Each week I set myself a creative challenge. This week’s challenge was:

The challenge: Be an explorer of the world: observe the world around you, collect useless objects, wander around and live by the rule that everything is interesting. 

I went outside to wander around, I collected things I found or that were intriguing to me, I collected paint chips and started mapping those colors to real world colors, observed my surroundings more closely and noticed many small interesting details and had fun doing so.

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Helicopters!
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The start of a ‘fascinating object collection’

What was fun?
Going out filled me with a bit of a thrill and a feeling of ‘going on adventure’ (I was making up stories in my head where I coincidently would walk into a random acquaintance who would ask me what I was up to and I would casually but in a semi-cool voice answer ‘I’m going on adventure’. Of course all of this only happened in my head). I discovered some new things (like an entire playground nearby I never saw before) and it was fun to really look at my surroundings and notice things I would normally pass by. I also started a ‘fascinating object collection’ that is inspiring to me.

What was difficult?
At first I felt slightly uncomfortable with randomly wandering my neighborhood while collecting bits and pieces from the sidewalk. I had the idea that everyone was suspiciously looking at the weird girl who was picking leaves from the ground and examining them.

What did I learn?
Nobody cares about the weird girl on the street collecting feathers. I should not worry about hypothetical judgments people have of me. 1. I do not know what they are thinking; it might be good or bad. 2 They might think nothing at all. 3. If they do have negative thoughts I shouldn’t care because they do not know me and shouldn’t judge me. Also, only when we allow ourselves to feel a little uncomfortable every now and then (by stepping out of our daily routine and not knowing exactly what to expect) we will discover interesting new things.

10 Comments

  • Reply

    Paula

    November 6, 2011 at 18:12

    great idea! and I love the mushroom pic, very cute :)

  • Reply

    Bibi

    November 6, 2011 at 22:21

    absolutely agree with your thoughts on what you learned – who cares what others think :)
    verrrry pretty pictures, the gate one is my favorite!

    Thanks for your sweet comment on my post!

    Bibi

  • Reply

    Eva

    November 7, 2011 at 09:01

    I love your photos!
    Being an explorer is great ;)

  • Reply

    Emmett Katherine

    November 7, 2011 at 12:04

    I like the idea of giving yourself a weekly challenge, it’s something I think I should start doing. I love the pix of the mushrooms in the woods :)

  • Reply

    Ida May Bueno

    November 7, 2011 at 14:19

    I love it when you said, ” I should not worry about hypothetical judgments people have of me”. We should not worry about what others think because they don’t know us. We should not let them become a hindrance to what we love to do. :-)

    xoxo
    Ida

    I finished my week 1 of creative challenge – keep an illustration journal. hope you can take a look at it and let me know what you think. :-) i would really appreciate it.

    http://asplashofida.blogspot.com/2011/11/results-week-1-of-creative-challenge.html

  • Reply

    Ruthiey

    November 7, 2011 at 15:31

    Hi Marielle! Thanks for the comment. I was glad to find your blog and I agree with Bibi! That picture of the gate took my breath away! I love your adventurous spirit. :)

  • Reply

    Sarbear

    November 7, 2011 at 18:38

    This seems like such a beneficial thing to do and quite a wonderful adventure. You’re right, most people really don’t care what us strange gals are doing, and if they do, so what? Right? I really love the idea of matching paint chips with colors in nature. That would be such a fun challenge.

    -Sara-

  • Reply

    Magical Day Dream

    November 9, 2011 at 18:56

    @ Paula: Thanks. I saw so many mushrooms! many more than I showed on my blog :)

    @ Bibi: Yes but it is always easier to say and realize than to live by. But taking little steps like this one should help me in the good direction :)

    @ Eva: it is!

    @ Emmett Katherine: Only you can start! It’s really just a matter of committing or making a decision.. :)

    @Ida: I took a look and it looks amazing! I think it is so exciting and fun to see fellow bloggers joining in on my challenges! Thanks a lot for sharing Ida!

    @Ruthiey: Haha I do not know if I’m really an adventurous spirit but I do like to push myself.. :)

    @Sara: Yes I got that idea from Keri smith’s ‘How to be an explorer of the world’. I love it too :)

    @

  • Reply

    Eleni

    November 10, 2011 at 11:11

    hi there! Glad you liked my Mad Cow face :) I really like the lessons you learned from this project. Wise words, indeed.

  • Reply

    Loulou

    November 11, 2011 at 13:30

    I love the treasures you found! Also love your beautiful photographs of them. :)

    Loulou @ Loulou Downtown

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