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The Design Inspirationalist

~ Inspiring Ideas | Spectacular Creations

The Design Inspirationalist

Tag Archives: evolution

Inspiration Photo Friday: You Rule Your Kingdom

22 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

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change, choices, control, drugs, evolution, fear, growth, happiness, Inspiration, journey, kingdom, lessons, life, life journey, negativity, positivity

In life, only you can create your own happiness. When things get rough, toughen up and get through it. When sadness takes over, wipe those tears and appreciate all the good things you have. When devastation hits, take time to greive then get back on your feet. No one is as responsible as you when it comes to your life. This is why you need to rule your kingdom.

We all make mistakes. The important thing is to learn from them. Otherwise, you will continue to run in circles and never get anywhere. Of course there are people that will help you along the way. They will inspire, intrigue, show you love, and support you on your journey. But they are not responsible for your true happiness. That is only something you can create for yourself.

It’s funny. There are people in my life that are doing great and expecting many amazing things in the future, some that are going through hardship and heartbreak, and others who remain stagnant and miserable. All these different types of situations have been caused by their individual choices. So in essence, they have created this journey, every step of the way, on their own. And because they are all different, each will find his or her way along a positive path or a negative one.

It always bothered me when people complained about things they have total control of. If you aren’t happy, just change what you need to. I know its not easy sometimes but you just have to be strong. Involving everyone around you and making them deal with your problems is selfish, especially when you aren’t taking the steps to change it. Eventually, people will keep their distance and not want to be involved, which I don’t blame. No one is a lost cause unless they allow themselves to be.

I have experienced a lot in my life and can proudly say that I overcame all the hell that came my way on my own because I am a strong person. As I got older, I continued to deal with curve balls and had to take detours along the way, but nonetheless, I succeeded and created my own happiness through it all. I am lucky to have such amazing friends and family to support me and they truly play a part in my life story. However, I am the one who lived it and I am the one who got myself where I am today.

Below is a photo of me at 16 years old. A total opposite of who I am today. At this time in my life, I was fearless. I consumed all sorts of drugs, were always around my friends, partied whenever I could, and recently dropped out of high school. I rebelled every chance I could because I was bored and uninspired. I wasn’t a bad kid, just wanted to see and taste the world around me. The one thing that wasn’t different was my love for art. This has been my one true passion all my life.

So, for me to stand here, a happily married woman, BFA graduate, homeowner, and business owner, you can say I am damn proud of myself. I could write a book about my life, seriously, oh the stories I could tell, and the fact that I evolved into the woman I am today just proves you can create a journey that is powerful and positive. I chose to not break down because I am worth so much more. I knew what I always wanted and I made it happen. I may have gotten there later than I planned, but I made it, with tons of lessons along the way.

The world doesn’t owe you anything. You were put here to live a unique life all your own. Be positive and stay strong, you will get there in the end. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel as long as you believe there is. Being the ruler of your kingdom is a tough job but one you are born to do. It’s the one job you have to do best. And once you truly realize that, you are gold.

Inspiration Photo Friday: You Rule Your Kingdom

Inspiration Photo Friday: Patterns

09 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

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art, bigger picture, blindness, design, emotion, equation, evolution, evolve, growth, heart, life, love, math, mind, numbers, patterns, realization, relationships, self portraits, strength

I believe everything is some sort of equation. Numbers are the building blocks of everything even though we don’t see them. Change is inevitable and growth is essential. We live our lives chasing love, working hard, creating memories, and doing our best to stay afloat when things come crumbling down. Among all this we cause patterns.

Some patterns are good but most just hurt you in the end. It’s tricky because you find yourself acting a certain way or reliving the same moments and it wakes you up. Having the ability to see these patterns shows you are intuitive to your well being. Actually doing something about it and changing for the better proves you are strong willed and ready to evolve. When nothing is seen or done, the same pattern repeats. You could go through various jobs, be in a number of relationships, have moved to different locations…but those patterns are still there. They are something you cannot escape until you are ready to truly grow.

I have undergone therapeutic realizations in my life, many times. Most of these were in my twenties and some even younger. I saw the patterns in my life that weren’t healthy and certainly not doing me any good. Some of them had to do with how I saw myself but most were happening in relationships. I think its interesting how you notice so much more of yourself through other people and the relationships you have with them. It’s truly eye opening.

About 7 years ago I had enough of it. I was in my last year of art school and found myself analyzing who I was, inside and out. I explored this a lot through my writing and artwork as well as through numerous series of self portraits. My BFA show even revolved around my life experiences and how I dealt with them. Even though I will always remember time spent with people I was with in the past, I really didn’t gain or learn anything from some of them beyond this eye opening realization. It has has shown me to lead life with my mind and not to get lost in the fantasy of emotion when it has no foundation. Unfortunately, something that seems beautiful and out of this world, can eventually show its dark side.

So, I’ve taken this lesson and applied it to pretty much everything in my life. Considering myself first, above all, helped me work toward my dreams and hold on to the confidence I deserve. Only then could I give a true part of my heart to what I admired. I stopped my patterns in their tracks and moved on to the next phase. Everything is just so much clearer when you see the bigger picture and when you break those ties that bind you, the bigger picture is so much more than you could’ve imagined.

This self portrait was taken during the late summer of 2006 when I still lived in Jersey. I love the look on my face because its just so true to how I was feeling and encompasses everything I was going through within those few years. And just like the mirror states, I was closer than I thought. Slowly going down the path that would eventually show me the light. Soon I wouldn’t feel the need to cover myself with emotional blindness and my mind would crack the code.

Inspiration Photo Friday: Patterns - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

Inspiration Photo Friday: Seek and Discover

12 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

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beauty, challenge, change, determination, discover, earth, evolution, growth, intense, life, nature, patience, pear tree, seek, strength, thoughts

Throughout my life, I’ve had to reinvent myself many times in order to adapt to change. We all do. I don’t mean become a different person, I just mean evolving and growing at a faster pace. Some people have a hard time doing that but I just never had a choice, so I got used to it. You really learn a lot about yourself when life is a constant challenge. I always felt it was healthy to seek out the “new” within you because you never know what you will discover.

I took this photo the other day in our backyard. We have two cherry trees which always bloom in the spring and grow the cutest plump cherries in the summer. I love watching the process. We also have a small pear tree not too far from them, but I never really pay attention to it because it just doesn’t really grow. Well, the other day I visited the tree and to my surprise there were tiny pears hanging off its branches. This really made me smile.

It’s moments like this that remind me of how life can be funny, yet intense. There are new and exciting things out there, right in front of you, that are just waiting for you to discover them. Some may be scary or sad, but it’s these things that inspire growth and change and push you to see more of you are, as well as who you can be. Some may even remind you of who you once were.

Today, I still encounter challenges on a daily basis. They keep my thoughts flowing and my determination to move forward, right on the surface. The strength and patience I have gained throughout the years surely make a big difference in my battles as well. This all makes up “me”. And because of all the times I had to seek within myself to persevere, I have discovered there is an endless amount of beauty that will always remain. No one can destroy it or take it away because it’s all mine. And I promise myself to let it shine every new day I have on this Earth. Okay “life”, bring it on. I’m ready for your next journey.

Inspiration Photo Friday: Seek and Discover - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

Inspiration Photo Friday: Changes

31 Friday May 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

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change, earth, evolution, family, friends, grounded, journey, life, mother earth, nature, trees, world

The world we live in will always change. That goes for each of our lives as well. Expecting  people to stay the same is very naive, we all grow and evolve. Hopefully, its for the better. My life has certainly gone through a lot of change, from childhood to now. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

As I look around at the people in my life, both friends and family, everyone has changes they are going through. From babies and marriage to ending relationships, moving, and coping with death, its all important to their growth as individuals. And it all happens for a reason, even if its not that great at the time. I can vouch for this for sure.

The photo below was taken recently while my husband Dan and I were on our vacation in Massachusetts. There is always something about a quiet road or path that inspires me to keep going in a positive direction. This photo also reminds me of one thing that will never change, nature. Mother Earth is always there to surround you with love and protection, sharing its beauty every chance it gets.

So when there are times that change gets a little too much, visit a park or take a peaceful walk in the woods. You can always count on nature to keep you grounded and calm. It’s the one thing that can never be taken away. So cherish it with all your heart and appreciate all it does for us. Because it doesn’t just give, it teaches all of us about the one thing we can’t escape, change. Evolving every minute, Earth does a fantastic job at showing us how to evolve with grace.

Inspiration Photo Friday: Changes

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