenty years from now, you probably won't even remember what you got for your ATAR. Knowing my poor memory, I know I would. And that's just it... we're going to go on to do more things with our lives, that these few digits, this <i>mere</i> number, is not going to amount to much. A number could never define who you are, it's what you do with it that does. So let's do it, let's kick ass in the year ahead and beyond, people!</div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-34820374383890802002013-12-11T21:29:00.001+11:002014-01-15T11:31:38.616+11:00on getting arrested<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="mag_copy">
<br />
"Have fun getting arrested," was what the lady said when she passed us our tickets. <br />
<br />
We <i>did </i>get arrested, but it was all play at the Old Melbourne Gaol... which was just the coolest. Probably shouldn't say that about a place that used to be a jail, but it was. Being the 'criminals' that we were, we stood in a line shoulder to shoulder, got checked for drugs and were locked in cells. I gotta say, the sergeant that showed us around was pret-ty convincing. I did <i>not</i> want to mess around with him, that's for sure.<br />
<br />
The Old Melbourne Gaol was actually, to both our surprise, smack bang in the middle of the city. So we spent the rest of the day just walking all around the city, talking about our childhood stories, the weirdest dreams we've had and everything in between. I'm not sure if you can tell by the photos, but Melbourne went through a biiiit of a multiple personality disorder today; it was sunny one minute, then pouring down with rain, then sunny, then raining for literally fifteen seconds, then sunny again.<br />
<br />
It didn't really bother us until we were approached by a sliiiightly drunk Santa with a
bottle of wine in his hand and a big red sack in his other, asking ever so politely and drunkenly, 'let's share some shade together!' and off he squeezed himself under our already crowded umbrella...which I found hilarious, but Aaron found slightly intimidating at first (sorry mate, it's totally understandable though!). Looks like someone was already in holiday spirit, that's for sure... but then again, aren't all of us?</div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-35355901281010876152013-12-09T12:55:00.001+11:002014-01-15T12:00:32.544+11:00bringing you unearthed this summer<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="495" src="//e.issuu.com/embed.html#6799595/5903370" width="700"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div class="mag_copy">
Creating is one of my greatest passions in this world. It probably comes before my love for caffeine or a good lasagne, and that is <i>saying something</i>. All jokes aside, I present to you, the second issue to my creative project <i>Unearthed.</i> For those who are unfamiliar, it's a seasonal, non-profit online magazine featuring photography, writing and music. I've learned so much this year, and creating this felt so right. This summer issue of <i>Unearthed</i> is a collection of my personal, intimate insights into everyday life, travelling and the world. I got such a kick out of making this, and I hope you enjoy it!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">And for those who <a href="http://truemylens.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/something-exciting.html">missed it</a>, here's the <a href="http://issuu.com/unearthedmag/docs/summer2012">first issue</a>. </span></div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-41757755764038356252013-12-03T16:07:00.001+11:002014-01-15T11:31:38.619+11:00springkickin' summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span id="goog_1912807440"></span><span id="goog_1912807441"></span><br />
<div class="mag_copy">
When a friend of mine told me that there's a night noodle market in town, my first reaction was: 'Wait what? Is this night noodle market actually a thing? A thing thing?'<br />
<br />
As it turns out, it was. So off we went, and boy, it was incredible. Though we were still in spring, it felt like we were smack bang in the middle of summer. There was just something about the feel good music, the great food and people there that just oozed with good vibes, reminiscent of summer. Ohhhh, and don't even get me started on the food. Choosing which stall to try was like asking a parent to pick their favourite child... except probably harder. Everything just looked <i>so good</i> and screamed for my name. <br />
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It was a great day out, and so good to reconnect with a friend, chatting and laughing away about anything and everything. My grandma wasn't messing around when she told me that good food always brings about a good round of chatter... if anything, this was proof of that.</div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-26968407872081719432013-11-29T18:44:00.001+11:002014-01-15T11:40:59.168+11:00'tis the season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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'Tis the season for thank yous and season greetings, writing cards and slipping in a photo or two into the envelope, curating gifts and wrapping them up in fresh dinosaur-themed wrapping paper. For me, it's where Christmas starts... writing notes straight from your heart to your loved ones, realising how much of an impact they've made on you. Signed, sealed, and ready to be delivered, yes they are!<br />
<br />
Night out with some girlfriends tonight, and I can't wait to see their faces when I surprise them with some feel-good cards and gifts! There's something about the giving part of Christmas that is just incredible, and I really, really love it.</div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-78075663288362599072013-11-26T13:51:00.000+11:002013-11-26T15:26:29.386+11:00travel grams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The day right after my last exam, we went for a little roadtrip up to the gorgeous Mornington Peninsula, which is just a fancy name for what I like to call beach heavenlyness. We stayed at Sorrento for a couple of nights, and man, this place is just a baaabe (think mila kunis kinda babin'). Most days we'd just get into the car and drive to other towns. It's funny, because friends and colleagues would ask me about the trip, which went down something like this:<br />
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<b>them:</b> so, what did you guys do there?<br />
<b>me:</b> oh, we just drove everywhere, sat on the beaches and just relaxed...<br />
<b>them:</b> oh yeah, that's nice! but what did you guys do?<br />
<b>me:</b> *trying to come up with a different variation to what I just said*<br />
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And that's precisely why I loved this getaway. We had no agenda at all, no sense of time and just... relaxed. Indulging in the delicate sounds of the waves, the warmth of the sun and the wind softly caressing our skin. It was sorta all kinds of perfect, if you must know... and something I definitely, definitely would recommend to anyone. Going away for a couple of days really does something incredibly profound to your soul.</div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-64247169975657522922013-11-18T18:21:00.000+11:002014-01-15T11:53:26.554+11:00I finally joined the club<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What club, you ask? Well, for a while now, I've been feeling all kinds of left out. For the past week, my facebook feed was swarmed with one status after another, reading along the lines of 'oh my gooosh I'm done with exams!!!' or 'officially done with school! yay!' In my head played the sound of hundreds of party blowers going off all at the same time, which grew louder and louder as I scrolled further and further down my feed. Ha. You see, while (pretty much) everyone else was done with school, I wasn't done just yet... as fate would have it, I still had another one left to go.<br />
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But today! Today, I officially joined the club of 'I am done done doooone forever and ever and ever with school!'. Insert evil chuckles here. And relief, oh gosh relief. <br />
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It's a funny feeling, weird, but at the same time so darn freeing, you know? I feel like even though my whole schooling life had prepared me for my exams, it hadn't prepared me for <i>this</i>. This freeing feeling that is unlike anything I've felt before. Not complaining though! I'm stoked for this next chapter of my life, carrying on what I've learned so far and using that to fuel and curate fresh, new experiences.</div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-57540153505902540622013-11-12T14:48:00.000+11:002014-01-15T11:53:26.549+11:00let's climb mountains<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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These were taken on our day trip up to the Grampians, and it was just one of those trips that somehow encapsulated my year. Climbing mountains. I've spent the past year climbing a mountain that I did not know the path to, uncertain as to whether I'll ever make it to the top, or make it at all. It was kind of like bringing a pair of seven inch stilettos to hike. I was unprepared, unaided, inexperienced. But like many things, it was the path itself that was important. <i>With every step of growing confusion, I also found a small sense of clarity. </i>Little did I know then, it was growth.<br />
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Making it to the top of the mountain, is perhaps, merely a bonus, and something I didn't put much emphasis on from the beginning anyway.</div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-61836539762814772512013-11-01T19:43:00.000+11:002014-01-15T11:40:59.192+11:00future vlogger, yo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You know what's really weird? Watching yourself on video. See above! I had some free time on my hands the other day, and thought I'd show the new place to some family of mine through video... and yes, that would be me cooking my lunch - this is the kind of stuff that <i>only</i> family strictly will appreciate, you guys. But you know what? Instead of sending it straight to the recycle bin when I got around to watching it, I thought to myself, 'nah, keep it'. It's funny but also kind of awesome to watch yourself on video. It's like, that's me, wow. Some people have actually told me that I should vlog, and I do the awkward laugh and I'm like, 'hahahahahahahahahahaha have you seen me talk lately?'</div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-26894586844138776642013-10-05T11:37:00.000+10:002014-01-15T11:53:26.542+11:00thanks, ten-year-old me<div class="mag_copy">
<img src="http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k623/michrynblog/b2634549-d9e9-4840-8865-4ed4e9fa87e5.jpg" />
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Something a lot of people probably don't know about me is that I was in the choir when I was in primary school. We'd get together for after school practices, perform Christmas carols at the local shopping centre, go to a studio to record songs for our latest play. I mean, life does not get better than that. It was the raddest, truly.<br />
<br />
My first musical (like many firsts) was the best, man. It was called You Can Do It! and its theme song was called - yes, you guessed it - YCDI (cause short forming stuff never goes out of style). Sure enough, the chorus has been playing over and over in my head lately in all its kiddy voice goodness. It goes, 'YCDI, YCDI, (but more like, Waaaaaaaaaaaai, cee dee aaaaaaaaai) you can do it, you can do it, you can do it if you really try.'<br />
<br />
And it's no coincidence that my finals are in less than a month. But if you actually followed me, you wouldn't even think it. I haven't been so relaxed in my life, which is codephrase for I can't be bothered. I was talking to a friend last night, and I mentioned that I just felt like throwing the towel in. It wasn't anger, defeat, but just the honest truth. I guess this whole year has just been tiring, angsty with the non-stop stress that is final year, among other things that have happened this year that were just beyond my control. And I know (and hope) I'm not alone in this. Many others are feeling the same way.<br />
<br />
<i>But</i> of course, my ten-year-old self has come and haunted me with her infectious positivity and hit me with her 'You can do it if you really try!' jibe. Now, there is about 91349692782065238 ideas that my ten-year-old self had in store for my current self that I would neeeeeeeeever try, but this one's a good one. I can do this. I've got this.<br />
<br />
(Oh, and if this was a game, my motivation bar has just +1000000000.)</div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-38744681253774419942013-09-06T16:43:00.001+10:002014-01-15T11:40:59.177+11:00s for spring<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJmQa5SAcBiE-ElJFWpXHjz8Y6JdzWkW6Mp28t73vUonMlZOSJ64RtOt5G6qYt4vn1wKiG12KeS1kcS65J6_GIRnQEyiTvnERwXtGKlaEIrfgAKwHXIOv10ea93-VyvWFvn4Ytgz3wos/s1600/2-tile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJmQa5SAcBiE-ElJFWpXHjz8Y6JdzWkW6Mp28t73vUonMlZOSJ64RtOt5G6qYt4vn1wKiG12KeS1kcS65J6_GIRnQEyiTvnERwXtGKlaEIrfgAKwHXIOv10ea93-VyvWFvn4Ytgz3wos/s1600/2-tile.jpg" /></a>
<i><br /></i>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">you know it's spring...</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">// when getting out of bed becomes easier as the days get warmer</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">// when using up half the tissues in the house becomes a morning ritual</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">// when runny noses and watery eyes return in all their hayfever gloriousness</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">// but despite that, there is also the good in the spring</span></span><br />
<div class="mag_copy">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">// after all, s is for spring, for the scent of the blooming flowers, the sun rays warming our wintered selves, the songs of the birds, the sounds of children playing in the park, the gentle swishing of newly born, leafed trees. s is for spring.</span></span></div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-80745295134547105592013-08-17T00:12:00.000+10:002014-01-15T11:53:26.556+11:00moving forward<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="mag_copy">
I'm moving houses tomorrow. Going out to take some polaroids of my street and my home today, it's funny how much I suddenly notice - things I never noticed before. How the back of my house looked from the far end of our luscious big yard, the oddly placed red tiles in my kitchen which I've suddenly taken a liking to, and yes, believe it or not, even how my house actually looked like from the front... things reminscent of my everyday life.<br />
<br />
For the past couple of weeks, people have asked me, "how do you feel about the move?" And really, I had no answer. I didn't feel particularly sentimental, or maybe it just hasn't sunk in yet. I've lived in this house for nearly a decade now -- one filled with many significant moments of my life -- and yet, there were days where it didn't feel like a home, especially during times when I needed it to be. But it was also the place where I learned a great deal about who I am, and who I want to be.<br />
<br />
It was also the house I began to truly start living with my parents, which the ten-year-old me at the time cherished. This place housed my flying adventures around our backyard (which
translates into having a garden rack between my legs and either pretending I'm a
wizard or a kungfu master, naturally), my failed attempts to keep multiple goldfish and
cactus alive, and documented how breaking windows and glass
screens became an unappreciated talent of mine (they were accidents, and it was only twice, okay).</div>
<div class="mag_copy">
<br />
Soon, these polaroids will become a faint inkling of home, a distant picture of some teenhood, a memory. What's ahead, I'm not sure, but I've got a good feeling about this one. A real good feeling. </div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-66229106201277233682013-08-05T08:26:00.000+10:002014-01-15T11:45:44.236+11:00eighteen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="mag_copy">
You know that part of every romantic movie where the euphoric music kicks in, the girl gets back with the guy and for a split moment, and your heart wells up? Like 'yay! they're meant to be'. Okay, worst analogy ever... <i>but you guys know what I mean.</i> Well... this is kinda how these guys make me feel everyday. They make me feel sappy, grateful, happy that I have such an amazing group of people around me. Rewind to the second last photo up here, and yep, I've been friends with those shifty looking peeps since year seven.<br />
<br />
Celebrated my beautiful friend Erin's 18th over the weekend, and it was just wonderful. Erin is honestly one of the most genuine, down-to-earth people I've ever met. She's creative, caring, never quick to judge and always happy to help you out. Simply said, the girl inspires me to be a better person everyday.</div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-4875918343890000112013-08-01T23:50:00.000+10:002014-01-15T11:31:38.642+11:00sunday adventuring is a sure thing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="mag_copy">
Life is always moving, and <i>we're</i> always moving - people to see, deadlines to meet, places to be. And sometimes, amidst all that, we <i>forget</i>
to slow down. We forget the value of stillness. And just live, and just breathe. <br />
<br />
Setting off to adventure the botanic gardens with a good buddy of mine the other day - that's exactly what we did. It was a mighty cold day I'll say, but a sunny one at it too. I hadn't been to the royal botanic gardens since I was twelve. <i>Shocking,</i> I know. Better late than never right? Stopping dead in our tracks to locate the tweeting birds within the surrounding flocks of trees, lying on the soft grass with a full view of the blue blue sky - sometimes it really is the small things in life.<br />
<br />
We talked about our plans after school, chuckled over our unrealised quirks, our futures; his to pursue law and engineering, and mine still an undecided path of maybe this, maybe that. Topped the day off with my first ever vietnamese coffee, the first of many to come I'm sure, knowing me and my love for caffeine. But that's another story, of course.</div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-88259481869536274592013-07-07T00:47:00.001+10:002014-01-15T11:45:44.247+11:00blow your candles out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Had the best time tonight celebrating this girl tonight. Meet Sonia! She's one of my favourite people in this world to just sit down and have a chat with, the best problem solver and listener. This girl has a big heart, always sees through things she wants to do and a true inspiration to all of us. Tonight, I was just so happy to be there to celebrate her, her eightenthness and the wonderful person she is. It was so good to see everyone catching up and laughing away at anything and everything.<br />
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We were given sight to see all kinds of things, and I believe seeing your friends happy and laughing away is one of the best things about being able to see.</div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-78955540905411944822013-06-30T15:33:00.004+10:002014-01-15T11:40:59.207+11:00hey, you!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey, you! Why, you're looking GREAT. Did you something new with your hair today? Is that a new top? And have I ever told you how beautiful you look when you smile? <i>Are you smiling right now?</i> Well, you should be, because you look your best when you smile. I'm a <i>huge </i>believer of that. People really do look their best when they smile, it's a fact. ;)</div>
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Saw this on the way to work, and it just made me smile. Three simple
words, but had a feeling that they were gonna brighten up a whole lot of
people's days that day.<br />
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Here's wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead. It's July! Can you believe it? We're halfway through the year already. Also, Google Reader will be shutting down on July 1st, which is tomorrow, so be sure to import your subscriptions <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/import">here</a>!</div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-20113600878834883232013-06-09T15:09:00.000+10:002014-01-15T12:20:06.618+11:00this life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This week I'm swept off my feet by simply existing in this world. It's been a busy couple of weeks, and recently I've had these <i>moments</i>. Moments where life completely <i>slows down</i>, and everything makes sense again. Morning walks in the city before work is one of those moment makers. Perhaps it's the rarity of quiet mixed in with the gorgeous rays of morning sunlight, but a walk round this city o' mine makes me feel instantly happy.<br />
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To the little girl dressed head to toe in pink, riding your scooter alongside your daddy (pictured), with bags of shopping on either side of handles, you're honestly the best daddy's little helper there ever was. And the cutest there is, too.</div>
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And to the owner of one helluva sexy, rugged voice who decided to bask right outside my work, thank you. I think I speak for everyone when I ask that you please play at the same spot every saturday. I promise this time I'll <i>tryyyyy </i>to contain myself from dancing and progressively embarrassing myself at work, but with those guitar skills and that voice belting out bob marley tunes, I think it's hardly fair to ask me of such things.</div>
True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390651947398983120.post-25309827089675688662013-06-02T00:53:00.003+10:002014-01-15T11:53:26.540+11:00a childhood in the rain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was the kind of child that would rejoice when it started to rain five minutes before school finished, purely for the fact that I would walk home in the rain. If it started raining, you can bet that I'll be running out the door, then standing on the porch for a good five minutes, maybe even fifteen. Completely still, with the biggest smile on my face. And I don't even know why. I mean, I really only learned how to properly open and close an umbrella when I was twelve. That's not weird, right?
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My love for the rain, tis a sure thing.
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True My Lenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864562755030678414noreply@blogger.com4