Making this World Prettier One Photo at a Time

The Do-over

Ionela -

Imagine you'd have the power to change everything in a positive way, as in: for the better... What if you'd get a do-over?!

Well, you get to have a do-over. Every single year, at midnight, when you celebrate the New Year. That easy!

On one hand, since humans tend to do lots of mistakes, it's actually not that easy. But, on the other hand, we're supposed to learn from our mistakes. I, for one, strongly believe in do-overs.

Some actions are just so "here, in your face" that you actually don't notice them...

Actions like:

  • make a tiny sweet (and somehow/ maybe useful) gift to someone you've known for quite some time - and you don't need a reason; we have to celebrate friends and people who understand us, every day!

  • even if you see garbage/ litter on the sidewalks around you, refrain yourself from throwing it, as well;

  • don't yell at your young child in a public space (e.g.: supermarket) or ever, for any matter... I think a child is supposed to bring joy and adults were supposed to act like adults but this is another subject;

  • from time to time wish "Good Night!" or "Sweet Dreams!" to someone you care about and it's not near you, physically;

  • find an activity that you like; wait! There is a name for that: "hobby". Yes! Find a hobby and dedicate some of your time to it, at least one time per week;

  • when you want to pass someone and you don't have enough space, simply say politely "Please, excuse me!";

  • if you're running and another runner smiles to you, smile back;

  • share at least a meal daily with someone you love;





  • admire the squirrels from the park(s) near you - replace "squirrel" with rabbits, birds, hedgehog or any other creature;

  • smile more often to your friends;

  • listen/ pay attention to your colleagues/ friends/ relatives more;

  • try to learn a new language or improve your language skill(s) in the one(s) you supposedly know - I think it will make you see things in a different perspective;

  • it's January - I am sure you have a relative/ friend/ colleague who celebrates birthday this month; call that person and wish him/ her "Happy Awesome Birthday!";

  • don't try to define happiness - the more you'll look for it, the more it will avoid you;

  • go see a movie at the cinema with some people who aren't your friends, but simply acquaintances;

  • make future plans, even though these plans might change as the days will go by;

  • make a grocery list - it will ease your mind;

  • re-pot a plant you've wanted to re-pot in the past 3-6 months;

  • get to know someone who likes baking cakes and somehow make that person bake you a cake and share the cake with the person who baked the cake. Absolutely precious moments! But since you cannot force destiny, you might never know if that someone likes cooking/ travelling/ painting so on and so forth. The point was: get to know someone better and happy (and maybe sweet) moments will come your way!

And note to self: try to buy less to none groceries which are made with/ from palm oil. Poor orangutans from Sumatra and Borneo have suffered enough!

Least, but not last: share a nice memory from your childhood with someone you have just befriended; getting to know some people better (it's a matter of the heart... you may try to understand and know all the people, but some people simply get under your skin and yes, it's normal, you cannot like absolutely everybody and you cannot expect everybody to like you in return and that's just how things are) you'll discover that you have much more things in common than you'd thought.

Overall, now, I think that a do-over is more of a rebranding of yourself because very year you get the chance to improve yourself and grow in a positive way.


P.S.: don't throw away the Christmas Tree. Not just yet! Let it keep you company for at least one more week!

Where - Chieming;
When - towards end of May, during a not so sunny and a bit rainy day;
With - Nikon 1 V2 (50mm f/1.8G; 50mm - ISO 160).