what's new. 11

Here's whats new for my week of trying to listen to myself:

-The more sleep, more water, more little breaks the better.

-I will never crave spinach or fiber, that doesn't mean I shouldn't eat them.

-While barbecue chips may always sound good, I need to tell myself no.

-There is a difference between listening to oneself, and self control.

-I get a lot less stressed if I recognize I'm losing it and embrace it.

-A pudding cup for breakfast is perfectly acceptable.

-It's a lot easier to hear yourself if you turn off the t.v./iphone/computer/radio/megaphone.

Viv.

This weekend my friend Mike and I checked out the Vivian Maier exhibit at the Chicago Cultural Center, and then headed to Ear Wax Cafe for brunch.  Per-the-usual, a day exhibit hopping and brunching with Mike is pretty rad.  Enjoy the photos!

p.s. you may remember Mike from our trip here.
p.p.s. check out Mike's art here



*ADDENDUM!  I've decided to add this extra blurb and some comments on these photos.  It just didn't feel right short changing such a great day and so many pretty pictures with something so thrown together, but I was running really late this morning when I posted.  I like hanging out with Mike for a ton of reasons, one being he's so good at so many things, and such a talented artist, I just feel cool tagging along.  Also, his spirit makes me feel like I could do anything and he wouldn't judge, if anything he'd find a way to help me make it cooler.  The V.M. exhibit was super cool.  Maier was a totally unknown photog up until a few years ago, right before she died.  She spent her days as a nanny for wealthy families on the Northshore, all the while capturing and documenting what she saw on the streets of New York and Chicago with her honest and unassuming street photography.  After seeing her work, and a few other exhibits, I tried my hand at snapping some street photos , while Mike prayed I wouldn't crash my car, or embarrass him too much.  Capping the whole thing off with brunch at a place with side-show themed decorations made all of this the perfect way to spend a rainy Sunday. 

St. Patrick's Day... or the day I discovered I have no self-control.

 

I swear that I've been trying to listen to myself all week, the problem is all I'm hearing is 'Give me barbecue chips!'.  In fully embracing the week, I have absolutely listened when I wanted a little chocolate, 1/2 a bag of pop chips, and finally last night's green and white cupcake.  I could spin it and say that everyone needs a little treat now and then, but friends that is a slippery slope.

It's probably no coincidence that I woke up this morning (the day after the cupcake) with a giant headache.  Don't get me wrong, I haven't just been eating junk, and this week isn't about only listening to myself when it comes to food.  The problem is that's when I'm the loudest...

I do have to say for the record, I have been sleeping more this week, going to bed earlier, drinking more water, and taking breaks to just breathe.  So, really my problem is that when it comes to just one chip, or treat, I can't tell myself no.  Here's the new goal: continue to listen to myself, but maybe also say no now and then.  

Listen up.

All I want to do this week is listen to myself.  There.  Said it.  This one is so simple, and so basic, yet it's taken me 3 days to write this post in a way that describes whats going on with me and why I chose this week.  I'm realizing I could write pages on this topic, not just paragraphs, and I've been getting overwhelmed.

I think we all do it to some degree.  We have errands, and jobs, and responsibilities outside of ourselves, and it gets hard to hear yourself think with your ipod on and the world around you screaming 'GO!'.  I'm not going to speak on the subject of finding balance because I'm about as qualified to tell you about finding peace, and going to yoga, and getting all your work done, and being happy doing it as I am telling you about a time space continuum, or the rules of football.  I'm just hoping by the end of the week to hear at least one little shout from that voice I've spent the last 5 years slowly ignoring.