everyday life is sometimes messy

Looking forward into a hurricane.
Looking back into the muck from where we grow.

Everyday life is sometimes messy, we all know this. And yet so often we try our best to clean it up. We shine it and polish it and make it presentable. We photoshop and airbrush and texturize and soften and I do all these things too because I want to see what is aesthetically pleasing and so I sweep the dust bunnies under the rug. I arrange photos to put chaos into order. Yes, I do. But what is real is what is true. And if photography is mostly optical illusion, then there's something to be said for hidden beauty that is found in the mess. In the cluttered table top, the forward the backward dance of multi-tasking, the child hanging from the apron strings, the toys scattered after a morning of busyness.

This is the truth of how I work. Old school headphones to drown out the mess. In this moment I realized how funny this must look. And yet how important it is to recognize this time of my life. So I put myself at arms length to see my life for what it is right now: messy.

Messy is still beautiful to me.

Today I challenge you to put yourself at arms length. Take a look around you (or at yourself) and revel in your life for what it is. Chaotic, turbulent, or a peaceful oasis. Try to see the mess as the canvas, as the backdrop to the story of our life. Put it in your frame...today share with us what is real and true about your life. What is hard for you today? What are you trying to overcome? What makes you, you? I'm finding that when we share our truths and even our (gasp!) flaws, the more real and beautiful life becomes.

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Comments

[Kathryn Dyche Dechairo]

I'm always working on several things at the same time so my work area is always kind of messy. It's funny that the minute I tidy it all up I have a hard time finding things.

http://dychedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/08/sneak-peak.html

and I have a tendancy for spreading out and taking over other areas of the house like our kitchen countertop when I'm prepping things.

http://dychedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/09/new-this-week.html

I have a very understanding husband!

[Marcie]

A moment when nothing is quite right....a little bit of 'messy':
http://marciescudderstudios.squarespace.com/home/2011/9/6/the-ghost-shadow.html

[Mira]

messy is OK but I've learned long time ago that I cannot work in a messy or cluttered space so my work area is nice and organized. I tend to get messy when I have a lot of time on my hands and I keep postponing the straightening and cleaning. I even had to get rid of my mint plan becasue the leaves were falling off and making a mess on my kitchen windowsill: http://www.miracrisp.com/2011/09/would-you-like-cup-of-mint-tea.html

[Sarah H.]

Loved the post. Going through empty nest syndrome right now, so I am evaluating a lot of my life. Also leaving my job that I have been at for the last 5 years to begin some new adventures. Photography and writing being at the top of my to do list!

http://sarah-huizenga.blogspot.com/

[Amanda]

Life sure does get messy, doesn't it? Not just the usual messes either, sometimes it is the crowded thoughts are in our own heads and it's a tough place to climb out of. I've had a lot of personal loss this year and it's been very difficult to pick up my camera and shoot anything that might remind me of such a dark place and time in my life. I've just been so darn sad and that's not my gig, because, I'm the happy girl yanno? I was driving home from Whole Foods the other day and I had my camera on my because I was going to visit my favourite garden; however, I passed by this fountain and thought, hurray, I've always wanted to play in a fountain. I drove around the rotary, checking out the scene, parked, set up my tripod and took a long overdue self-portrait. Me, in the moment, in this moment... and yes, it's possible to feel happy again. When life gets messy just wash, rinse and repeat. . .

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thedivinemissm/6127010520/in/photostream

thanks very much for this thoughtful post; it is an apt reminder on this cool, rainy day.

[Michelle Bodamer]

I think life is generally messy, but you have to stop to make time for yourself and your work!

http://www.michellebodamer.com/blog/2011/9/8/what-i-almost-missed-on-my-way-back-from-lunch-roadside-phot.html

The link above was during a particularly hectic day and I just felt like I had to hit a pause button and take some photos. It was awesome to just take a few minutes to explore a place even if it was only for a few minutes en route to another location.

[Eden]

Yep, we are all so messy!! And it's good to know we have that in common. I am much more at ease in my mess than I was years ago.....but I still try to be that "organized" woman....a place for everything and everything in it's place. We need both, I guess :)

[Gotta Run]

Love your very real post today.

A co-worker and I agree that when things are hectic we feel like spinning tops - heads spinning out of control . . .

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gottarun2009/6120331992/in/photostream/lightbox/

[Kat]

We always want to put our "best foot forward" but that's not always the reality of the situation. It takes so much more energy to present something as it isn't. I find I'm not very inspired by capturing the mess of my personal life, whatever it is. I have to clean it up to get to a creative place.

This photo is not of my personal mess, but I share some insight into the mess that resides in my brain sometimes. Being honest about it helps me deal with it, clean it up...
http://www.kateyeview.com/2011/08/afraid-we-fade.html

[Rebecca Weaver]

My messy, seen from the chair where I sit with two cranky babies and a headache...
http://instagr.am/p/MgJOc/

[Robin Troxell]

I'm trying to be more authentic in taking pics w/o cleaning up everything in sight, wiping off faces, washing hands....THIS is our life, not the clean shiney one in most of my pics!! I want my kids to know that its ok to be real! And that starts with ME

[Kathy]

Walked into my daughter's room this morning and realized I can't turn around in it. Yay for messy lives!

[Meghan @ Life Refocused]

I love the keepin'-it-real!

[Tammy R]

I can totally relate. With a dog, 3 yr old and 1 1/2 yr old "messy" is a common word around my home!! I've learned to be ok with it...it's just a part of our lives !!! =)


http://www.flickr.com/photos/67103516@N04/6106720439/

[rakusribut]

every morning i face the same mess
in a way i love it, because it's a visual remains of all that was going the day before
in a way i hate it, because it reminds me of all the things i still need to do and i already know that i probably won' t have time for most of them
i can clean it up, but it inevitably returns
so i have decided to live with it and see it as part of who i am
a disorganized, chaotic, creative, impulsive, flexible, original, loving human being

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61760618@N08/6127075175/in/photostream

[joey]

As the mother of four little boys, mess is a part of the job, but I've learned that the messier things get, the more fun we had.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19379573@N06/6127552555/in/photostream

[Beth M]

Wish I could write something more eloquent but I wanted to say that I can relate to this photo. I raised my daughter as a single mom and that was h*e*c*t*i*c.

[Amelia]

With a 3 month old and a 2 year old and a husband busy fire fighting all those wildfires, my house is ALWAYS messy....I relish in that knowing I am spending time with my boys instead of worrying about the little things (ok sometimes it bugs me but I mostly just let it go... ;))

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49454938@N05/6128166026/in/pool-shuttersistersonewordproject

[Shawna]

We have hired someone to come clean every couple of weeks, and we are still totally drowning in clutter a few days after cleaning. Sigh.

[cheris]

Our yard is a sad mess, as is Texas, because of this drought: http://www.flickr.com/photos/liffords/6128354662/in/photostream

[Heather]

Half the POINT of my photos of my life is to lie to myself ... or provide a vision to aspire to :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41706676@N00/6117198617/

[Bonnie]

though I do get quite stressed about the mess in my house, I have to admit I'm not that organized in general. If it is clean on the surface, I am fine. Just please don't open my closets! Yesterday my house was particularly messy on the surface--an accumulated mess from the week and into the work week because I was not finding time to get out the vacuum in the face of some more important obligations, so instead I drowned out the mess by focusing on the details: some water drops on a leaf (sorry I know it it not the point of your post):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bjakobsen-martin/6126831276/

[Radish]

I am currently cleaning the garage.

I like to cook and I can create a huge mess. Very large. Sometimes I am a little overcome. Then I take a photo of the mess. I can see as I go along how far I have come. I loved how it makes me feel.

www.day2dayradishes.squarespace.com

[Sonja (a.k.a. Boots)]

Yes, life is generally messy but for those moments of clarity and simplicity.
http://www.bootsandtea.com/

[tracy]

life IS messy sometimes. thank you for the reminder that it is okay and even good sometimes...

[tablet]

thank you for your shairng

[anngeedee]

Definatly feeling the "life is messy" vibe right now. Our house is in chaos with the cleaning out of the old and bringing in of the new.

[CEM3G]

thank you for your shairng

[brigid]

Boy do
I have about 10,000 shots for you~
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridethewavesoflife/6129530574/in/photostream/
here's one.

[Jill]

I agree!! Life is messy. Life is beautiful. I come before you Lord, just as I am. A good way to start my prayer.

[LeAnne]

Ok, I'll play....here's today's mess:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leanne8790/6133126547/

[cosplay tienda]

Hi, sweetheart. How did it go today? http://www.myefox.es

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