For the last couple months, I have been reading the book Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. It is a beautifully written book but for whatever reason, it seems to be taking me forever to finish. Regardless of this, it has been on my mind a good bit off and on since I began it because, as a woman, I identify with the plight of Anna. On a Thursday evening a few weeks ago, I convinced Colleen to meet me at the one theater in Charlotte that was still playing the movie and we let ourselves get completely wrapped up in the story and the aesthetic beauty and romantic quality of the movie. It is without a doubt, one of the most visually stunning and creative movies I have seen in a very long time. But it is also a very sad story that speaks to the role of women in the era in which it was written. I have been meaning to do a wedding story inspired by it for weeks, but for some reason trying to make a love story out of it just didn’t feel right. I may change my mind by the time I finish the book, but for now, I will just share some images inspired by the setting and the costumes, which themselves seem just perfect for a wintry wedding inspiration.
I love love love to be inspired. I think as a result I am constantly looking for inspiration. Here are some of the things that have been inspiring me lately…
Dalai Lama
I have loved the Dalai Lama and been very curious about him and Tibet’s plight ever since seeing Seven Years In Tibet, which you all need to go out and rent this weekend if you haven’t seen. The other day Facebook suggested that I like him and I was like, “Why, yes I do.” He puts out thoughts and statements a few times a week and one of the first ones I saw was this…
“All the world’s major religions, with their emphasis on love, compassion, patience, tolerance, and forgiveness can and do promote inner values. But the reality of the world today is that grounding ethics in religion is no longer adequate. This is why I am increasingly convinced that the time has come to find a way of thinking about spirituality and ethics beyond religion altogether.”
Now I am not going to say that I agree with this statement completely and I surely don’t want to ruffle any tail feathers, but I do want to say this. This is a very brave statement, coming from someone who is a monk, ie. very devout worshiper of his own religion. I like his point of view that we all have to work together to figure out answers for this world instead of standing up on our individual mountains and yelling, “My way is the best!” That point of view is obviously getting us nowhere. I am very inspired by his bravery and his diplomacy.
I think that anyone that has been reading our little blog for any period of time knows that we love the idea of magic. This lovely book is quite successful at making me feel like it really exists. A wonderful story with beautiful imagery that is sure to inspire anyone.
Based on my Facebook feed and the little Spotify notifications, I know that I am not the only one being inspired by this band. It has been awhile since an album has come out that I really wanted to listen to the whole way through every time. Many people have probably heard “Ho Hey” but I also suggest taking a listen to “The Big Parade.”
Photography
Never in my life have I been so inspired by the ability of a truly talented photographer to capture something special and honest in a person’s face, an object, or a scene as I am at this point in my life. It is easy to understand how magical it is once you start trying to take pictures yourself.
You actually thought we would get through a post without talking about Fall again? Hah! The change in the weather lately has been blowing me away along with the beauty of the leaves on the trees and the crunchy sound they make when I walk through my yard. Yay Fall!
Last weekend, I finally saw My Week With Marilyn. I’ve been slightly enamored with Michelle Williams ever since I saw her in Blue Valentine and was really interested to see how she would portray the legendary Marilyn Monroe. Well, Michelle was riveting. She was so effortlessly magnetic that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. The movie made me long for a time when fashion was crisp, clean, and glamorous. When you would throw on a khaki pencil skirt to go walking in the garden. Although her life was, in the end, a tragic story, something that I loved about Marilyn’s character (both in life and in the film) was that she was able to find magic in the smallest things. Her charisma was consuming, and I’m hoping to use the film as inspiration to add a little more glamour to my everyday routine.
