regarding intention, branding, advertising, and spending money

I was playing around with my camera and taking random pictures on this bright Sunday morning, and I realized I didn't include any books in my 2016 favorites. I thought about going back to update/revise the post, but honestly, I didn't have any favorite books last year. I had favorite music picks, easily (thank you, Meredith for my vinyl copy of ASATT - I love it); I had favorite movie picks too, but as far as reading goes, 2016 was a slump year for me. 

I started reading so many titles only to have my library checkout expire before I could really dig into it. Nothing really held my attention past 20ish pages, except for The Vegetarian, by Han Kang, and even that book didn't really end on a fulfilling note. I also have a handful of titles in my personal library on which I have yet to crack the spine.

Like many, I've hopped on the train of "intention" recently. I only want to bring things into my home that really deserve to be here because I really love them. I'm not buying more books unless I've read them already and love them enough to re-read again and again a few years down the line. I'm not buying music unless I can listen to the whole record, without wanting to skip a single song. The downside of vinyl is that you can't just jump to the next track, but this is also a good thing as it forces you to enjoy every song the way the artist(s) intended for them to be enjoyed. Also, no more buying clothes if the item doesn't go with a bunch of other things already in my closet. 

I'm being careful not to turn these intentions into "rules." We all already have so many rules in life, so I'm not trying to impose any more unnecessary restrictions. The main idea is to slow down and be more mindful of the way I spend my time (which is why I've started using a daily planner again) and my money and also not beat myself up for the occasional impulse purchase.

I've never been a big shopper or hoarder of things, but it seems like everywhere you turn these days, people are selling you something! I get it: advertising is a big industry, and many people in the creative space rely on ads to make a living, but it almost feels invasive sometimes, doesn't it? When you're scrolling, minding your own business, and a post that looks quite normal is really a subtle advert for a $200 face serum? She doesn't even go here.

I've partnered with a handful of small brands in the past, but I've never been paid for a post, and I'm not sure I ever will go that route with The Active Spirit. I've accepted free products but only posted about the ones I actually love, use, and would spend my own money on. There's a post coming soon to this space about a food item I'd probably be on the fence about buying. But since the brand provided it, and I loved it, I feel it's worth sharing.

I'll explain more in the actual post, but these are just some of the thoughts swirling around in my head regarding intention, branding, advertising, and spending money. When I first started going to hot yoga classes (way back in 2008), the instructors at my favorite studio would always start the class by advising everyone to set their intention for the next 60 minutes. At the time, I'd just be like not pass out from the heat or something simple like that, but the more I look back on it, the more I appreciate the idea. 

Still, intentions are just intentions; like "New Year's Resolutions," they're worthless unless they're backed by the proper (in)actions.