My He(ART)-Full Life



Saturday, June 16, 2012

heart changer

I received this book a few days ago and , while I had absolutely no idea what exactly to expect, I do know that I love Susannah's blog + heart + images. Well..I have been reading this book nonstop and all I can say is this...it is nothing short of revolutionary; life changing + heartchanging. I laughed, I cried...I see mySELF in her words. Yes...it's a book about photography...but so much much more than that. I have tons of books about shutter speeds + F-stops...and of course all the technical stuff is important. But what about our hearts + souls?? What about our heartbreaks? Our life experiences and the totality of who we are as human beings? Everything from mood, lighting, what we choose to include in our photos (+ perhaps more importantly, what we choose to leave out)...all depend on who we are, our emotions and experiences. Our very hearts + souls. Susanah talks honestly (so honestly I am completely in awe + totally inspired) about everything from...
Gee, where would I even begin??
She speaks honestly + bravely about her childhood (abandonment and heartbreak), love + loss, embarrassment + "not being/feeling enough", about bereavement and falling apart and depression and insecurities, ageing + our changing bodies, creative biz, listening to our hearts, being vulnerable, friendships, blogging, belonging to a "tribe of one" ...and this whole messy mixed bag of ...life!!! And, if we are to create meaningful relationships + lives + work and..., don't we have to bring all of who we are into it???? This book is beyond anything I could have imagined...it is chock full of content and is thick and small like a little secret you can fit anywhere. And that is exactly what I have been doing...reading it everywhere...in a coffee shop, in the garden, preparing Tara's breakfast:) Yes people...it's that kind of book!!!

It came at just the right time too...because I have been feeling especially vulnerable, insecure and "not enough" these past few days. Especially as it relates to my art + creative life. I don't know in what direction my art is going, where I want it to go and...since we got back from our trip, I haven't even been in my studio!!! I have 10 hundred million things to do...and even though I was supposed to be taking a computer break last week...I have been spending waaaaay too much time on Pinterest + pissing around on Facebook:) Also been excavating some very painful memories + pieces of my life ... doing the final edit for my interview with Rita Banerji. Telling the absolute truth is painful. Cathartic...but still it hurts. I realise...more than ever...that we are, every single one of us...very fragile + complicated + messy + wonderful + hurt + unique and and and. Thank you Susannah...for your beautiful brave soul, your humor and honesty, for showing us your SELF...I needed the reminder as well as the inspiration. This I know...your book is an absolute heartchanger!!! xxx

4 comments:

patty said...

Soraya, Everyone is reading this book!! I am usually the last one to the party, so I'll get it after everyone else is done :D

So glad that it has been helpful for you - isn't it amazing how the right books seem to come along at just the right time??

It was so lovely hearing your voice and chatting with you.... we need to do it more often!!!

I'll be taking a break as we travel too but I'll try to check in once in a while....

XOX

SooZeQue said...

I love how you are always trying to grow, heal, reveal and just know your truth. It takes a lot of energy to do that and sometimes you just need a break from all the "stuff". You're amazing how much focus you put to figuring yourself and life out. I commend you!!

ArtPropelled said...

Sounds like a must have book. Holidays are wonderful but often it is hard to get back to normal afterwards. You will get there!
Off to check the book out. Thanks for the recommendation.

ArtPropelled said...

From Susannah's blog I followed this link (in case you didn't) and really enjoyed the video and Susan Piver's message. http://susanpiver.com/2012/05/28/karma/