STARLIGHT

"I said, 'Oh my, what a marvelous tune'
It was the best night, never would forget how he moved.
The whole place was dressed to the nines,
And we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight...

Like we dream impossible dreams."

- Taylor Swift

D back at it again with his inspiration, this time about developing yourself and your passions. I don't care much for people with money, and I love intelligence as I feel like I can learn from them and grow... but nothing... nothing is quite like a person of passion. And their passion does not need to be one that is aligned with my own, a person speaking about something they truly love is captivating in its own right, the way they light up, the way they are filled with life as the words fall out like precious gemstones. And there I am, just staring and listening in absolute awe... People's passions feed my own curious mind, a mind that loves to see the beauty in everything. And a person who speaks of their passion brings beauty into that very subject, a perspective of devotion that is contagious.

And this is what D told me, as a topic for this article, advice for everyone, regardless of gender: "Find things you're interested in and develop skills or passions for it. Get involved with the things you want to do. And you'll gravitate to girls who share your interests. And you'll find ways to connect. Who wants to talk about mundane shit all the time u kno..."

This also explains why those who focus on themselves, and not desperately finding a boyfriend/girlfriend, are the ones who actually end up in a relationship without seeking. People are attracted to those who are self-sufficient and know themselves well, those who love life. And what displays a love for life more than skills and passion in something they are obsessed about? I have credibility in this, just his dedication alone is so admirable. We never went seeking for something, it just fell in place in the most natural way.

I never thought I would meet someone just as crazy as me: wild enough to join me, all dressed up and go dance in a crowd of tipsy old people, completely sober, as live old-school funk music played into the night. As cliché as it sounds, it was like a scene from a movie. "Maybe some women aren't meant to be tamed. Maybe they need to run free till they find someone just as wild to run with them." - Carrie Bradshaw.

Passion brings people together. And passion will keep people together, in two different contexts. 1) A relationship needs passion between two people, a desire for each other to stay forever; 2) A relationship needs external passion, a need for two people to also love things outside the relationship in order to bring something new to share inside the relationship. These two contexts explain two extreme ends of a spectrum. A relationship is unhealthy if two people lack the passion to want to stay and be with each other, reason for staying solely out of 'obligation' will inevitably lead to a falling out. A relationship is equally unhealthy if two people are completely obsessed about the relationship such that there is no room for anything or anyone else, for what is there to talk about between the two of you if everything that exists in your life is them? 'Mundane shit' is exactly what D calls it.  

Even if it's not for the purpose of wanting to connect with a soulmate, do it just to connect with people in general. How terrible is it to be asked, 'what do you do in your free time' or 'what are your hobbies and passions' and have no answer whatsoever. Are you even living if you have no answer to such a simple question? "Everybody dies but not everybody lives" (thank you Drake), start living. Find something you are passionate about and feel yourself come alive in it.

What is the epitome of passion? Ambition. Because what is more passionate than one who seeks to maximise their full potential in life? Ambition with a kind heart is attractive as hell. Hands down. Be that person, and surround yourself around those people. Because energy is contagious. And don't be a stinge, those who give freely will also receive freely. Happiness comes with spoiling those you love (something my mother has taught me). And don't ever lower yourself to accept someone who fails to spoil you. The term 'gold-digger' is now frequently manipulatively used by pre-pubescent stingy boys who want to make a woman feel guilty for wanting to be valued more than his own money. Provide for your woman. “I'm a modern woman in the sense of I take care of myself, I'm fiercely independent, and I'm really ambitious. Yet I have these old-school thoughts in my mind.” - Eva Mendes.

Never lose sight of your passion, so be it that it's something stupid like cheese, or so be it that it's something nerdy like video games, a passion is a passion. Obsession is insanity for the boring minded, but obsession is beauty for the brave and alive. Anyway, thank you Jeffrey for this amazing opportunity to collaborate with you, for showing me your insane skills and for sharing your passion for photography with me! Hopefully there will be more of this magic in the future!

Anyway, side note! Guess what? It's ma birthday (tomorrow)! Partay like it's ma birthday! 22 and still acting like a 2 year old! Hehe!

Lareina Summer Top /  ZARA White Denim Shorts / Instax Mini 90