Lifestyle: Annie Fay Blog

Daytripping

7/30/2017

Introduction to Time

“I wear the universe backwards. I imagine putting stars in my coffee, and sugar in the sky. I imagine going fishing in the clouds, and watching the sun hide behind lakes. I’m too busy dancing with my imagination to even tip toe with reality for a second.” - D. Antoinette Foy

Time works in odd ways. A construct developed by humans, based on longitude, latitude, and revolutions of our planet around the sun; time is something that oddly we all relate to but nevertheless is purely nonsensical.

Beyond time, timing, as a concept is equally peculiar. I think everyone experiences “good timing” and “bad timing.” The tragedy of meeting a soul mate at an unsuitable moment, or the serendipity of running into an old friend in a moment of sadness. We all throw around these expressions, and we all buy into this idea that time is this additional element connecting us all.

Yesterday and Today

“I have done nothing all summer but wait for myself to be myself again.” - Georgia O’Keefe

Yesterday and today are entirely blurred together. I feel no concept of time and space and my body feels jetlagged and my thoughts feel like they’re hours behind schedule. I am processing in slow motion and over processing at the same time. By the time I went to sleep this morning it was already today. Each day is just an extension of the last.

I spent last night in Anniegrace’s basement hanging out with her and Sasha. We decided to walk to the beach, barefoot, wandering through the darkness of the night.

The tide was so high that there was no sand when the waves came tumbling towards the cliff. We all had to time our departure from the stairs to the shore to avoid getting soaked. Nobody said a word but we all instinctively knew to wait for the waves to tumble backwards before sprinting towards the ladder of the lifeguard tower, making it above the water in perfect time. Mesmerized, we watched how the waves fizzled into the sand and rolled back out into the blackness of the night, again and again. The moon was barely visible and provided no light. Besides the bulbs from the stairs we could see virtually nothing, but also everything.

Make Waves

“I'll meet you in the daylight seeping from the skyline...” - Love Unlimited by Blackbird Blackbird

The white foam was almost scintillating in the darkness. I wanted to be engulfed by the darkness and let it wash over me like a shower, consume me like a vacuum into a new and better dimension beyond this world. All I said was “let’s go in.” Anniegrace pulled off her shirt, handed me her phone, and bolted into the sea before I could say otherwise. I turned to Sasha, and he ran, and I ran after them.

The wet salty water clung to my jeans. My hair melted into seaweed as waves soaked my locks. Salt water burned my eyes and cleansed my skin. Sand kissed my toes and, as I stood there, diving and jumping over waves that appeared out of nowhere, staring off into the darkness, I felt a peace unlike any other. A sense of tranquility washed over us all. We laughed and joked and tumbled into the night heading further west. It was like a movie. Or a song. We weren’t cold, we were content, and we were living.

This is what life is made of. Sand, and salt, and stardust. This is what adventures are. Spontaneous, free spirited, and carefree. None of us cared what we looked like or cared that we didn’t have towels. We had sand beneath our barefeet and stars above our heads. We had each other and we were connected to the world in a way that was pure and holy.

Simply Be

“it's not magic, but it feels that way. And I believe that it was love, at least something of that sort...” - Like A Dream - Demo by Chelou

Isn’t it odd how the world works. Heightened by the influx of technology, our perception of the world becomes clearer, and our ability to communicate with people from various countries ((and continents)) is at an all time high. The world is more accessible than ever, yet we still feel so separate. Essentially, and especially, in this day and age, we live less in the moment than ever. We can be at the beach in California, but be on our phones looking at Instagram photos of someone in Tahiti. We are so far removed from reality, whatever that is, and we rarely take moments to simply be.

I left my phone at Anniegrace’s house and Sasha’s was dead. We were being ourselves for ourselves and I was actively cherishing each moment purely for the sake of being there and living it. Although unrealistic, we could have been carried away by the sea if it chose, we could have refused to follow Anniegrace into the water, it was a moment full of potential magic. The earth is a silly place full of silly rules and silly people. Quarks and impurities and unknown things.

Human Nature

“Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as an escape.” - Bell Hooks

Humans are seekers of truth. We don’t know where the universe began. We don’t know where it ends. We don’t know much of anything and it’s taken us millions of years to learn what we think we know today.

I sit on the floor of my bedroom as I write this to feel more grounded. I feel as though I am floating, untethered by truth. As humans there are certain things we innately crave: companionship, clarity, love.

We want a companion or companions to share our existences with; to provide them with meaning greater than procreation or nothingness.

We insist on clarity to feel purposeful, as if our actions help to ensure the continuation of our species on this small planet.

We need love to feel fulfilled and important. If not by someone else, than from ourselves. Like air, or water, love is essential to survival.

Metaphors for Existence

“In your life, you must do what fulfills you. What lights your inner fire. What makes your heart shine. You must. For like a fish swimming out of water, or a penguin living in the tropics, things will not feel right; Simply because there are greater things out there for you.” - Nicole Addison

Sasha told us that he once walked onto the train tracks as a train was approaching from the distance. He said it felt “serene.” I think we all crave experiences like that, choices that make you realize how fleeting life can be.

In the water last night, we couldn’t distinguish the horizon from the sky, and waves appeared before our eyes. I said it was a metaphor for life and how I can’t see what my future holds but I take it each wave at a time, and continue to swim even when the waves come crashing out of the blue. That felt serene.

Eventually it was time for us to head back in. Just as quickly as we ran out of the water towards land, the magic of the moment dissipated. We went back to being a trio of goofy teens all mixed up in the world.

Back at Anniegrace’s house we enjoyed warm cups of Mexican hot chocolate. We were bundled up in towels, wet, and stripped down to our underwear, still laughing at ourselves for being human.

We all laughed a lot.

I don’t recall every joke.

But I can tell you we laughed.

I can tell you I felt important.

I felt loved.

I felt clarity.

I felt companionship.

I felt human.

© Annie Fay Meitchik. All Rights Reserved. All content on anniefay.com is my own or credit is given when applicable, please do not use any of my images before contacting me above or @ anniefaymeitchik@gmail.com.

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Badass Women (012): Billie Philips

7/23/2017

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I think inspiration runs in a circular motion so here’s to hoping I can inspire all the incredible gals as much as they all inspire me. Badass Women is a series about capturing that positive energy and spreading it. Wanna help? Read about these cool girls and share their features with the women that inspire you!!

The following interview is about Billie Phillips, a fashion influencer and blogger from Australia.

What is your relationship with beauty?
I mostly find beauty in things that are most natural. Every day on my drive to uni or work, I am just astounded by the beauty in where I live from the open paddocks to the view of the hills.

I used to not take any notice at all of this world that I live on, but lately just opening my eyes and actually looking, IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL! And I think now that I’m starting to form a better relationship with that definition of ‘beauty’, I can find it in anything and anyone.

You know when you see people in public, walking down the street or at the local coffee shop, and they’re just beaming with this natural glow and confidence about them? That’s what I think of when I think of beauty. And that’s what I want to be for myself.

Describe what your version of a “perfect day” would look like:
I’d start with a big smoothie bowl for breakfast topped with loads of fresh fruit to give me energy for the day. The sun is shining, so I go out exploring and adventuring, going hiking up the mountains, exploring the coast and beaches, or even just walking down my street. The perfect day is just taking in nature and sunlight and eating amazing fresh foods!

Who do you look to for style inspiration?
I don’t really follow any particular style, I just wear whatever I want to because it makes me feel good and is also comfy! But some of the people I love to stalk on instagram and admire their style are Mimi Elashiry and Cartia Mallan, ugh they seriously get it right every time!

If you could collaborate with any [fashion] brand, which company would you choose, and why?
I would love to collaborate with Tigerlily, all their pieces are just so beautiful and are amazing quality too!

If you could give advice to yourself as a ten-year-old, what would you say?
Keep doing what you’re doing! Everything in life happens for a reason and you’ll look back in ten years from now and not regret a single thing!

What’s something you can’t live without?
Fruit for sure!! I’m addicted to oranges and passionfruit right now for some reason haha.

Where did you grow up?
Adelaide, South Australia

If someone were visiting South Australia for the first time which places would they HAVE to visit?
The coast!! Seriously we have some of the best beaches in Australia and after 19 years of living here I’ve only just realised that in the past few months…

How old are you?
19

What are you passionate about?
Photography has been such a huge passion of mine for the past 5 or so years, but recently I have been so passionate about healthy living and eating! I have a weird obsession with fruits and vegetables, but I think that’s a good thing because I know I am nourishing my body with all the nutrients it needs to thrive, and I’ve really been feeling the benefits!!

What advice would you give to other young bloggers looking to connect/work with brands?
Work on creating high quality content, really take the time to produce something that you’re proud of and that you love! Brands will start to notice that you really love what you do and put in a lot of effort, so that’s what they will look for when finding bloggers to represent their brands! But take it from me, you kind of have to be careful with this as it can be really easy to take it to the point where you become too consumed with likes and followers and numbers, and starting to doubt your work. If that happens, take a break and a breather, get off social media for a day and go do something else and be inspired!

Talk about the most challenging thing you’ve overcome, how did you do it?
Getting out of a bad relationship. I was with someone for three years, and it took me all three of those years to realise that I was not happy. A relationship is not about the other person making you feel awful to the point of crying every time you see each other. I guess the phrase ‘love is blind’ is actually true, because I feel like I actually convinced myself that it was normal to feel sad, or that it was normal for him to be angry with me every day, or that with time it would get better and someday I would wake up and be happy! It took me three years to realise I was in an emotionally abusive relationship, and the most challenging thing I had to do was try and get out of it when I gave that person so much of my life!

Where do you feel most inspired?
In nature, at the beach or out in the mountains!

If you could pick a song to be the theme song to your life what song would you choose and why?
Hypocrite by Cage The Elephant. I feel like it really resonates with me about growing up and learning things about yourself. I really connected with the song after my breakup because I realised that I was a hypocrite almost for such a long time. The lyrics “and if you ask me to stay, you know that’s where I will be, won’t ever do that again, don’t wanna do that again” made me think about how many times I would go back after he hurt me, and then saying to myself that’s the last straw and then going back again. But I did finally break out of that cycle, but I feel like as a person I have a tendency to forgive people too easily and think that things will change when they don’t.

What quote inspires you the most? How do you relate to it?
My most recent favourite quote is “thrive, not just survive”. Lately I have changed up my diet and lifestyle because I really do want to thrive on this planet, not just survive and live a life that I know deep down I do not want to. Like with my past relationship, I knew I was not in a healthy mind set and I knew deep down I wanted to thrive and live a happy life and do everything and see everything! Now over the past six months I have really been feeling what it is like to thrive, I fuel my body with healthy food that gives me energy all day long! And I go out and see this world and the place I live, and someday I will go and travel to other places and thrive in every place of the world!!

Where You Can Find Billie:

Blog: http://billiephilips.com/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/billiephilips/

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Happiness Is...

7/16/2017

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“Normality is a paved path. It’s comfortable to walk on but no flowers grow on it.” - Vincent Van Gogh

This past week has been full of happy moments. Each day at work has been an absolute JOY and every evening has been spent with friends. Whether I am exploring art shows, enjoying smoothies by the beach, thrifting, swimming in the ocean, or making acai bowls - I have spent countless hours these past 7 days filled with gratitude for the beautiful friends I’ve shared so many lovely little adventures with.

Rather than posting a write-up of everything I’ve been up to that has been keeping me happy since last Sunday - I wanted to define what happiness means to me and where I find it!!

Let me know in the comments what brings you happiness!!

Happiness is accepting the sunshine that cascades through my car window onto my bare legs in the summertime.

Happiness is in the moments I notice the way light illuminates beams of dust and dirt on the road to work,

Happiness is the way I feel when I see the cerulean sky peeking through the treetops as I sit beside the creek.

Happiness is the way it feels when a sand crab wriggles through my fingertips to burrow back into the shore.

Happiness is the blissful sensation of floating over waves in the sea before they have started to crash.

Happiness is singing “Diane Young” with a car full of friends down Pacific Coast Highway.

Happiness is going to farmer’s markets for fresh chocolate croissants.

Happiness is dancing at concerts and feeling the pulse of sound reverberate through my body.

Happiness is in the scintillating eyes of passionate people, in bright tubes of yellow paint, in warm cups of chamomile tea, and in the beauty of a sunrise or a sunset.

Happiness is familiar driveways, old polaroids, ladybugs, bookstores.

Happiness is blowing out birthday candles, wishing on dandelions, and throwing coins into fountains.

Happiness is allowing yourself to be present,

Giving yourself permission to love,

And granting yourself time to be purely and simply human.

Where to find my people:

AnnieGrace: https://www.instagram.com/annie.grace.w/
Bey: https://www.instagram.com/manga.bey/
Emerson: https://www.instagram.com/emersonian23/
Josh: https://www.instagram.com/joshi.ie/
Katie: https://www.instagram.com/katiemeitchik/
Kiva: https://www.instagram.com/kivalukas/
Kayla:
Lexi: https://www.instagram.com/aalexismae/
Lily: https://www.instagram.com/lily__hurd/
Nate: https://www.instagram.com/nate.price/
Sasha: https://www.instagram.com/sasha_lukas16/

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<<Previous

Daytripping

Introduction to Time

Yesterday and Today

Make Waves

Simply Be

Human Nature

Metaphors for Existence

Badass Women (012): Billie Philips

Happiness Is...

“Normality is a paved path. It’s comfortable to walk on but no flowers grow on it.” - Vincent Van Gogh

Archives

Categories

Daytripping

Introduction to Time

Yesterday and Today

Make Waves

Simply Be

​Human Nature

​Metaphors for Existence

Badass Women (012): Billie Philips

Happiness Is...

“Normality is a paved path. It’s comfortable to walk on but no flowers grow on it.” - Vincent Van Gogh

Archives

Categories

Human Nature

Metaphors for Existence