The eyes of a photographer

One morning last week the mist had settled very low across Edinburgh. As I made my way to work, I noticed hundreds of cobwebs twinkling like a magical maze on a hedge I walk by everyday. I could only see them because of the mist and cold weather. It made me smile immediately. Not that I like spiders or their webs but I was able to glimpse at something that had always been there, yet been invisible until now. The weather allowed me that moment and that made me thankful of the icy chill. For the entire day I then listened to people complain about the drop in degrees, moan about having to 'defrost their car' and sigh when thinking about having to head outside. I then drove passed a photographer who clutched his camera with joy at the eeriness of it all. 'What a great picture this will make' I imagined him thinking. Then, I got to thinking about being a photographer and how this surely makes you more positive than most, as any change in weather/light is about an opportunity, some great picture you may be about to capture. Surely if everyone was to try and get in the mindset of a photographer, we would instinctively notice the beauty around us rather than focussing on the negative. My husband then showed me this photo taken on that same day.

I think it highlights how the person who took it was thinking not of the inconvenience of having to hunt for warmer clothes but how cracking the city in which we live looked at that moment in time.

If it makes you happy, it can't be that bad

I recently ran a workshop on Positive Psychology. This got me scratching my head over what really makes me happy, what makes me smile, when do I laugh out loud? I suggested that the participants make a top 10 list that they can draw upon. And as I try to practice what I preach, here goes... 1/ Most things yellow 2/ Knowing my husband and I can both see the moon when we are apart 3/ Podded peas 4/ My walk to work (complete with ipod and new headphones) 5/ Travel 6/ Dancing in any way shape or form I chose 7/ Seeing someone I love succeed 8/ Hearing my nephews laugh 9/ Duck billed platypus 10/ Writing lists of things that make me happy Write yours now.

Daily question

I have no problem with people letting off steam and having a 'moan' or getting things off their chest. In fact, I would positively encourage it. This is called 'wallowing' in the Shut Up and Move On book - which I would recommend. There is credibility in the statement 'a problem shared is a problem halved'. I often allow my husband to come home from a long day of studying or a night shift at work and talk at me for ten minutes without a breath. I say talk 'at' me rather purposefully. I do not intervene. I do not suggest solutions to the issues he is in need of discussing. I do not 'side' with him and to be honest, I do not even always listen intently. The listening in this instance is not always important. The 'getting it out in the open and making sense of it in my head' is. However, in order to not stay in that place for too long, a time limit should be placed on the wallowing activity. My husband will stop himself after a short fueled stint, sigh and say something like 'sorry, I just needed to unload'.
I would try and follow this 'rant' up with a question such as 'So, tell me one thing that was good about today?'. This then leads onto a conversation which takes a much more positive slant and clears any negativity lurking in the air.