Sunday, November 1, 2009

I am me - FP Challenge Prompt 12

This month's challenge over at Forward Progress is about letting go and free ourselves from the expectations of others.

This was a difficult challenge for me. It kept lingering in my mind, and the more I thought about it, the more I knew I'm not there yet ... I'm not free from the expectations of others. My life is filled with expectations ... I expect a lot from my family, my friends, myself, and I know they have certain expectations from me. I really don't know how to go through life without expectations, so why would I expect others to expect nothing from me? The only sense I could make out of this, the only thing I've learned through the years, is to not let it bother me all that much if I don't live up to someone's expectations. With me, what you see is what you get. Expect all from me that you want, but if I can't live up to your expectations, that's your problem, not mine...

So here's my take on the challenge. It's a 9x9 page, the first page for my BOM album.

I had problems putting this into words for a LO, but when I found this "Ralph Waldo Emerson" quote, it knew instantly it said all I wanted to say:

"All my life I had been looking for something, and everywhere I looked someone tried to tell me what it was. I accepted their answers too, though they were often in contradiction and even self-contradictory. I was naive. I was looking for myself and asking everyone except myself questions which I and only I could answer. It took me a while and much painful boomeranging of my expectations to achieve a realization everyone else appears to have been born with: that I am nobody but myself."

This album will be all about me (as the name says duh LOL), about my random thoughts and feelings. I'm thinking most of them will be inspired by song lyrics or quotes, as I've never been any good in just putting my thoughts on paper. I've tried started a journal several times, but I've failed miserably each time. I need to be inspired first LOL.

Obviously this is a very plain LO, but I love it, the pic just doesn't do it justice. In future, I'm hoping this album will have the look of an art journal, but for this particular assignment, I wanted the LO to reflect me ... plain and simple, no frills, true to my "what you see is what you get" theme.

I'm hoping some of you will find the time to play along with us this month, you still have two more weeks to submit your entry. Even if you haven't "progressed" in a certain area, you might, like me, find that that's okay too. Life is about evolving, we can't expect to have everything sorted out right now, right? If ever...

Love xxx Peggy

18 comments:

  1. It's not plain at all Peggy...it's beautiful, just as you are my sweet friend. :) I can't wait to see more pages for this book...
    ((Hugs))
    - April

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  2. LOve this Peggy!It so true and so inspiring!I'm sure you make a gorgeous album about yourself!And that's what music and quotes are for..to inspire you!I love to use lyrics!
    And yes life is all about learning and trying and learning and....;)

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  3. Peggy,

    ... ik word er helemaal stil van... van je fantastische werk, met je mooie mooie tekst!!

    Prachtig meid!!!

    Saskia :)

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  4. absolutely nothing plain about this!!!! i absolutely loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it!!!!! loveeeeeeeeeeeeee the poem u found, the cardboard......that PHOTO of u!!! this is just truly amazing! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

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  5. just love that page and the pic of you Peggy.

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  6. u've truly got a very cool grunge style ! I Like !!

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  7. Love the quote you used for the challenge, Peggy - interesting, I feel much the same way about expectations. :)

    btw- the layout is fabulous - the textures and grungy feel - and a BOM!! I so need to do that, too.

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  8. WOW!!! Wat heb je dat mooi gezegd en ik herken het helemaal!!! En wat een prachtige LO, helemaal goed!!! Ik zou willen dat ik wat meer tijd had, er zijn ophet moment zoveel leuke en interesante challengeblogs!!!!

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  9. Ja, je bent begonnen!!!! Ik weet zeker dat het een super album gaat worden! Je weet dat ik enorm veel bewondering heb voor de manier waarop je (in 't engels ook nog!) je gevoelens onder woorden kunt brengen, ook zonder 'hulp' van songteksten!
    Soms heb ik dat ook, het gevoel dat een layout zo 'leeg' en 'simpel' is, maar toch wel helemaal áf! En dat is het geval met deze, hij is af, helemaal goed zo!

    XXXJenneke

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  10. Uh uh uh....nope......just cant see the plainess at all......and i've been meaning to say since you put up that new photo on your blog how much I love it! Peggy its bright, intelligent, happy and fun pic of you!!!!

    I just think you are so courageous to face all those thoughts and feelings with such intregity and honesty..... I have a long way to go to yet...
    one day...perhaps.

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  11. Yes Peggy, YOU are YOU! And you are totally awesome! And so is your first page for the BOM album! I did one in August, but looking at this wants me to start all over (and I DON'T have time... I WON'T expect from myself to do that too... I HAVE to listen to myself and, and... aaaaaaah - you tought me a lesson here Peggy! Thanks!

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  12. i LOOOOOVE that page!!! know why? it shows your versatility!!! you can do simple, intricate...and now grunge!!! you freakin' RAWK, mama!!!

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  13. oh Peggy ... I'm right with you there. I expect A LOT, especially from my family.. :) *hugs*

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  14. WOW Peggy.... some amazing lo's here. Loving this one on the cardboard.
    xxx

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  15. Oooh, I love this peggy!! Fantastic layout, and what a great photo of you!

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  16. Hi Dear Peggy!!! Thanks for visiting my friend.Your layout rocks and it`s so cool as all your work!!

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  17. love this new profile photo of you too, Peggy !

    as always love your honest journaling !

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  18. Oh i knew i liked you at hello. Not only do you think Stephen King is the man, Emerson speaks to you often too. Two of my favorite men who know how to use the written word!

    Beautiful page!

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