10 on the 10th, May 2021
On the 10th of each month, Laura Tremaine, creator and host of the podcast 10 Things to Tell You, challenges us to “Share Our Stuff” with a tens list. This month is a little different as Laura is hosting #OneDayMay – a month-long social media challenge with a different daily prompt. I went first and shared ten of the prompts here, now it’s your turn – respond to any of the prompts in the comments!
1. A meal…
Let me tell you a story. I had landed in Albania only 24 hours prior, so a late evening family dinner was testing my jet-lagged social skills. (And I’m not fluent in Shqip (Albanian), but I’m working on it!) This was my first return visit since moving back to the US three years earlier and I was staying with close friends, but I hadn’t met most of their extended family.
This meal introduced me to a culinary side of Albania I didn’t often experience when living there. For starters, I was no longer living in an apartment near other ex-pats, I was now part of an Albanian family, which changed EVERYTHING. This was cultural immersion and the fun was just beginning!
After starting with delicious rosewater and wine, they literally set potted tomato plants on the table for us to pick ourselves and enjoy with fresh cheeses and other appetizers. Talk about Farm to Table! I can’t begin to say how many dishes or courses we were served because the food just kept coming! Everything was not only made from scratch, but almost all the ingredients were raised and grown right on the property. Mrizi i Zanave is one of the first and best examples of agrotourism in Albania – they’ve even added a stunning boutique hotel. I was so busy eating and having a great time that I don’t have photos of everything, but I’m happy to have these to help remember and share a wonderful evening!
So, who wants to join me for dinner next time? 
And comment below – do you take food photos? There was a clear divide in the Instagram stories poll.
2. What I’m Reading…
Dear White Peacemakers: Dismantling Racism with Grit and Grace by Osheta Moore.
Releases on May 18, 2021
3. My Mantra is…
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
~ Maya Angelou
4. Product Recommendation…
Mpix! I love their phenomenal, consistent quality, and great customer service. And no one has faster fulfillment and shipping. Love their prints and premium photo books, both hardcover and softcover.
You can save $10 off your first order when you use my link.
5. I am Proud of Myself for…
not always playing it safe.
The road less traveled,
Outside the box,
Weird,
Different.
I think risk has a lot to do with your perspective. It also has a very close relationship with reward. Risk-taker isn’t usually the first descriptor I’d choose for myself, but it really depends on how you look at things. What seems risky to you might actually feel comfortable to me and vice versa. (Also, as an Enneagram 1w2, there’s the whole “rule follower” thing.) I’m proud to come from a family that values other perspectives and is known for living life a little differently. Following the status quo – where’s the fun in that?!
I’m also incredibly proud of myself for building this business and choosing to do something different. Is it difficult sometimes? You betcha. Is it worth it? Absolutely.
“If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” ~ Maya Angelou
6. My Favorite Place to Be…
On the Water, Near the Water, Listening to the Water… I don’t live right by the water, but it’s definitely my happy place! It also means I don’t take it for granted.
Sunrise and sunset on the water are especially magical.
Just take a minute (literally) to watch this short video and BREATHE deeply today. That’s a big part of why I love the water – it provides connection with the powerful forces of nature and helps ground me.
My default is more night owl than early bird, but mornings in Australia were my time. I’d get up before the rest of the house, make a cup of tea, and watch the sunrise over the bay. Just me, my cameras, and the day beginning. Port Lincoln is the seafood capital of Australia and I’d see the fishing fleet leave the harbor (the shark diving boat too). We were absolutely spoiled rotten by the INCREDIBLE beaches of South Australia – we almost always had them all to ourselves, too. Take me back!
Visiting Theth, Albania is almost like going back in time. Though it’s not quite as secret as it once was, it’s definitely off the beaten path. The Theth River is ice cold and crystal clear. Can’t wait to return!
7. Best Social Media (IG) Follows…
Amanda lives in Los Angeles, CA, Anna lives in Paris, France. They’re sisters, entrepreneurs, towers of positivity – seriously fun and inspiring to follow! They co-authored the book Live Your Life, My Story of Loving and Losing Nick Cordero, following the death of Amanda’s husband in July 2020. The book releases June 15, 2021.
Author, Peacemaker, Pastor, Podcaster. I listed her new book as my currently reading in number two!
It’s a book, a film on Netflix, a movement, and a non-profit: Why it all comes down to soil and why you should care. I’m a firm believer we should all know where our food comes from, plus so many people have started gardening in the last year! This matters whether you want to have a green thumb or not.
A source of artistic poetry, inspiration, affirmation, encouragement, and through powerful words and beautiful imagery. I look for her work in my IG feed & stories regularly and also love her books.
Excellent & affordable online photography courses, originated by fellow Oklahoman Ashley Campbell – Phone Photography, DSLR Basics, and SnapShop Photography for Kids.
8. Something I Believe…
“Do your best while also remembering your worth is not attached to what you accomplish.”
9. What I’m Learning…
More languages! Currently working on my German & Albanian. Immersion is absolutely the best way to learn, but apps can definitely help. I use Duolingo for German (which I also studied in high school and college), but there are very limited resources for English speakers to learn Albanian. I think I just need to travel again, right?!
10. Who are my people?
Internet friends are REAL friends!! Countless hours have been spent on Zoom with these amazing women and we have truly formed a community. Not only do we geek out over all the technical aspects of photo organizing and building a business, helping one another brainstorm and troubleshoot, but each week we share our high/low/learn, making sure everyone has an opportunity to be heard. These women aren’t just work friends, they are REAL friends. We mainly focus on business, but we recently added book club – we’re slowly going through Laura’s book, Share Your Stuff: I’ll Go First, discussing one chapter a month. We have too many words to go any faster.
To be honest, I’ve sometimes been envious of others who’ve shared about their internet friends and mastermind groups, but the wait was worth it – I found my people!! We’re spread all across the country and even in Switzerland and I can’t wait for the day when we can all meet in person!
So there’s 10 things from the month of May! Like Laura, I’m a firm believer in community, vulnerability, authenticity, and sharing your stuff. When you trust me with your most precious memories, photos, videos, and stories, I think it’s only fair that I share some of myself in turn. I’d love to hear your replies to any of the prompts I shared, or check out the #OneDayMay hashtag on Instagram to find more responses to the full challenge!
p.s. Are you following me on Instagram? I’d love to connect.
Hi, I'm Lisa
Photos have always brought me joy and are one of my favorite mediums for storytelling. But let’s be honest, the sheer volume of digital photos we all have can be overwhelming! It’s my goal through Scissortail Digital to help you tell your stories and improve the ways you work with your photos.
Let's connect
Scissortail Digital
