Saturday, March 26, 2011

Mundane to Marvelous

This is what my desk looks like when I'm working.  Drafting, reviewing, and revising contracts  is dull, boring, tedious work.  There is very little creative about it.  Until you come up with that perfect twist of phrase that really brings your meaning into clear focus.

The same day I was musing about how mundane my day-to-day work is, the essay in Simple Abundance contained this quote "Always be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else."  Judy Garland.

And here is the truth.  I am pretty darn good at what I do.  I may not be a famous trial attorney with glamorous high-profile cases.  But what I do, I do well - first rate all the way.

The same is true of something more near and dear to most of us - scrapbooking.  I can admire the way Ali Edwards ties together everyday stories with ephemera from everyday life.  I can marvel at Cathy Zielski's beautiful templates and her clean, graphic style.  But that doesn't mean I need to copy them or try to be like them.  My own scrapbooking, in my own style is what is just right for me!

sneak peek into my i.Scrap album - coming soon to a blog post near you!

17 comments:

Sue said...

Cheri
Your post spoke to me on many levels. I need to remind myself that telling my story in my way is so much more authentic than trying to emulate those admire. Thank you.
Sue

Kate said...

So true! I have recently "settled in" to my scrapbooking and am enjoying it a lot more. Do I draw inspiration from other scrappers? Absolutely. Do I try to copy their style? Nope. Great post and very pretty layout. I like your style :)

scrappysue said...

Cheri, that is a great quote and so true! I love your i.scrap page, just lovely. I have drafted my entries, but not yet started putting together the album. Rather too much procrastinating about whether to do a digital or paper version. I somehow think a paper version fits better for me at the moment,we will see!

Melissa said...

Gorgeous page - can't wait to see more!

Jimjams said...

That is an excellent motto to live by - finding what you want to be and do is important - and far better than gazing enviously at what other people achieve whilst doing nothing! Still looking for my style though!

furrypig said...

excellent post, so glad to have started following your blog thru BFS. I am definitely still looking for my own style!!

Kim said...

That's a great quote. Thanks for the reminder!

Rachel said...

Gorgeous photo and layout! :)

Unknown said...

I agree!

Ginger said...

Look forward to seeing your I Scrap album, from what I have seen of others it looks like it was a great class!

sharyncarlson said...

Very well said. Thanks for the wonderful reminder!

humel said...

You are a *very* good version of you, that's for sure xx

Heather said...

Just think what a sad and boring world it would be if we all did exactly the same as everyone else!! We can admire people for their talents & creativity and draw inspiration from them..... but its a big old world out there & we all have our place in it :))

Anonymous said...

Another thoughtful post, Cheri, and so true. I can't wait to see the rest of this album. Love the sneak peek.

Kelly Miller said...

Gorgeous colors! You are definitely the best when you're true to yourself.

Jen @ By Jen ❤️ said...

I love your rose photo and the layout. It's so much fun to take all the inspiration out there and make it into our own style.

I'm really enjoying poking around your blog. Thanks for stopping by mine,

Cheryl said...

Hi, Cheri! Stopping by to see what's been going on in your corner of the blogosphere. i've missed you!

I love how you applied Judy Garland's quote to scrapbooking. It's so easy to get caught up in a scrapbook "celebrity's" style and not appreciate our own. Looking forward to catching up on all the projects you've been working on!