My public health message.

I am allowing myself to be taken out and to take people out too. I am not looking for someone just allowing myself to be open to going out more. What I am completely baffled by is we live in the era of equality, or so they say. We live in the world of split second decisions, and standing on your own two feet. So why do women feel that you need to be completely clung to. Why do you need someone to hold your hand through everything. Why can’t you do your own thing and just compliment each other instead of feeling like  you need to match perfectly I have a new feeling that I am questioning about Why are women are trying to be Disney princess and women from chick flicks. Why do they think that will work?

 When women are single they stand up for themselves and don’t allow people to treat them like dirt. When women are single they pay their bills and cook for themselves and do the dishes while working and or going to school. Then all of the sudden women cling to this guy that they thing will love them forever they pretend to be this little dainty thing that can’t lift a finger to open a door or that its not ok to pay for coffee occasionally. I can’t stand it. I love being wined and dined, I love having the door held and being told to go first, I love turning up at a coffee shop and having my coffee sitting on the table waiting for me. But If that happens all the time then its annoying. It’s an understanding in all of my relationships that If you show up first you buy coffee If I show up first I will buy your coffee. If we walk up to a door and I am two steps ahead of you I will not stand there and wait for you to open the door but I will hold the door for you and expect the same from you. We are equal. We are both adults, We both can do our own thing and are attempting to find a balance of including someone else into your social circle. It’s ok for me to buy drinks this time when you buy dinner tomorrow night.  Women you need to learn that the story book roll doesn’t work anymore! Don’t give into rude men, or women. Don’t let someone tell you what you are going to do today. Stand up for yourself and know that you can be allowed to drive occasionally or you can plan and pay for a date. But you better understand that he needs to be doing the same thing. It might take some getting use to for him as well it hurts their man pride to allow a women to take care of them sometimes. But if he shows up with coffee for you because he knows you are a wreck without it and if he kicks you out at the end of the night instead of inviting you to stay the night you better put in an effort and you treat him the say way that relationship is healthy. Run with it. Don’t plan your wedding two weeks, 3 months or even 1 year in. Allow life to just come and experience it as it come. Don’t waste time and don’t ruin it for yourself.

I smiled today.

I am really sorry about being completely MIA for an entire month. Needless to say I haven't had much to say anyways. School, work, photography, I was just going through the motions. I tried being by myself. I tried constantly being around people. I tried losing my self. I tried rebounds. I have tried ALOT of things. I am finding I actually kind of like who I am now. Here is the thing that is really baffling my mind right now. Why did I hate myself so much when I was with her? Its because she made me feel like someone who was terrible. No matter who I tried to be or what I tried to do I could always be doing this or should have done that. The only thing she ever loved was be breaking up her brother. I love her! and honestly if she called I would do anything for her and she knows it. but I am making friends. I have people who care about me and tell me the things I do are cool and enjoy seeing me. and hang out with me. People who like to talk to me and just call me because. Who think of me because they wonder if I am doing ok. I have GREAT people in my life. I know who I want to be today and that will change 15 times before noon tomorrow and that is COMPLETELY OK!!! I am still hurt and little things still set me off! but I am here. I am planning so many travel trips and photo excursions I can't even count them or begin to tell you about them. I mean if you want an idea go check out my Pinterest. I typically tend to pin them all anyways! I know what I want and I have a plan to get there. I am an adult and I am learning that you trip you fall and you pick yourself back up. That is the thing in life you learn to love. The greatest part is: I DO NOT NEED A MAN, A WOMEN, OR ANYONE ELSE TO MAKE ME FEEL GOOD ANYMORE!!! I am a strong independent women and I can be that person by myself standing on my own two feet without another person on my spot light or even near my spot light. I LOVE IT!!!

Go out today do something that makes you feel empowered. make your self happy and make yourself smile! Do it. do it everyday! You will be so much happier and you will go in a direction you never thought possible! Smile genuinely!

Today's question

Today's question that is causing more anxiety than I care to say is who do I want to be? What do I want to do? What path do I take? I am just completely thrown. Its like every part of me wants to do so many different things. I feel like I am at that one part of a jigsaw puzzle where you have enough pieces put together to know that they are all there and they will go together but which piece goes where?  Part of me wants to move home and live in my parents house. I also want to move to Indy and live with a friend of mine and her family. Then I want to prove everyone wrong and make one hell of a home for myself in Philadelphia. I want to finish school then head to some other really exotic city. Today I want to hurry and finish school then move away just completely throw myself into traveling. I mean pick up and leave. Go somewhere and just wander my way around. No plans and nothing holding me anywhere. How do you make a choice. Everyday my life makes a choice and everyday and choice decides where I am going in life. How do you know you are making the right choice? what if I get part of the way down this road and I realize its not for me? Is it to late to back up and start over? UGH!!! How do you know!? How do you choose!? Help!!

Also check this out. I love it!

Why to never date a girl who travels. (Follow the link)

https://medium.com/better-humans/802c49b9141c

Don't forget I still need help!!!

I am struck by irony today.

As I attempt to figure out my style of photography, of who I want to be, as I struggle with so many questions like this I have been scouring the Internet for work to look at. I have skimming books and watching hot to videos. I am reading articles and wishing I had more creativity and skill ( I am aware that I have to work to get to these skills. Well my heart has been completely stolen by surrealism photography. The idea of conceptual photography and being able to create your work to be whatever you want to be. creating something out of nothing. The idea of being able to get a concept across in one picture is so impressive to me and I hope that I can do it one day!

the irony comes in now! As I brain storm day after day I am just trying to get the thoughts out on paper then I go back and attempt to decipher what I have written down. I realized today that I am in a field of pictures. I spend all day looking at pictures but when I look at my notes it is all words. I can't doodle or even get the pictures out of my head but when I look at the words I can see the image. I just thought that was funny.

Have a great day guys! And tell someone thank you! It really makes a difference.

The Butterfly Effect

It is literally so crazy how one thing can set off a whole string of things to change and develop in your life. Last time I wrote you all knew that Jess and I had just broken up. Well I have been single for almost 3 weeks now. I know its pathetic that I am keeping track. I am sure that will subside as the pain continues to leave. Right now I am getting back to normal. Days have become something I look forward to again. I am sleeping at night a little and I even smile some at real things. I can't lie and tell you that I don't miss her. I still believe we belong together but I am moving on by myself and I am making it work. Every break up has a thing you use as a tool to get over it. Sometimes those are rebounds, sometimes is throwing yourself into a project, sometimes its just being depressed for a while. Every relationship I have ever been in has been completely different. This one get a song, actually there is a whole play list of songs but one that sticks out particularly; "Stand Beside Me" By: Jo Dee Messina. The best line in the whole thing is: 


I guess when love goes wrong
You've gotta learn to be strong
So I worked two jobs and I moved three timesI ended up south of Memphis workin' down in RiversideI may not be so lucky in loveBut the one thing I'm sure of


This literally has brought me more piece in the last few weeks than I can even being to explain. I have repainted my apartment, I am working a lot more. I am reading again like I use to. I am starting school again tomorrow and I am becoming happy with my own skin. I am working on it. Some nights I still cry, some days I still wish I was going home to her, and a lot of the time I still want to talk to her and be with her and support her through everything. but, I am moving on. I am making plans, I have reconnected with a friend from high school and we are talking all the time. I missed her so much! I am working on a road map of plans for my photography, my life, my goals, and what I want to do with myself. 

I guess the point is that it was ok that for two weeks I barely breathed, its ok that I ate only when I remembered occasionally, its ok that I am morning and was literally not ok for two weeks. When you break up everyone says to just pick up the pieces and move on that's the best thing to do. but I will always give everyone I talk to a two week pitty party before I try to do anything that they don't want to. my two weeks is way over due and I am going on. It is difficult but I am so happy I am. 

Can December be half over already?

I realized today that in 9 days I am headed back home for the last week of 2013. How can that be! Didn't I just move to Philly? I just started school, I just moved away from home how does this even happen so fast! I mean it has definitely been one hell of a crazy year. So much has happened and changed and I wouldn't take it back for anything. I am just completely through by how much this year has flown by.

After getting over the shock that the year is literally like 2 weeks from being over. I decided I should do my new years resolutions. When I said this to Jess she said "Why do them, they never get accomplished anyways. It is just one more thing to set yourself up to fail on." I don't know why I love New years resolutions so much. You are right I probably rarely accomplish to many of them but I really love the idea of New years resolutions. Having a goal for all year, something to accomplish and count upon, I think I love them almost as much as I like the idea of Valentines day.
 So I created mine. I wrote them all out in colored marker and tapped them to the closet door where I can't miss them. As the closet door says:
I Emma Austin in 2014 will...
Do Yoga once a week for a year
Turn 20 years old
Research 52 photographers and do a picture in their style
Once a week give someone my bus fare and walk my happy ass home
Stay on Budget
Be an A student with perfect attendance
Learn to Roll with the punches
Listen better and talk less rude to people
Believe in myself and photography so it will take me to the top
Do my part in Cleaning up after myself
Not buy any book that the library has
Obtain a kitchen table and one new photo accessory
Focus more on what I put into my body
Once a money do something fun and spontaneous
Travel (Down the street, Across town, Home, Cross Country, abroad, It doesn't matter- Just go)
Stop talking about my problems (notice this does not say stop blogging about.. )
Be eccentric and Happy
Finish 5 books
Finish the 52 week capture challenge
and
Remember 12 months, 52 weeks, 364 days, 8,736 hours till next year so make it count.

They should definitely be challenging but I Think they are all reasonable. I do not know if I will accomplish any of them but its the idea of possibly being able to say I did it. What are your new years resolutions? Do people still even make resolutions for new years? What do you think?

Can I be out of words already?

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I really did enjoy myself but it is so hard to be away from my family. I survived Thanksgiving, Black friday and so far most of the weekend without to much of a meltdown about being homesick and we are calling that a success. I have neglected doing any home, house or other work for that matter so guess who will be up all night getting things accomplished. That is me. I should really learn to stop procrastinating. Who am I kidding. The day I learn to do things on time is the same day I learn to keep track of my keys. And that is a lost cause! 

On a much happier note than what I am feeling this evening... Have you ever eaten Cinnamon bread? Well I might have to learn to make this stuff. I am becoming a serious addict. I wonder if its hard? 

For once in my life I am wordless. I guess I will post later if you are listening? If you are reading???? if you even exist??? Who are you???