November 5, 2012

Taking Time on Things That Matter (To You)

A few months ago, my sister and I were in the bathroom putting on make-up as sisters sometimes do. I was about to shade in my eyebrows, and a semblance of the following conversation happened:

Sister: Oh! I've finally found the perfect way to do eyebrows. I'll show you.
Me: Okay...
Sister: Take your brush and shade the wing then fade out the front and fill in with liner and smooth out with comb and fill in again and--
Me: OMG WTH IT'S JUST MY EYEBROW WHY ARE THERE SO MANY STEPS?
Sister: *while laughing* Yes, but then your eyebrows look like this. *gestures to her own which, admittedly, are fab*
Me: But I don't CARE. I'm going back to my one-step eyebrow shading.

So I did. But my sister has always liked what she could do with make-up so she didn't mind spending the extra time to perfect her eyebrows.

And it got me thinking about how we all spend a little more time on the things that matter to us, even though others might think it strange or a waste of time.

My sister is also a photographer (and a dang good one), and she spends hours upon hours reading up on the latest techniques, lenses,and equipment. She's always practicing her skills or imagining her frames, and she stays up late scrutinizing every shot to make sure her clients are happy. And she does all this because that's what she's passionate about.

What I'm passionate about is my writing. I spend ages trying to find the right words for a single sentence, or hours rewriting a paragraph because it just doesn't sound right. For people who don't care so much about writing, this would be crazy to them. And, yeah, I guess it kind of is. But this is what matters to me, so I'm willing to take my time.

So no matter what your passions, if it's something that really, truly matters to you, take the time to learn it and perfect it and ENJOY it.

Happy Monday! ♥

Comments (11)

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Great observation! My sister would love for me to take more time with makeup and fashion. But I'd much rather wear something comfortable while I'm reading or writing. I wonder how many of this inclinations we mistake for quirks or character flaws out of a lack of understanding of what drives the people around us. Good story fodder there, I think....
1 reply · active 646 weeks ago
I know, my sisters always have to dress me up to go out with them b/c I'm hopeless on my own XD

And yes, excellent story fodder. Or characterization fodder. Or thinking fodder :D
Good advice! I have friend that does that with her eye shadow too. The result is amazing.
1 reply · active 646 weeks ago
Both my sisters are amazing with make-up. Sometimes I'm envious, but I really can't be bothered to care enough XD
Absolutely. Whenever I'm doing anything else, I'm always thinking about the next time I'll get a moment to write/edit/outline. I'm sure it drives my family crazy :)
Rebecca B's avatar

Rebecca B · 646 weeks ago

Lovely post, and now I am curious about this eyebrow technique :) although I generally spend little time on that and lots on writing. And finding pretty shoes--let's be honest, I'm not a writing hermit!
1 reply · active 646 weeks ago
It's called ombre eyebrows. My sister is quite in love with the result lol.

I love that you're more balanced with everything :) Me, I only go clothes shopping when one of my sisters is with me b/c I'm hopeless on my own haha.
So true Lori. My mom would love if I spent more time on my clothes and decorating my house. But I focus, like you, on my writing.
Oh geez, I am so thankful that neat eyebrows are the one thing my mom's side of the family passed down now. I wouldn't know the first thing about brow grooming.
I am literally LOLing! I remember this day and you said, you were just going to do it your own way and I thought...someday she'll see the light! ahahah! Love you sister! <3

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