some old stuff that is still real good

i am wanting to post these old photos of my friend daniela to remind myself and anyone who reads this that i can be really good at photography even if i don't ever get paid to do it. i need to take them to just stare at them. i just need to sometimes stare at photography and get lost in all of the colors and beauty of it. these pictures of daniela were taken for an old photography class with film. i shot with slide film and had it developed as regular film so it changes the colors. i actually have slide film in my camera right now but i cant use it until i get new batteries. maybe this will inspire me to put that on my to-do list.

embodying each other

Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt like you embodied someone you knew or maybe even someone you didn't know? Sometimes I look in the mirror and feel like I embody the clients I work with. For those of you that don't know, I work at a treatment center for women who are substance abusers. It is often the most gratifying and stressful job all in one day. These women have really been through some serious life obstacles that I could never begin to imagine happening to my own life. They also can be the most juvenile, ignorant people that I have ever encountered. But when I look in the mirror sometimes, I can see them in me and the client I see can change at different times. By the way I have done my hair, by a certain shirt I decided to put on, or even a facial similarity. I hear that people do this with celebrities and maybe even with their friends, but I can't remember a time that I have ever actually accomplished this. I say accomplishment because it reminds me of how beautiful we all are as women. And how similar. We all look so different from each other and we all have our unique personalities. But at the end of the day we all are girls, we all want the best for ourselves, and we all want to be loved. So when I find myself personifying my clients, I smile. In the time that I have worked here, I have learned so much from them. I have learned about their lives and have had a chance to take a look at my own life. It has had some really positive effects on me. The next time you look in the mirror, embrace that other person that you may see besides yourself. She could teach you something.

Caitlin Marie's Value Code

I chose to name my value code Caitlin Marie since that is what my mom called me if I was being disciplined. Being disciplined and taught things by your parents at a young age helps guide your value system and what becomes most important to you or how you behave in situations. Here is my value system and what I use to guide my decision making in my daily life sometimes without even realizing it.

1. Honesty - I must always be honest in any situation because honesty is the best policy. I had a plaque that stated this growing up and I have never forgotten it. Even the littlest fib can turn into something huge and it is always best to stay honest to yourself and others.

2. Equality - I must treat everyone with the same respect and fairness that I would expect for myself. This goes back to always being told to treat others the way that you would want to be treated. Even if someone is really difficult, they deserve the same respect and equality as anyone else because they could just be having a rough day.

3. Peace - I must find time each day to put my mind at rest and wish the same for others and the world. There is a lot that goes on in this world now and we need to remember to take time out to just breathe. Our positive energy is very important to send out into this world that is struggling.

4. Ambition - I must remember that I can always strive to be better than I am. There is no end to what we are capable of and we need to rememeber that. We can always try new things or try harder at what we already do.

5. Love - I must show my love to at least one person a day. We all need someone to love and for someone to love us. People need to hear it and to know it. Love comes with no strings and respects the other person. Love is family, friends, a lover, and the stranger that just needed someone to smile at them.

my best friend is so funny

My best friend is Leslie. Some of you may know her and if you don't then you are seriously missing out. She just texted me reminding me of something that I had forgotten about. It also reminded me that I have known her for the majority of my life and so some of my greatest stories involve her. Anyway, the text was telling me that she tells people how we used to peel each other's sunburns. Cue gag reflexes. Can you just imagine two adolescent girls sitting there peeling the skin off of each other and trying to get the "winner?" I have never had a problem with peeling my skin but I know plenty of people that want nothing to do with it. I don't really see what the problem is if we are being honest here. If the skin is wanting to come off why not help it along? Well, Leslie apparently tells people about this which I never actually questioned why she does ( how does that even come up in conversation?), but now here I am telling multiple people at once. She says people always get grossed out. But that she would do it again. That is a best friend. The best is yet to come.

my first blog ever in the whole world

I decided when I was driving today that I always have the best thoughts when I am driving. What am I supposed to do with them when I'm driving? I can't necessarily write them down. I have had far too many car accidents for one person and that would just be the cause of another one. Especially driving down the 15 in Salt Lake City. If any of you have ever driven on that freeway, then you know what I mean. I also have thought about recording myself. But that just makes me laugh. That is way too time-consuming and seems a little too involved with myself. I also have thought a lot about writing my thoughts down once I get home and have some time. Maybe some day I could write a book. I never find the time for that either. Then it came to me to just start a blog. So many people are doing it, why can't I? I am always on the computer whether I am at work or at home, working, doing homework, and stalking people on facebook. Now I can just add blog-writing to that resume. Hopefully. Let's all think positive thoughts for me and my blogging. I am hoping to spread some wisdom and laughter. That's all we need, right? No? You need more? How can I help?