FAUX: The Aspire Issue

Faux | The ASPIRE Issue

Contents Issue One / Twenty Sixteen

Minimalism

How Minimalism Has Impacted my Life

How to Create More White Space in Your Life

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Upcycling

How to Live a More Eco Friendly Lifestyle

Wanderlust

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Becoming Jasmine

Romance was Born

7 Steps - How to FulďŹ l your Dream

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From Country to Coast

Be Your Best Self Yet

Calendar

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CONTRIBUTORS Meet the Team

Sumer Budd

Jemma Porter

VER ON S

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ST ALL AR

Jess Lashlie

Louise Andersson

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Amy Lewis

MINIMALISM Article | Joshua Becker

I am often asked the question, “So what is minimalism anyway?” It is a question that is received from all different angles – from people I have just met and from people I have known for many years. I typically answer with a short, simple explanation: “I am intentionally trying to live with only the things I really need.” But I always desire to answer more indepth. I always hope they will ask follow-up questions that allow me to explain the lifestyle further.

And when they do, I like to add: Minimalism is Intentionality It is marked by clarity, purpose, and intentionality.

At its core, minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it. It is a life that forces intentionality. And as a result, it forces improvements in almost all aspects of your life.

Minimalism is Freedom from the Passion to Possess Modern culture has bought into the lie that the good life is found in accumulating things—in possessing as much as possible. They believe that more is better and have inadvertently subscribed to the idea that happiness can be purchased at a department store.

But they are wrong. Minimalism brings freedom from the all-consuming passion to possess. It steps

off the treadmill of consumerism and dares to seek happiness elsewhere. It values relationships, experiences, and soul-care. And in doing so, it finds life.

Minimalism is Freedom from Modern Mania Our world lives at a feverish pace. We are too hurried, too rushed, and too stressed. We work long, passionate hours to pay the bills, but fall deeper into debt. We rush from one activity to another—even multitasking along the way—but never seem to get everything done. We remain in constant connection with others through our cell phones, but true lifechanging relationships continue to elude us.

Minimalism slows down life and frees us from this modern hysteria to live faster. It finds freedom to disengage. It seeks to keep only the essentials.

It seeks to remove the frivolous and keep the significant. And in doing so, it values the intentional endeavours that add value to life.

Minimalism is Freedom from Duplicity Although nobody intentionally chooses it, most people live in duplicity. They live one life around their family, one life around their co-workers, and another life around their neighbours. The lifestyle they have chosen requires them to portray a certain external image dependent upon their circumstances. They are tossed and turned by the most recent advertising

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Minimalism is Counter-Cultural We live in a world that idolises celebrities. They are photographed for magazines, interviewed on the radio, and recorded for television. Their lives are held up as the golden standard and are envied by many.

People who live minimalist lives are not championed by the media in the same way. They don‘t fit into the consumerist culture that is promoted by corporations and politicians. Yet, they live a life that is attractive and inviting.

While most people are chasing after success, glamour, and fame, minimalism calls out to us with a smaller, quieter, calmer voice. It invites us to slow down, consume less, but enjoy more. And when we meet someone living a simplified life, we often recognize that we have been chasing after the wrong things all along.

Minimalism is not External, but Internal In our first book - ‘Simplify’ - we outline 7 guiding principles to help anyone declutter their home

and life. The principles outlined in the book have helped thousands find freedom by removing much of the physical clutter in their home. The book concentrates almost exclusively on the externals of life. And while it helps people find freedom from external clutter, it does not take the next step of helping people find freedom and unity in their heart and soul. I have learned minimalism is always a matter of the heart. After the external clutter has been removed, minimalism has the space to address the deepest heart issues that impact our relationships and life.

Minimalism is Completely Achievable A minimalist life is completely achievable. My family stands as living proof. We were just your typical family of four living in the suburbs accumulating as much stuff as our income and credit cards would allow. Then, we found minimalism. We have embraced an intentional lifestyle of living with less and will never go back to the way life was before.

And we stand as living proof that minimalism is completely achievable (and unique) to anyone who seeks it.

Typically, I find that those who are generally interested in knowing “What minimalism is anyway” and take the time to ask the follow-up questions are drawn to the principles of the lifestyle. After all, it offers almost everything our heart has been asking for all along.

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campaign or the demands of their employer.

On the other hand, a simple life is united and consistent. It has learned a lifestyle that is completely transferable no matter the situation. It is the same life on Friday evening as it is on Sunday morning… as it is on Monday morning. It is reliable, dependable and unfluctuating. It works in all circumstances.

How Minimalism has impacte

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ed my life Article | Jenny Mustard

01/ Mobility We feel so much lighter and freer – like we can just pack a bag and be on our way whenever we feel like it, hassle free. We’re not terribly weighed down by our possessions.

02/ Beauty Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder, so you might not agree with this one bit – but I am just so in love with the minimal aesthetic. It calms me down and makes my life look more serene and effortlessly luxurious. I love it when my life is all crisp and clean!

03/ Freedom from ‘Should’ The word “should” and I have a complicated relationship. I often feel like I need to be everything at once – being good at all those things society wants you to be good at. Embracing a more minimalist perspective means that I can focus on the things in life that are truly important to me without feeling guilty over all those things I am not giving my attention to. It’s OK to prioritise. It’s OK to say “No” to things; to stop caring about those things that have little meaning to you. I enjoy downsizing my priorities and thus, getting to spend my time on the things that are truly important to me.

04/ Health There are no surprises here. Cutting the crap from your diet will of course make you feel great. Simple ingredients cooked in a simple, yet delicious way, that is my kind of eating. So much so in fact, I have actually made a whole video about why I love eating like a minimalist. #hipsteralert.

05/ Consumption Free Happiness Giving this online career of ours all we’ve got, has meant that we’ve had almost no money to spend for literally years so we exited the consumerist society almost involuntarily – but its wonderful out here on the fringes of Western society. It’s us, the hippies and the religious baskets. We don’t shop and yet we are happier than most people. We have gotten this proven to us the hard way, buying too much shit does not make you happy. There are other things that will. It’s of course nice to treat yourself to precious things; things that will make your life more beautiful, more easy or comfortable. But buying for the sake of buying? No thank you, I’m good.

06/ Planet Loving Environmentalism is such a huge part of being a minimalist, at least in mine and David’s version of the concept. Buying less means throwing away less.

Buying better quality stuff means that it will last longer. Recycling, upcycling, donating – you get the idea. And of course most importantly, eating low on the food chain. Food that is affecting the planet’s health as little as possible, using as few resources as possible to grow. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about making an effort to do our bit, to try to live a more sustainable life.

07/ Efficient Another obvious one I guess, there’s no way that we can get all of this content produced every week if we weren’t on top of our efficiency game. Being organised, structured, disciplined and focused is so much easier when you have a purpose. When you’re motivated by a dream or by the pure pleasure of doing what you love. So, going after what I want, that’s one of the most life-changing things minimalism has taught me; to live life whole-heartedly.

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Now I am sure not all minimalists will agree with me on this one – not all minimalists are the same; and that’s the beauty of it…

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how to create more white space in your life Article | Rachel Green

With an overwhelming amount of choices each day, we have to learn to choose wisely and say no to things that don’t add joy to our lives. We have to choose to schedule our days based on what is most important to us and stop there. I often feel like I can always fit in one more thing, and find myself thinking “What can I do next” whenever I am left with a spare moment.

But friends, we don’t have to live like this. We can make time for rest, joy, and white space. We can live with intentional organization and schedule our lives so that we make time for ourselves and make time to do nothing. Being busy does not mean you are being productive and we have to break down that wall so we can live more freely and choose to do what matters most.

Make Time for Rest We will never be able to find more time for white space in our lives if we don’t make time for it. If you always fill your life with things to do and a busy schedule, there won’t be any time left for resting and enjoying life. You have to make it a priority in your life so that you are more likely to make time for white space. If it is always at the bottom of your list, you

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In an effort to help us all simplify our lives and make room for white space, I put together a list of things that have helped me move more in that direction. It is a process that won’t happen overnight, but something worth striving for. I hope these tips can help you make more breathing room in your schedule too.

will probably never get to it and you will quickly find yourself feeling exhausted and overworked.

Be More Productive and Less Busy I am sure you have heard this saying before, but being busy doesn’t mean that you are being productive.

Here is the perfect example for you: when I used to say yes to everything, my plate was quickly full of random projects, activities, and responsibilities. Some that I enjoyed and others that I dreaded. Needless to say, I was always busy. But that “busy” was not always things that were important to me or best for my life.

I felt like I was doing a lot but not getting a lot done.

That’s exactly what happens to a lot of us and how we end up just being busy with tasks that are getting us nowhere instead of being productive by doing fewer things with more intention.

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Learn to Say No This is a big lesson I have learned lately, and one that has honestly changed my life. I have mentioned before how much I love Lysa Terkuerst’s book, The Best Yes, and the amazing life lesson that comes from reading it, but learning to say no to things that aren’t your best yes will help clarify your life. I used to be one that would say yes to everyone and everything because I simply did not want to disappoint anyone.

But learning to say no to some things has opened up so much space in my life for things that are better for me in the long run.

Schedule Time for Something You Enjoy Do something that you enjoy regularly by putting it in your schedule. If you schedule time specifically for that activity, you will feel less guilty about actually doing it. This goes back to making room for white space. By intentionally planning to have breathing room in your schedule, it will become a natural part of your life and eventually be something that you automatically do.

Give Yourself Grace Don’t feel guilty about resting. By giving yourself grace for those days when you just want to do something for yourself, spend time with friends or family, or even just watch a TV show, you will enjoy your time more. You will feel less guilty during your down time and be able to benefit more from it.

Grace is a big word in my life because I believe it is necessary to live a life of joy. You can’t always be perfect or play Superwoman, so giving yourself grace for moments of rest will go a long way to bringing you more joy and happiness. It takes the stress off of the ideal perfection that we all strive for and allows us to be human.

Simplify Your Life Less really is more sometimes, especially when it comes to your life. By simplifying your life, you end up with less to do, less to manage and take care of, and more time for things that bring you joy. More white space literally and figuratively. I am all about simplified living because I know that it helps us focus on what is really important. Over the last several years, I have worked hard to keep my life simple and it truly makes a difference in my overall mood and happiness. Clutter in your space and in your life can bring on so much unnecessary stress that takes away from what matters most.

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Live Intentionally Be intentional about how you plan your day and how you live your life. You have the power to choose what you do with your time. We all have responsibilities that just can’t be avoided. But we all have the ability to live with intention so that we spend less time doing meaningless tasks and have more time for the things that matter. It’s all about how we choose to live and what we make important in our lives. Intentional living is the best way to cut out all the extra stuff that we don’t really need in our lives anyway.

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Artist | Jemma Porter

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autumn

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Article | Beth Stewart

In a world still churning out trendy throw-away fashion pieces at breakneck speed, the idea of upcycled or refashioned apparel can be an anomaly. But it is a continuously growing trend and is one of the most sustainable things people can do in fashion. As upcycling makes use of already existing pieces, it often uses few resources in its creation and actually keeps ‘unwanted’ items out of the waste stream.

Yes, your clothes have an afterlife There are more textiles produced in the world today than can be used — many of the large clothing chains can produce as many as a half a billion garments a year. And what happens to those clothes after they have fulfilled their ‘useful’ lives? About 14.3 million tons of textiles were sent to the landfill in 2012, or around 5.7 percent of total municipal solid waste generation in the U.S., according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

If not discarded as trash, unwanted apparel is often donated to thrift stores. Though a good step toward avoiding the landfill, this is not as beneficial as people think – only about 20 to 30 percent of donated clothing is actually resold. And the drastic increase in the volume of secondhand clothing has driven down its value in the past 15 years — meaning that charity shop stores are now filled with cheap fashion and junky basics instead of vintage gems.

While many people may have the idea that they are helping clothe the poor in these countries, access to the Internet and cell phones has made many of these countries more fashionforward recently, and they may have no interest in our American cast-offs. Since this model relies on a waste economy — where instead of mending clothes or leasing clothes, items are bought and discarded — what happens when exportation is no longer an option?

What is upcycling?

Upcycling is a way of processing an item to make it better than the original. In the example of clothing, this is often taking something that doesn’t fit or is stained/torn and refashioning a wearable product from it.

Upcycling can be done using either preconsumer or post-consumer waste or a combination of the two. Pre-consumer waste is produced while items are being manufactured (such as the pieces of fabric leftover after cutting out a pattern) and post-consumer waste results from the finished product reaching the end of its useful life for the consumer (such as a T-shirt that doesn’t fit anymore).

“Manufacturers and designers in the mainstream fashion industry discard on average 15 percent of materials en route to production.” – EcoFashionTalk.com One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure.

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Before

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Who is doing it?

The world of upcycling has exploded in the past few years, and there is a plethora of inspirational design in this facet of eco-fashion. An excellent summary of many designers throughout the world can be found in the newly released book “ReFashioned” by Sass Brown.

To see some great examples on the runway, Redress Raleigh’s annual Spring eco-fashion show often features innovative designers using upcycling in their collections. Mother/daughter team Zass Design creates gorgeous jewelry from overlooked materials. And Little Grey Line takes old men’s work shirts and remakes them into adorable dresses for little girls. This coming spring’s show will also feature a North Carolina State University student duo using denim remnants, a Durham-based designer creating chic handbags made from plastic bags, and another NCSU student showcasing how simple white T-shirts can become an elegant wedding dress.

In addition, a few companies are recognizing the combination of nostalgia and sentimentality many of us have about our clothing and seizing the opportunity to create memorable objects from apparel. Project Repat, based out of Boston, Mass., is one such example that creates quilts out of old T-shirts — a great way to commemorate all your favorite concert gear without having a closet exploding with shirts that don’t fit anymore.

As consumers start realizing the devastating effects of fast fashion, they will begin looking for innovative ways to change their wardrobe.

Upcycled apparel can be a part of this revolution — helping people make meaningful choices with their clothing while appreciating the history of the industry.

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Benefits of upcycling Upcycling stops adding stuff to a world that is already overwhelmed with material things. It also reuses materials that may otherwise end up in the landfill in creative and innovative ways – producing original often one-of-a-kind items from what many consider to be waste. It is a way for companies and designers to be more efficient with leftover materials such as upholstery scraps or vintage textiles and to give new life to wornout jeans and tattered T-shirts.

“As we move into the ’90s revival, grunge will be back, and upcycling will fit that look perfectly.

I predict modern upcycling will actually look “upcycled,” but with a much edgier feel.” – Orsola de Castro, Co-founder of Estethica, From Somewhere, and Reclaim to Wear; via Ecouterre’s 37 Eco-fashion Predictions for 2014 Whether as everyday apparel or runway exhibition pieces, upcycling can challenge cultural codes — questioning what we consider to be trash versus fashion or beautiful versus ugly. For some it can also be a connection to our heritage — incorporating vintage clothing or using a family heirloom to create an original piece preserving a bit of history.

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Article | Jessica Slaughter

Eco Living Recycling ok Vegetarian Cookbo

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Trying to live eco-friendly is a huge part of my life. I strive to reduce my impact on the environment every day, and I’m loving how the idea of “being green” is becoming a common and agreed upon lifestyle. Unfortunately, it’s also very common for people to do things that harm the environment, without even realizing it.

It’s not necessarily their fault, because these harmful actions have been embedded into our lifestyles to the point that we don’t think twice about them. Most people don’t know what happens to their garbage once it’s taken away, or how detrimental plastic can be to our environment when it’s used at the capacity it is today. But hear me out—there are tons of simple ways to incorporate eco-friendliness into your life, without having to purchase a bunch of green products (although that’s awesome too) or completely change the way you live. If anything, some of these will make your life more simple and enjoyable!

Turn off your computer at night

I’m a huge culprit of leaving my laptop in sleep mode overnight, and I hardly ever turn it off completely. If it’s on, it’s using energy. And if you don’t like dealing with the time it takes to turn back on, a lot of computers have an option to set a time for it to automatically boot back up!

Buy a reusable water bottle

I purchased a Swell bottle last year, and it comes everywhere with me. Fortunately, there are a ton of water fountains throughout my campus, so it’s easy to fill up throughout the day. Before your buy one, make sure it’s durable and easy to clean so it doesn’t become a hassle!

Buy local

This is one thing I think bloggers have down! Spend some time looking around your city for small businesses and farmer’s markets, and consider buying from them before going to a bigname store. The owners will surely appreciate it!

Invest in a personal coffee cup

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Did you know you can bring in your own cup to Starbucks and have them fill it instead of using their paper/plastic cup? They even give you 10 cents off (not much, but it’s something) for doing so! If you’re like me and can’t get enough of their delicious drinks, this change is perfect for you. Starbucks sells their own traveler mugs, but anything similar works!

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Go vegetarian every once in a while

Commercial animals, especially cows, take up a LOT of space, water, and food.

According to 50 Ways To Help, “It requires 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. You will also also save some trees. For each hamburger that originated from animals raised on rainforest land, approximately 55 square feet of forest have been destroyed.” There are a TON of delicious vegetarian meals out there, and trying this just once a week could give you more meal creativity!

Donate

Before you throw out old clothing, furniture, books, etc., consider donating it to a local donation center. You never know what someone else might consider as a treasure, and a donation center will be sure to get your “trash” to someone in need!

Bye bye plastic bags

Seriously, ditch the plastic bags. Have you seen all those pictures of animals killed because they became trapped in a plastic bag?? Yes, recycling is great, but I’m sure you’ve heard the lyrics—plastic bags do enjoy drifting through the wind, and are bound to wind up somewhere they shouldn’t, no matter where you throw them out.

Buy a few reusable bags (they’re usually a dollar) and leave them in your car. I even have a foldable bag (you can even get these super cute fruit shaped ones) that I keep in my purse for everyday use!

Support green businesses

A lot of companies are making efforts to be more eco-friendly themselves, whether that’s through their packaging techniques or product materials. If you have the choice, buy eco-friendly!

Avoid using energy when you can

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Do you really need that automated can opener? There are a lot of energy-consuming conveniences out there, and yes, some of them are worth using. But if you’re only saving a few seconds by using the electronic version, ditch it.

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wanderlust

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The Wanderlust Gene: Why Some People Are Born To Travel Scientific Article | Dan Scotti There are some people who never feel the urge to leave the house. They’re content to stay in the city they came from, the couch they sit on, and the 360 degrees that immediately surround them.

Then there’s the rest of us: the people who can’t sit still, perhaps meditate to Anthony Bourdain, and always keep their passports on them – just in case.

Whether you call it wanderlust, a love of travel or

regular old curiosity – the fact remains the same: your hunger to explore simply cannot be quenched, no matter how many vacations or journeys you take.

For you, there’s always something new to see, something different than you’re used to. You enjoy day trips, but you also realize there’s only so much you can see in 24 hours. You’re into one-way flights and trips without a destination.

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You’ve been this way for as long as you can remember – which probably dates back to your first few trips growing up, boarding that plane to Disney World every few winters, as a child.

According to recent scientific claims, it may have been embedded in your DNA, even before that.

As told on one psychology blog, the inherent urge to travel can be traced back to one gene, which is a genetic derivative of the gene DRD4, which is associated with the dopamine levels in the brain.

The gene itself, which is identified as DRD4-7R, has been dubbed the “wanderlust gene,” because of its correlation with increased levels of curiosity and restlessness, for the most part.

In reality, however, those who carry this genetic information typically share one common theme, a history of traveling.

The gene is not all too common; in fact, it’s only possessed by about 20 percent of the population.

Having said that, there is a much higher prevalence of this gene in regions of the globe where travel has been encouraged in its past.

Assuming that all forms of human life originated in Africa, Chaunsheng Chen,who conducted a study in 1999, supported the premise that “The DRD4-7r form of the gene is more likely to occur in modern day societies where people migrated longer

differences from where we first originated in Africa many thousands of years ago.”

In short, here, Chen implies that civilizations that have diverged further from Africa, the theoretical origin of mankind, are allegedly more susceptible to being carriers of this mutant DRD4-7r gene that is linked to “curiosity and restless.”

A separate study done by David Dobbs of National Geographic supported these findings – and provided reason not to just draw the link to curiosity and restlessness, but specifically a passion for travel.

According to Dobbs, the mutant form of the DRD4 gene, 7r, results in people who are “More likely to take risks; explore new places, ideas, foods, relationships, drugs, or sexual opportunities,” he went on to say that bearers of this gene, “Generally embrace movement, change, and adventure.”

In line with Chan, Dobbs also linked the 7r mutation of the DRD4 gene to human migration.

When compared to sedentary populations, or those who have stayed in the same region for most of their existence, members of present day migratory populations – those with a history of relocating, over time – tend to carry the 7r gene much more commonly.

Dobbs goes on to highlight a more statistically sound study, conducted a little over a decade later, which supports the notion that 7r, in conjunction with a second genetic variant (2r), “tends to be found more frequently than you would expect by chance in populations whose ancestors migrated longer distances after they moved out of Africa.” With that said, there still is reason to doubt this “travel gene,” at least in the mind of Kenneth Kidd of Yale University.

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Destinations require plans, and you’re not into the whole planning thing. Plans insinuate an underlying purpose, and from your experience, traveling without one always leads to more excitement.

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According to Kidd, it’s a little bit more complicated than others might be alluding to. “Genetics doesn’t work that way,” Kidd suggests, “You just can’t reduce something as complex as human exploration to a single gene.”

In response, Dobbs consulted with evolutionary geneticist Jim Noonan to gain a better understanding of the matter.

In the most simplistic form, Dobbs quotes Noonan stating how the human ability to explore rests within the function of two systems: limbs and brains.

Noonan explains how each species has a different, unique set of variances within these two systems, which allows them to be predisposed to different behaviors.

Dobbs notes that these differences arise from a divergence in feedback cues, relayed by the developmental genes.

Following this logic, those who carry the 7r gene will also likely follow a slightly variant schedule, with regard to developmental genetics, in comparison to those who carry the regular DRD4 gene.

These differences could also, theoretically, result in a slightly different – or more curiously-suited – limb and brain composition, which could be the reason these people feel a greater urge to travel.

With regard to humans, there are a few differences within our limbs and brains that can be distinguished from our most common ancestors, the apes – “Such as legs and hips that let us walk long distances; clever, clever hands; and an even cleverer brain that grows far more slowly but much larger than other ape brains,” explains Dobbs.

At the same time, it’s definitely important to consider this study done by Garret LoPorto of Huffington Post.

While this mutant gene DRD4-7r might carry a ton of positive, exploratory, character traits with it – it also might be linked with general Neanderthalic behavior.

According to LoPorto, while carriers of this genetic variant might be “incredibly resourceful, pioneering, creative,” and more predisposed for wanderlust, they also might be “utterly out of control.”

While these differences allow us, as a species, to be better suited to travel long distances and explore creatively – our genetic makeup is still almost identical to that of apes, despite the visual differences in our anatomy.

So, while you might have the urge to quit work and travel for the next few months – stop and make sure you’re thinking rationally. Although, like I said, traveling is always more fun without a plan.

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ADVENTURER

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BECOMING JASMINE Article | Jasmine Dowling Jasmine Dowling is an Australian creative based in Brisbane specializing in brush typography and content creation. Some of her most successful clients include Sportsgirl, Clinique, David Jones, Hallmark and Witchery.

Jasmine recalls how she started out.

So for some super old background information I thought back to my first “lettering” memories which was in primary. Not only was I the queen of bubble writing in my grade, I was the first to get my pen license & would often switch up my hand writing depending on my mood (I wasn’t talented at sports so this helped get me through) Then I went onto attend an all girls’ high school and took mostly art/graphics/business classes. I remember spending numerous art classes putting ink onto all of the paper hand towels and saving them in my diary (don’t ask why) and spending lunch times and after school hours in the graphics room.

Out of school I went and studied a Bachelor of Multimedia Design at UQ where I was one of maybe 5 girls in the whole degree and it was a whole lot of coding and one semester of graphic design. I stuck it out for 2 years until finding out the subjects were changed for my final year and realised I would finish in a year without any of the skills I wanted. So with 1-2 weeks before going into my final year my MD bestie Bianca & I decided to try get into another course - in another university (not ideal since 1st & 2nd round offers had already gone out) Luckily for us, we both got in and started our Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) degree at the College of Art with just days to spare.

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This was sort of when everything changed. I was back to taking first year classes (fuck) and I was in a life drawing class which I really enjoyed but I really really sucked at it. I realised at that point that I had put myself in a computer rut. I was so used to going straight onto the computer with my design work that I had lost all sketching skills.

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It was at that point that I realised that I had to change my habits and get used to sketching and illustrating.

So that is when I ended up starting some personal lettering projects. To be honest I felt it would be easier to start lettering then start on illustrating humans or anything else I had no idea about. This brings me to my first major point, just start So that was it. While still doing uni and my part time job I started hand lettering in a calligraphy sort of style with a ball point pen (not ideal) and I was really terrible. But I stuck to it and practiced most days for the next 2 months or so. Then in an assignment at uni I really wanted to get a really good brush typeface for some editorial spreads but I spent weeks online trying to find something. There is so much more available online now but at the time there was nothing so I thought fuck it - I can do this. So I went and picked up some ink, found some random brushes I had around the house and started illustrating.

For me it was instant love with the ink and brush, I think it was how quick it was to get something (whether it was terrible or not) and how expressive the flaws were in the end result. But from that moment, I never looked back and just kept creating.

Just starting can be so simple or so terrifying depending which side you are on at the moment. I think one of the things that really hold people back from starting is thinking versus doing. I know I am not alone in this so I am just going to set the scene...

You're in bed at night and your on Instagram (mum don't read this) and you're flicking through all these awesome feeds of these totally awesome people doing awesome things and you think shit... I need to be awesome, why can't I be as awesome as that? I know.. I have this great brand concept and tomorrow I will email this person and reach out to collab with this person and then awesome things will happen to me too. Then you fall asleep all cosy in your bed because you feel accomplished, in your mind you have started.

But the next night you feel that same way because you haven't actually done anything! So now when I have that feeling I always start by writing it down and taking action right there and then. When you let things sit too long they never happen. So just start.

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winter

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spring

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ROMANCE WAS BORN Interview | Amy Lewis /01. Please tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Luke Sales and I’m 35 years old. I live in Potts Point Sydney and work in Darlinghurst. I’m a fashion designer at the company ‘Romance was Born’. I own one half of the business with my business partner Anna Plunkett.

/04. Where do you seek inspiration?

Everywhere, its endless … music walking down the street - especially when we travel - eating in a restaurant, watching TV, anything can trigger our creative process … we are kind of known for seeking inspiration from unusual places.

/02. Please tell us about your career After high school I studied Fashion Design at East Sydney TAFE and fashion design studio for 3 years; that is where I met my business partner Anna. After we graduated we entered a European competition called ‘#its 4’, we were the first Australians to be selected and were offered jobs with John Galliano in Paris; we returned to Sydney however to concentrate on ‘Romance was Born’, that was 10 years ago this year.

/05. Have there been any challenging moments running your own business?

Yes, everyday is a challenge because now we have staff to look after as well as each other and the daily things we need to do for the business, its lots of juggling to keep the business running.

/03. Please tell us about ‘Romance was Born’ I started to collaborate with my business partner during fashion school on assessments, we just unconsciously carried on from there … it wasn’t until a few years ago we really decided we would continue doing what we were doing.

/06. Any advice for individuals wanting to break into the creative/fashion industry?

Well to be honest if I knew now what I know about the fashion industry I wouldn’t have chosen to do what I do - its quite mad - but that’s another story. But its all I know now so I’m kind of use to it, I’d work for another label or I’d properly be on the other side of fashion as a photographer or something.

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/08. What life skills do you consider to be important and why?

Motivation, because without it there will be no life, no career, I think this has been something I’m really lucky to have this as a character trait already but I work on myself and my motivation and thought process about life and work a lot.

/09. What does a typical day at work look like?

Well at the moment we are preparing to go to Paris again for sales in 4 weeks so its pretty hectic. I work 7 days a week, I wake up check my ical [I calendar] on my phone and see what’s on that day, check emails and quickly answer anything urgent … we work with people overseas a lot so during the night I receive emails that need answering. Get ready for work, get a cab to the office (drop my washing at the Laundromat on the way a lot) arrive at my office and deal with any questions my production manager will have, drink a coffee eat something and quickly answer emails.

Turn the computer off and try to design or organize samples to be cut and made or patterns that might need working on with my pattern maker. Then after lunch spend the afternoon answering emails and when everyone leaves the office we usually design then. Leave to go across the road to mediation, buy some dinner return to the office and work till 8 or 9.

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/07. How do you balance your social and work life?

It’s very hard because a lot of my after work time is consumed by work commitments or boring dinners and stuff, I go to meditation 3 times a week because its an excuse to not have to do anything and I find it really important to be able to switch off from my job, even if I’m not at work I’m thinking about something even if its creative thinking its still work. So having an escape is important. I also try and leave the city at least once a month for the weekend and I travel to Europe twice a year, which has also been a great escape (even though its for work lol)

/10. What has been your favourite project?

We have been so lucky to have worked on heaps of outside projects and collaborations, too many to recall but recently we styled a shoot for Harpers Bazzar which will come out in the October issue and we shoot it at Taronga Park Zoo, we were allowed to go inside the giraffe enclosure and it was really amazing, I will never forget it. /11. Who are your mentors?

We don’t really have an official mentor but we are pretty good friends with the Zimmerman sisters they help us a bit with questions and advice.

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/12. What ideas did you have about working in the creative/fashion industry when you first started out, and have these changed now that you’ve been in the industry for a while?

Hmmmmm well I had a few ideas/ dreams I thought would come to reality and as time went by I started to think they wouldn’t but the last few years they have and so I suppose that’s just life but I think we have just stuck to our plan and its starting to work out.

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Artist | Amy Lewis

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7 Steps- How to Fulfil your

Article | Chris Widener Step 1: Dream it. Everything begins in the heart and mind.

Every great achievement began in the mind of one person. They dared to dream, to believe that it was possible. Take some time to allow yourself to ask “What if?” Think big. Don’t let negative thinking discourage you. You want to be a “dreamer.” Dream of the possibilities for yourself, your family and for others. If you had a dream that you let grow cold, reignite the dream! Fan the flames. Life is too short to let it go.

Step 3: See it. The great achievers have a habit. They “see” things. They picture themselves walking around their CEO office in their new $25 million corporate headquarters, even while they are sitting on a folding chair in their garage “headquarters.” Great free-throw shooters in the NBA picture the ball going through the basket. PGA golfers picture the ball going straight down the fairway. World-class speakers picture themselves speaking with energy and emotion. All of this grooms the mind to control the body to carry out the dream.

Step 2: Believe it. Yes, your dream needs to be big. It needs to be something that is seemingly beyond your capabilities. But it also must be believable. You must be able to say that if certain things take place, if others help, if you work hard enough, though it is a big dream, it can still be done. Good example: A person with no college education can dream that he will build a $50 million-ayear company. That is big, but believable. Bad example: That a 90-year-old woman with arthritis will someday run a marathon in under three hours. It is big all right, but also impossible. She should instead focus on building a $50 million-a-year business!

Step 4: Tell it. One reason many dreams never go anywhere is because the dreamer keeps it all to himself. It is a quiet dream that only lives inside of his mind.

The one who wants to achieve their dream must tell that dream to many people. One reason: As we continually say it, we begin to believe it more and more. If we are talking about it then it must be possible. Another reason: It holds us accountable.

When we have told others, it spurs us on to actually doing it so we don’t look foolish.

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Step 6: Work it. Boy, wouldn’t life be grand if we could quit before this one! Unfortunately the successful are usually the hardest workers. While the rest of the world is sitting on their sofas watching reruns of Gilligan’s Island, achievers are working on their goal-achieving their dream. I have an equation that I work with: Your shortterm tasks, multiplied by time, equal your long-term accomplishments. If you work on it each day, eventually you will achieve your dream. War and Peace was written, in longhand, page by page.

Step 7: Enjoy it. When you have reached your goal and you are living your dream, be sure to enjoy it. In fact, enjoy the trip, too. Give yourself some rewards along the way.

Give yourself a huge reward when you get there. Help others enjoy it. Be gracious and generous. Use your dream to better others. Then go back to No. 1. And dream a little bigger this time!

“What you want to do, and what you can do, is limited only by what you can dream.”

- Mike Melvill

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Step 5: Plan it. Every dream must take the form of a plan. The old saying that you “get what you plan for” is so true.

Your dream won’t just happen. You need to sit down, on a regular basis, and plan out your strategy for achieving the dream. Think through all of the details.

Break the whole plan down into small, workable parts.

Then set a time frame for accomplishing each task on your “dream plan.”

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from country to coast WELCOME TO NEWCASTLE

Moving away from home for the first time is scary, especially if you’re moving to a place you don’t know that much about! This is for the first year students moving out of their comfort zones to study in the amazing city of Newcastle!

Newcastle is a modern, vibrant city located in the heart of the Hunter Region and bordered by a stunning coastline with beautiful beaches. With its sheltered harbour and profusion of natural resources, Newcastle has long been a preferred place for settlement. Only a two hour drive north of Sydney, Newcastle offers a relaxed and welcoming lifestyle with all the benefits and comforts of a large city.

Providing excellent cafes, restaurants and night-life, a variety of recreation activities, outstanding education facilities and world-class health care, making the move to Newcastle has never been a better option.

As Australia’s second oldest city, Newcastle is a region rich with unique history.

Custodians of the land The Awabakal and Worimi peoples are recognised and acknowledged as traditional and waters of the Newcastle and following European settlement, Newcastle became a penal station, a coal town and a steel city. Today, Newcastle is Australia’s seventh largest city and boasts a diversified commercial, cultural, trade and industrial economy. Newcastle and its surrounding suburbs offer many different living options for all lifestyles, this robust economy ensures Newcastle continues to cement its position as one of Australia’s key business destinations. Newcastle was selected as one of the top 10 cities in the world in 2011 by Lonely Planet.

The nearby Hunter Valley vineyards are a short drive away and have been named in the top five wine destinations in the world and as the number one wine destination in the South Pacific by TripAdvisor.

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Article | The University of Newcastle

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BE YOUR BEST SELF YET A GUIDE TO GET YOURSELF OUT OF THE DUMPS AND BEING THE BEST VERSION OF YOU POSSIBLE

Faux | The ASPIRE Issue

Advice | Celestine Chua

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01/ Be committed to your growth.

In the Map of Consciousness, there are 17 levels of consciousness – from Shame to Enlightenment. The higher level of consciousness you are in, the richer your life experience. Achieving higher consciousness comes from your commitment to growth.

02/ Live more consciously each day.

Stop sleepwalking through life. Your life is something to be experienced, not coasted through.

03/ Do the things you love.

Because life is too precious to spend it doing anything else. If you don’t enjoy something, then don’t do it. Spend your time and energy on things that bring you fulfillment and happiness.

04/ Set your goals.

After you design your ideal life, set your 5-year, 3-year and 1-year goals. The more specific your goals, the better!

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05/ Stop putting life on hold.

Are you putting any parts of your life on hold? What is one area of your life you have been putting off/avoiding/ denying? Uncover it and start working on it.

06/ Live every day on a fresh new start.

Don’t be held back by what happened yesterday, the day before, the week before, the year before, and so on. /40

07/ Be proactive.

Stop waiting for others around you to do something and take action yourself instead.

08/ Be true to who you are.

Stop trying to please other people or be someone else. It’s better to be an original version of yourself than an exact duplicate of someone else.

10/ Rather than thinking “what if”, think “next time”.

Don’t think about things you can’t change (namely what has happened and thoughts of other people) or unhappy things because these are disempowering. Instead focus on the things you can action upon. That’s the most constructive thing you can do in any situation.

11/ Create your own opportunities.

You can wait for opportunities to drop in life. Or, you can go out there and create your own opportunities. The latter is definite and much more empowering. /41

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09/ Focus on what vs. How. Focus on WHAT you want first, before you think about HOW to do it. Anything is possible, as long as you set your mind, heart and soul to it.

what’s on | November mon

tues 01/

wed 02/

National Cook for your Pets day

07/

fri

thurs 03/

04/

Australian Music Week

National Stress Awareness Day

Melbourne Cup

Australian Music Week

Terrigal Beach Markets

Semester 2 concludes

08/

09/

10/

National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day

National Spicy Guacamole Day

05/

National Doughnut Day The Entrance Markets Mt Penang Parkrun This That Festival

11/

12/

National Sundae Day

The Entrance Markets

sun 06/ Live at the Foreshore Sunset Sessions Open Mic The Entrance Markets

13/

Mt Penang Parkrun

Semester 2 End of Year Examinations commence

14/

sat

15/

16/

17/

18/

National Clear out your Refrigerator Day

19/

20/

National Play Monopoly Day The Entrance Markets Mt Penang Parkrun

22/

23/ The End Party, Bar on the Hill

24/

25/

Semester 2 End of Year Examinations conclude

28/

29/

26/

National Flossing National Cake Day Day The Entrance Markets

27/ Avoca Beachside Markets Cambridge Markets

Mt Penang Parkrun

30/ National Stay at Home because you’re well Day

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21/

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Faux | The ASPIRE Issue