3:06 AM

You know those moments in life where you just can't sleep... this is one of those moments.

I've been thinking a lot lately about how my life seems to throwing me endless curve balls and I'm kind of left to wonder what is going on. It honestly is driving me a bit crazy because I keep trying to push forward but once I get a bit of traction life pulls the rug right back out from under my feet and the joke continues.

Dalai Lama XIV said the following "When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways: either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength."

I feel like because of how often I've been thrown under the bus that taking path of losing hope sounds really good so I can at least settle for the outcome of not having to try to push forward anymore and just become a grey zombie of society that just does what the world tells me to do. Then I could join Death Cab for Cutie's anthem from their song "The Sound of Settling".

Bop bah
This is the sound of settling
Bop bah, bop bah (bop bah)
Bop bah, (bop bah)
This is the sound of settling
Bop bah, bop bah (bop bah)

Then I am reminded of these two scriptures.

2 Nephi 2:11

For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.

 Ether 12:27

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble;and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. 

As much as I don't understand what is going on in my life I need to remember to put my life in Gods hands and let him craft me and guide me the way he would have me go. To keep my chin up and keep on pushing forward, to dust myself off one more time, learn from where I came from and put one foot in-front of the other. My past is my past it makes me who I am today and I have can have a greater understanding of life both the good and the bad. As I rely on the atoning love of Christ I can do anything and be who He would have me be, to use this "challenge to find [my] inner strength.".

Lake Powell Star Trail

Red River Gorge

Staring off into the great unknown is the Ying-Yang of mystery.

New York

Puzzle pieced skyline, oceans of light, hissing sidewalks and the smells of the conundrum,

Always moving even in the calm,

Never stopping, never stopping,

Nervous energy waiting the unknown with the promises of success or failure around the corner,

Not sure of where to go but always moving,

Never stopping, never stopping,

New York.

 

Time of Light

Life is full of choices. Some are small droplets in the pool and some immediately change the eternal flow. Of all the choices we can make I feel like one of the most important choices to make is the choice to move forward.

There is so much in life that causes life to stay in one place. Whether it be comfort, fear, disappointment, convenience, or lazy satisfaction there can always be something clinging to your adventure boots to slow them down.

So to put it simply if there is anything keeping you from making progress in life change it. Start making choices that help you move in life, to be better then you are today. It might be scary and it might make you feel uncomfortable but that's okay because that is what life is all about! If you fall down in the process that's perfect! Falling down and getting back up to keep on going is how you grow stronger.

The Lonley Lion

Do you ever wish that some one would just call you up out of the random and ask you how you are doing?

Do you ever wish that some one would call you up to invite you to go do something with them?

Do you ever sit at home and wonder what amazing things someone else is doing with their life and why you are just sitting there doing nothing?

I find that personally I think these things every now and then and sometimes I can get trapped in the idea that no one cares who I am any more. Then I think to myself (after I'm done with my perfunctory pity-party): " You know, I bet that someone else feels the same way."

So I get over myself and do for someone else what I was hoping someone would do for me.  I've come to realize as time has come and gone that whenever I'm hoping for someone to reach out to me and remember that I exist there is always someone else that is hoping the exact same thing. The nice thing that I've come to notice is how ever I feel is usually how others feel too. So I can simply apply, rinse and repeat. If I'm hungry someone else is too. If I'm cold someone else is too. If I'm in need of a friend someone else is too.

Just like Jack Johnson says in his song The Sharing Song "It's always more fun to share with everyone." So go out of your way to share but don't just share your extra cookie but share your time, friendship and love.

The Life of  Fire

Writing in the Fire

 

 

Can You See Me?

A quick update

A quick update. Sales... enough said.I was contract to do my first engagement photo-shoot. I learned a lot about the whole process. Next time I am definitely going to have specific places and posses in mind before I go shot.

 

The Yawning Lion Wax Seal Promotion!

I've finally finished carving the yawning lion wax seal, so I'm doing a special promotion! Any one that donates any amount will get a hand written note from me with a seal on the letter from me! Or if you just want to write me a letter I will write you back sealed and signed!

 Click Here to Donate

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To just write me you can send me a letter to:
Taylor Phillips
10 Perimeter Park Dr. APT 364
Atlanta, GA 30341