Above the Sway

Amidst an incessant quest for likes, retweets, favorites, and hypes, it's easy to imagine a modern world in which we all take ourselves and each other a bit too seriously.  But is it easy to justify this lifestyle?

I'm as guilty of this practice as anyone.  If Facebook and Twitter have taught us anything, it's that there's at least one person out there who will find your most recent paper cut a cute and charming anecdote rather than a frivolous and pitiful demonstration of delicacy, a label to which my grandparents would most likely cling.

While most of us don't go so far as to document every hair on our chinny chin chins, we do often treat something as minuscule as last night's ravioli as if it's a masterpiece worthy of universal reverence.  Now, this is not to say such amusement is completely unwarranted or reprehensible in the least.  The problem in my mind lies in society's blind acceptance of an unnecessary reality.

How, you might ask, can I critique the web so harshly when the mere existence of my *blog* would be impossible without the very platform on which all social media rests?  Well, I'm not going to argue that the internet doesn't possess a host of unprecedented networking and sharing opportunities.  What I will maintain is that humanity has fallen, if subconsciously and/or half-heartedly, into a trap of inundation rather than of flotation.  What I mean by this is, we should not feel as though we have to post duck faces or blatant expressions of inadequacy every day in order to feel beautiful and wanted.  On the contrary, we should open up social media as we would a mailbox--something of occasional pleasure or benefit--rather than as we would a refrigerator--something that feeds our survival.

If you truly enjoy creating tiny microcosm upon microcosm of your life on the web, then by all means, do so.  The materials are right there at your disposal.  But please, realize that moderation and disassociation are entirely in your power if you so choose.

Even a rock can sink, but only the most buoyant of mind can float.

Rise above,
Amanda :)

Collar: Ann Taylor (out of stock; similar style ON SALE here).  Top: ON SALE at Banana Republic.  Pants: ON SALE at Banana Republic.  Shoes: H&M (old).

All photos by Eric Pan.

FOMO* No More

She cradled connection as a child would a bear,

Afraid to be alone inside her little lair.

Reliant on the action, the fuss, and the buzz,

She yearned daily for attachment if only just because.

More disposed to day dream than to chase dream in independent feat,

She sacrificed some strength and dignity for a profile and a seat.

In newfound awareness of the petty mores she'd lately entertained,

She forged ahead of her own accord, a go-getter re-ordained.

Without a bias or undue ties to sway her every thought,

She arrested distraction in its tracks and go back she did not.

So while the world documented each idle stance for the sake of exhibition,

She carped the diem out of life, owing to nothing but intuition.

Make a move and reinvent fruition,

Amanda :)

Top: Topshop (old, but seen on sale rack in store ;) ).  Necklace: Topshop (old).  Bracelet: J. Crew (old).  Official Tumblebum Dog: Jellycat. :)

Photos by Sean Su.

*FOMO = Fear of Missing Out

Stride and Go Seek

What is expertise, and how do we learn it?  Does it refer exclusively to knowledge accrued in an educational or vocational setting, or can it also recognize achievements in time management, cooking, public speaking, care giving, team building, and gerrymandering?

Well, I believe it's the latter definition.  If you devote more than 15% of your waking life to a certain capacity, it's probably something at which you have worked hard to become adept.  Without such proficiency in frequent tasks, I for one would feel quite stressed until I allotted the time necessary to qualify myself for the job.

Nonetheless, the question remains, Who teaches us these essential, if mundane skills?  Is it our teachers, our parents, our friends, strangers, ourselves?  How do we know where to look for guidance in the first place?

While many of us are blessed with amazing role models who share insight and even teach us some of these skills themselves, every one of us is likely to encounter a situation in which prior wisdom and direction simply cannot help us.  What can we do in such instances?

This past week was one of the most hectic of my life, for a number of reasons, but primarily because I was tasked with the overwhelming duty of soliciting dozens of food donations for an upcoming fundraiser.  Granted, the fundraising chair should be a little less clueless in her navigations of the donation domain, but it's tough when you're the sole person assigned to this task, without much counsel and with plenty of criticism.

When it comes to onerous jobs like fundraising, the truth of the matter is you're not going to find a lot of helpers offering up their assistance nilly willy.  While still respecting others' time and your own responsibilities to the task, you've got to take the initiative and ask for help from colleagues, friends, passersby--wherever you can get it and whenever you need it.  If you can't think of a relevant specialist off the top of your head, chances are one of your contacts will surprise you.

No matter what any higher power (or your parents) intended for you in this life, I know it didn't involve complete solitude and independence.  Don't be afraid to recruit the expertise of the billions of other humans out there, for their example will very likely mold your own approach for the better, and will perhaps foster a degree of camaraderie in the process.

~While staying true to her own technique, she admired her surroundings and all she could seek.~

Ask someone for help this week. :)
Amanda

Hat: BCBG Max Azria (old).  Blazer: J. Crew (old; similar here).  Shirt: J. Crew (old; similar here).  Tie: J. Crew (old).  Coat: Saks Fifth Avenue (old.)

All photos courtesy of Alex Zhu.