A Collection of Butterflies

Almost everyone collects something. I have several collections myself, including M&M’s, Care Bears, PEZ dispensers, bags, and foreign money, and quotes. Some of these collections are specific – I only want Care Bears stuffed toys, not all the other Care Bear stuff (puzzles, games, etc) and not the newest version of the toys (they’re honestly a bit creepy). Quotes, on the other hand, are only limited by my interest in the message they deliver, which is really quite vast.

Most people, I’ve noticed, tend to collect animals; I also know of some collections of specific objects (lighthouses, Nutcrackers, baseball cards) that are more readily available than some of the things I’ve chosen. And of course, some collections are worth more than others (rare stamps vs. PEZ dispensers for example).

Well, this week’s first prompt kind of goes along with this idea of collecting, except chances are good it’s not the actual object you’ll be using:

I chose this shoe because I happen to have a collection of images already – feet. I also collect other images, broken up into many different categories, but I admit my feet/converse shoe collection is one of my favorite. My little sister is slightly obsessed with them as well, so she’s added quite a few photos for me.

This weeks’ second prompt, in an indirect way, actually involves one of my other collections:  quotes. Except I called it “personal mantra”:

“A personal mantra is a positive phrase or affirmative statement that you say to yourself for the purpose of motivation or encouragement.” I used this image because many of us decide on a mantra, main goal, or verse for the year during our New Year’s celebrations and manic decision making. Although I hadn’t really thought about it in these terms, I’ve had one quote rattling around in my head all year:  “If nothing ever changed, there would be no butterflies.” So I think that would be considered my personal mantra for 2013. It goes well with my one little word (explore) and I definitely need to embrace some changes in my life.

So now it’s your turn. Take some time this week to think about a collection of images you have, or one you’d like to start, as well as a personal mantra for the remainder of this year (it’s almost half over already!). Do they go together somehow? Try to make a journal page with both and share it in the comments section! (Just FYI:  I wouldn’t recommend forcing the combination, as in picking an image and then coming up with a phrase to go with it. Not as meaningful.)