The stuff I think about, a personal space for my unfiltered thoughts, experiences, and everything in between. From everyday moments to deep introspection, this is where I document life as it happens, raw, real, and unfiltered.
We meet people for a reason.
Some will hurt you, others will build you up.
Some will help you grow, others will drain you.
Learn how to let go of those who don’t serve your wellbeing, don’t hold on to things and people out of sheer habit, learn how to value yourself and your time.
As a rule of thumb, I only hang out with those who recognize and understand my worth, friends who truly value my time and my presence.
It’s all about self-worth, fam.
Contrast is so important man !
Not just in photography, but in life in general.
Hear me out.
The fact that some days SUCK ASS is the reason why the good days are so cherished, don’t you think ?
I mean, it’s only normal for some days to suck, life on earth was never meant to be easy, it’s just a test.
Life is also all about change. We change, the world around us changes, nature is constantly changing. We evolve forward (and backwards), and the only constants in this life are time and love !
The contrast between our best and our worst days helps us magnify the good things that happen to us.
I think that’s beautiful !
As beautiful as our fading bad memories and our ability to forget.
Can you imagine a life where you’d remember all the bad things that’ve ever happened to you ? Bruh !
No man can handle that many memories, so be thankful for your ability to forget, it’s a true blessing !
Also, here’s a memory I never want to forget, from a trip to Kenya ❤
Instagram can and has helped so many youngsters make money, real money !
Instagram gave me a platform to express myself unlike any other platform since MySpace and Skyblog.
Although I’ve always loved blogging, Instagram gave “documenting” a whole new meaning: documenting through real life pictures.
I grew up in a family that wasn’t very artistic.
I barely have any pictures from my childhood. My parents had an old camera but only used it for special occasions.
As such, I was never really exposed to photography till my teen years.
But then shit CLICKED ! It clicked instantly !
When I got my first phone, I took pictures of everything ! I loved following my friends around with a camera at hand, I loved macro photography, printing photos and drawing over them (yeah, weird) etc.
I used to post lots of pictures on Hi5 and Skyblog. Captioning was also super fun for me back then !
Facebook also brought the best out of me. I got my first proper camera, a Nikon 7200D or something in 2010 and it was a game changer !
Instagram wasn’t around back then, but you could feel something was cooking in that sense, cause Facebook just wasn’t cutting it for photographers.
Fast forward a couple of years, I opened my IG and the rest is just wild !
At some point I was posting twice to three times a day !
Instant gratification is a crazy phenom’ dawg !
I just LOVED the feeling of sharing pictures of my travels with people. I loved the likes, the comments. I simply loved the fact something I created was appreciated by people I’ve never met in my life.
A creator’s high is addictive.
Instagram has evolved a lot throughout the years. The rise of stories and DMs was also a whole different ball game.
The ephemeral side of IG stories is what made them so special.
2016/2017 was the season in which I posted the most. I was posting 5 to 6 stories plus 1 to 2 posts A DAY ! I used to spend so many hours editing, coming up with captions and taking pictures.
It was a fun time I ain’t even gon’ front !
I enjoyed the heck out of it, but it was draining, and not just physically.
It’s mentally draining to be constantly seeking instant gratification and compliments, it fucks with your mental health HEAVY.
So I took a big break from it all in 2018.
At first it was supposed to be temporary, but then I just lost the need for validation. I learned how to enjoy life on the sidelines, how to be alone.
A friend of mine once summed up my mindset perfectly. He said “vivons bien, vivons cachés“, which roughly translates to “to lived happily requires one to keep things private”, or “secluded life is the happiest” (English proverb).
Thanks Luc !
Instagram is such a powerful tool if you know how to use it to your advantage. Don’t waste it !
I wanted to dedicate this blog post to our spiritual fathers and mentors
The people who turn boys into men
People with knowledge of self and a deep understanding of the word of God
People who understand their own purpose and the meaning of life
__
My spiritual father was an Ethiopian Orthodox, follower of the oriental Orthodox Church
His name’s Dr. Temesgen and he lives (or lived) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where I spent nearly 5 years as a teenager
Doc taught me so much about life man, so much !
The concept of paying it forward and the idea of giving back to the world was inspired by this man
Doc was the perfect mentor. He took me under his wing when I was barely 14, and I couldn’t be more grateful
His teachings range from the importance of self-awareness, communication to the overall basics of health and diet
He was an exemplary individual
Down to earth, grateful, generous with his time and money, always with a smile on his face
His diet was the pinacle of excellence, his routines kept him looking young when he was way past his 70s
His diet consisted of boiled veggies, fruits and a small cup of freshly brewed coffee every morning
As an early-riser, the first thing he’d to do upon waking up was pray. After that, he’d put on his best attire and go about his business, day in, day out
A simple and yet perfect routine such as his is crucial for those looking to stay sharp and healthy
A good routine can keep you away from laziness, complacency and trouble, one of the most important lessons I’ve learned from Friday, or, The Other Island
Doc was such a lovely human being, one of the best I’ve ever met
I miss him dearly and wish I could have one last conversation with him
I forgot how time-consuming this shit could be XD
I really thought it’d be up within a few hours..
Nope !
My domain isn’t even discoverable at this time..
Argh, technology bro !
Hope y’all having a good day though.
Peace!
Teekay Rezeau-Merah 