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Tag: Thoughts

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    It just hasn’t felt right for me to post today. On here or on any platform really. But then as my mind has been going round in circles trying to process it all and not being able to think of much else (as I’m sure has been the same for many people), I thought it better to write something at least acknowledging what has happened, rather than nothing at all. Of course I am referring to the bombing that took place in Manchester on Monday night. Even writing that sentence feels surreal and emotional and I am well aware that this type of thing happens continually across the globe but when it happens in your city, in the place you call home, I must admit it is a real shock to the system. I feel somewhat selfish saying that because like I say this type of thing happens all too often and all over the world and the very thought is truly sickening.

    Now Manchester too has faced some of the horrors that many have faced before and I hope that in our grief we can continue to stand united. It makes me feel so sad each time I think about what has happened, so I can’t even begin to imagine what those involved and the family and friends of those involved are going through and my love goes to each and every one of them. There’s been an overwhelming amount of support between and for Manchester and that has been so heartwarming. Seeing the amount of love between the people in our city has been amazing and it just shows how much good can be done when actions are done in love and with compassion for others.

    I feel I’m not going to be able to say anything that anybody else hasn’t already said before and in a much more eloquent manner than I have in this post but I just feel so overwhelmed with emotion that I just needed to say something in my little space, as un-cohesive and rambling as it may be. I know we are all feeling it right now, the people of Manchester, the North of England and anyone else who feels connected to our city. I just hope that we can continue to share this love and support amongst us all and prove that love can do so much more good than hate ever will. You’re not alone, we stand together and we do so in love.

    Sending my love to my amazing city, Manchester.

    Samio x

  • Writer’s Block of The Blogging Variety & Practicing Gratitude

    Writer’s Block of The Blogging Variety & Practicing Gratitude

    Photography by Jess Petrie. Makeup by Chloe Gray

    I’ve been feeling a little off recently. Not necessarily unhappy, just off. I haven’t quite been able to focus and any attempts at productivity have been distracted by a feeling of frustration that I’m not getting enough done/haven’t done enough and in turn have halted my productivity. See the silly, vicious cycle here.

    Call it writers block of the blogging variety, or call it my brain thinking of too many things at once to the point where it can’t think of anything at all for longer than five minutes. I’ve ultimately got myself into a bit of a rut that seems to have halted my creativity and as a result, left me feeling unsatisfied.

    How to clear your mind
    Samio Makeup By Chloe Gray and shot by Jess Petrie
     

    I woke up this morning and as I opened my eyes, my first thought was one of gratitude. It filled me with contentment for a moment but then as that moment passed, a feeling of dread crept over me. A subtle reminder of all the things that I haven’t done and likely won’t be able to do today. You see, silly, vicious cycle. I wanted to go back to that carefree moment of contentment again.

    Then it hit me. Gratitude.

    As I lay there, I realised that one thing that I was usually very good at but that I hadn’t been lately, was practicing gratitude. It feels quite funny to see it as something that needs to be practiced, but the realisation is that if you don’t actively engage in it, you can easily forget to do it at all.

    By focusing on the things that I’m grateful for, I felt a weight slowly lifting, a grey cloud above me dispersing and a ray of sunshine breaking through.

    I could almost laugh. It’s surprising how something so simple could become so detrimental when forgotten.

    I feel somewhat different. There’s a shift in my emotions and I can feel my ‘can do’ attitude slowly resurrecting.

    The moral to this little story: Practicing gratitude everyday can make a huge difference to your emotions and attitude and in turn your productivity. It’s too easy to take your situation, or how far you’ve come, for granted. Now when I step back and think about it, I’m exactly where I need to be and have a lot to be thankful for and for that I am truly greateful. That thought alone makes my emotions feel resolved and my thoughts a lot clearer. It’s funny how something so simple can make all the difference.

    Samio x

    Practicing Gratitude
    Samio
     
    natural hair blogger Samio
    Samio Renelda Olowu
    Manchester Blogger
     

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  • Don’t Hate, Appreciate

    Don’t Hate, Appreciate

    Photography by Jess Petrie. Makeup by Chloe Gray

    I’ve always been supportive of my girls, especially if you’re one of my besties, I’ll be like your ride or die cheerleader always…However there was a time when I didn’t always feel quite this way when it came to those outside of my circle.

    Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never been an actual hater, that’s never been in my nature and it certainly isn’t about the troll life! However, I must admit, in the past I couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy at times when I’d see certain females, usually those I didn’t actually know (seemingly) doing really well, when I felt like I wasn’t. I often could’t help but make comparisons, especially when in my own life I wasn’t quite where I wanted to be.

    Inner thoughts shot by Jess Petrie
    Don't hate, appreciate
     

    The difference between back then and now, isn’t that I’ve completely got all my shit together since becoming an adult (I think that’s pretty much a constant work in progress regardless of your situation), but it’s the fact that now my perspective has changed. I don’t see any other women who are doing well as competition, I see them as motivations, inspirations and just generally super cool bad asses most of the time.

    As women we have to realise how far we have come as a whole and not just as individuals. There are so many opportunities available to so many of us now that probably once could have only been dreamed of. Another woman pushing the boundaries, succeeding, doing new and amazing things is only paving the way for more of us. It’s not about who did it first, it’s about someone doing it in the first place and actually making it possible!

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    The thing is, when you see a person’s success, you also have to appreciate the journey. It’s often all too easy to speculate and imagine a person’s success is purely down to luck. And whilst I do agree, timing and ‘luck’ can certainly play a part in ones growth, it also usually still takes a whole lot of hard work along with it.

    When I see women putting their all into something that they are passionate about and in the process doing amazing things, I see it as something to be celebrated. I love seeing a person’s journey and their growth and even then we often don’t see the full extent of what goes on behind the scenes. So now when I see my fellow females (or super cool bad asses, if you like) doing awesome things, I appreciate the journey, the hard work and the dedication. It makes me feel proud to be a woman and nothing inspires me more.

    Samio x

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  • You Are What You Do, Not What You Say You’ll Do

    You Are What You Do, Not What You Say You’ll Do

    Photography by Jess Petrie. Makeup by Chloe Gray

    Making dreams a reality

    We’ve all had hopes, dreams and thoughts of becoming something in particular at certain points in our life. Many of us still do and some of us actually have become those things that we’ve always dreamed of.

    The thing that is important to remember when it comes to actually placing ourselves in these particular roles that we wish for ourselves in life, is that strong desire alone isn’t purely enough to get us there. We also need to act upon these desires in order to get us to where we want to be. I’m sure this all sounds pretty obvious but so many times I’ve seen people mix up intention with action, myself included (and on many occasions).

    In the past I’d often sit and daydream about where I wanted to be, I’d even chat to friends about it, without actually making any progress in the process. To want something isn’t enough, you actually have to become it.

    Make your dreams a reality
    Samio in black and white lingerie shot by Jess Petrie
     

    Some things are easier said than done, of course, but I’ll use myself as an example with one of the things that I decided to ‘do’. I used to say that I’d like to do modelling but by saying it, it didn’t really get me anywhere until I actually started doing it. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t just get with an agency and start getting booked on jobs right away. Initially I started shooting with photography students who were building their portfolio, then established photographers and then eventually I got with my first agency and starting making a living from it. Regardless of which step of the process I was on, I was modelling from the beginning step and even though I didn’t label myself a model until I started actually working as one, there’s no denying that it was doing it from the off set that helped me to become it.

    I’m well aware that this makes it all sound so easy, when you and I both know that it’s not. When it comes to pursuing something that we want in life, at the start it can often feel like there’s such a very long road ahead. I’m not going to deny it, there often is, but, if we never start on that road, we’ll never even begin to get there.

    I know that life can get in the way. We have bills to pay, current roles to fulfil and other people in our lives to take care of, but we also need to give a little bit of that time to ourselves; To study, to write, to practice an art, to blog, or to work on whatever it is that we want to do.

    You can talk about what you’ll do until you believe it will happen and others start to as well, and that’s fine, there’s nothing like self-assurance and moral support to help get us to where we want to be. But just remember, at the end of it all, you are what you do, not what you say you’ll do…So what are you waiting for?

    Good luck!

    Samio x

    Samio in triangle bra by Jess Petrie
    Samio in Asos Bralet
     

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