24-Bare Trees, Grey Light

15/365-Tree, originally uploaded by monica jennison.

I walked outside this morning and saw this. The weather is warm today, and just catching this (both on camera and with my eye) made my day. It's such a beautiful sight.

23- I am a Rock, I am an Island

14/365-Trip, originally uploaded by monica jennison.

While this is one day late, it perfectly sums up my day. I spent the day with my beautiful friend, Ashley. We walked around Little 5 Points for a bit just browsing everything they had. I managed to score the Simon & Garfunkel album "Sounds of Silence" for $1. Needless to say I was beyond pleased. Of course, we went back to my place to listen to it. Honestly, nothing sounds as good as it does on vinyl. I just love the mood it creates! We spent the rest of the night driving around and talking. 

It was definitely a wonderful day, and one that I won't soon forget.

20- It's Hard to See Beyond These Walls

12/365-Dress, originally uploaded by monica jennison.

This is my senior year prom dress. I heard this song on shuffle, and it prompted me to pull the dress out of the closet and put it on and start snapping photos. I'm just glad it still fit.

It got me thinking though. The dress and the song. When you're in high school, you're being shaped into the person that you're going to become, and you think you know everything but really...you know nothing. And at the time, anyone trying to tell you that is crazy and, obviously..wrong. But when those four years are over, you realize how naive you truly were. You hold on to the memories you made, of course, but who wore what, and who tripped during lunch...none of it matters. We all know that now, but why couldn't we be convinced then?

18- Gladly I'll Do Your Bidding

11/365-Bun, originally uploaded by monica jennison.

Some days you just want to sit at home, watch tv, and do nothing. That's what I plan on doing today.

Hope everyone is well.

16- Some Days Ya Gotta Dance

9/365-Wall, originally uploaded by monica jennison.

Today was a really great day. It was beautiful outside, even with all of the snow. It just seemed like such a positive day. The kind of day where you crank up the radio and sing at the top of your lungs and turn on something you love and shake your ass like you haven't got a care in the world. So that's what I did, and it felt so liberating. I almost feel like a new woman with a brand new outlook. All I know is that tomorrow is going to be a brighter day, and I'll be sure to bring my dancing shoes.

15- I Think We're Snowblind

8/365- Snow, originally uploaded by monica jennison.

It snowed today. Not much, but enough to garner a 'snow day' across the state. It's cold, and icy more than anything, but I had to get out and take a few shots of the snow while we have it, because like most things here, it won't last long.

14- I See the World With Brand New Eyes

7/365- Cap, originally uploaded by monica jennison.

This is one of my favorite self-portraits. I just really love how it turned out.

I've been starting to see a lot of things very differently lately, including myself and the world around me, and I think that this photo is a reflection of that. I think that's an important part of growing up. You realize a lot about the world and the people around you, and who you are as a person. The things that you begin to realize as you get older (and wiser) start to shape you in ways you never thought possible. Thus far, it's only been a positive force in my life. I've got an amazing support system helping me along the way on this bumpy journey, and that means more than I'll ever be able to properly put into words.

I've come to terms with that fact that people change, and not always for the better. People grow apart, some grow up, and some never do. That's just life, and you have to take the good with the bad in order to truly understand and appreciate everything. Yet, I feel like each and every day, especially lately I'm waking up and seeing things that I had never noticed before, or even seeing things in a different light. I'm becoming more aware of so much that is around me. It's difficult to accept that you're simply seeing things in a new and intriguing way, but if I hold back from admitting it to myself or others, I'm going to miss out on all the things that are happening. It's a beautiful world, and it has it's share of goods and bads and ups and downs, but I don't want to close my eyes and miss out on a single minute.

13-I've Been Down This Road Before

6/365-Necklace, originally uploaded by monica jennison.

Not much to say about this one, so I'll let the picture speak for itself.

11-Before You Judge Me, Try Hard to Love Me

5/365-Cover, originally uploaded by monica jennison.

Today was a rough day. I had a lot going on, mentally, emotionally, physically, you name it. I've gotten about 10 or so hours of sleep collectively in the past week. The past month and a half, maybe 2 days, total? It's awful and it's very much starting to infiltrate other aspects of my life. I've been losing weight (which, while it may be a goal, this is NOT a healthy way to go about doing so), losing my appetite, I look sallow, I have deep pockets beneath my eyes, everything. More than anything, I'm just worried for myself. How can I expect others to care about me if I can't muster up enough energy to do the same?
I sought some much needed answers and assistance today, medically, and hopefully it was all work out. It was a big step for me, but luckily I had an amazing friend push me in the right direction and support me the whole way through.
Not every day is going to be perfect. I wouldn't want it to be, but I know, regardless of what's going on with...anything, that there's always something to look forward to. No matter how much it rains, the sun will still come up again tomorrow. I'm just looking forward to sipping my tea and watching that beautiful sunrise with a happy heart.

10- You Were One of the Brightest Stars

4/365- Stars, originally uploaded by monica jennison.

Sometimes you feel like you're on the brink of something big. A moment that will change your life forever. Maybe it's the new year, maybe it's a new purse, maybe it's a birth, a death, who knows, it's different for everyone, yet there are always those moments where everyone feels like they're about to drop off of a cliff and spread their wings and soar to new heights.

I feel that way lately. Things are changing, in a major way, yet they're subtle enough for me to accept without feeling overwhelmed. I quit my job, and I'm making so many plans, and more than anything, I'm following my heart and listening to my soul. I'm making myself happy, and for the first time in a long time I can say that I truly, honestly, and completely mean that. I absolutely feel like I'm holding the universe in the palm of my hands.

9-We Sleep All Day

3/365-Sleeping, originally uploaded by monica jennison.

I've always had intense bonds with all of my animals. I've just never gotten the concept of having "just pets". My pets are always my best friends, my rocks, my sanity. No matter what is going on, I can always cuddle with my cat or dog, talk to them, spoil them, vent to them, etc. They just always understand. Each of my pets has always been uniquely special to me.
The first pet I ever had, Hazel, was born a year before I was. She died when I was 14. She was an amazing soul and lived 8 years beyond her life expectancy. She was a fighter. All of my animals have been.
Throughout all of my years, I've only ever lost two pets, and they were both to old age, and despite the sadness of loss, this makes me very happy to know. I haven't had a pet ripped form my arms by tragedy. They lived out their lives to the very end, and went peacefully.
The little guy in this photo is Ringo, and like all my other pets, he's unique and special in his own little way. I think he's more human in his qualities than all of my other animals have been. Ringo is emotional, just like I am (I have no problem admitting it!). When his brother passed away (even though he wasn't living with him anymore), he moped around the whole day and would look at me with this incredible sadness in his eyes. When I'm crying and upset, he cuddles up with me, will lick my tears away, or meow as if to say he understands.
That kind of thing, with all of my animals, has always amazed me. But like I said, I've always had some kind of special connection to my pets. I encourage all of you to form special bonds with the living things around you, whether it be a pet, a plant, a tree, anything. The universe is full of energy and life, and there's nothing wrong with embracing that.

8- And We All Shine On

2/365- Glitter, originally uploaded by monica jennison.

This little butterfly was given to me by a good friend in Michigan. I hung it from a tapestry that I have in a reading corner in my room. This is typically where I go when I want some peace and quiet. I light some candles, sit on my bench, pull out a book and read or do some yoga, meditation or write.
There's something really liberating about being able to go to this corner of my room just to escape the world and have some serenity. It's my solace, my creative corner, my relaxation station.
This little guy in the picture helped pull the whole thing together. I've taken to touching him on my way out the door, and he's somehow become a good-luck charm for me.
I think everyone needs a good-luck charm, no matter what or who it is. Even if you don't believe in that sort of thing completely, sometimes it just helps to cheer your spirit and brighten your day just a bit.
I think one thing that I love so much about this butterfly is the glitter that he has all over him. It just reminds me every time that I look at him that everyone, in their own little way, always shines. So shine on, butterfly, shine on.

7- You Are My Weakness, You Are My Strength

1/365-Lip, originally uploaded by monica jennison.

So it's officially 2010. I hope everyone's New Years Eve celebrations were amazing and more importantly; safe.

I decided to start taking part in Project 365 (essentially take/post 1 photo a day for 365 days, sounds easier than it is!), so this is the beginning of that.

This year seems to already have a lot of hope attached to it. People already seem to be banking on this year being so much greater than all the rest, without realizing that it doesn't matter what year it is, it matters what you do in and with that year. If you want this to be the best year of your life, or the happiest, or the most productive, make it so! Don't just rest on your laurels and hope that just because it's 2010 it'll happen. You're far more powerful than you realize, and the second you realize it, the second you'll start making life exactly what you want it to be.

5-Love is the Movement

Move, originally uploaded by monica jennison.

I've decided to take part in the Project 365 starting January 1st, 2010, so look forward to daily posts with explanations/summaries of my day or little quips as only I can do.