Learning and Leaning

I am not a photography stylist, and the idea of carefully arranging bits and pieces with tweezers does not appeal to me. I already struggle with a large dose of perfectionism, so it doesn’t make sense to heap on more of the same. But I am good at noticing when things are naturally arranged artfully. And I’m really good at stopping everything else to pay attention to something that catches my eye.

Analyzing, researching, organizing, planning and figuring things out—these are my strengths. I love to think big and often come up with creative solutions to problems. But I am also driven, anxious, and wired with alarms set to go off way too often for reasons I cannot explain (though EMDR therapy is helping me to level out my nervous system).

I am happiest when I am deeply involved in work. And in the case of photography, work is play and play is work. This is good for me. I’m thinking of signing up for a summer online workshop offered by Paul Sanders, Stillness of Summer. It’s always about how many ways I can stretch a dollar . . . I’d love to take this class with a friend. If you’re interested, send a note to let me know and we can learn together.

Confidence

“the mind needs proof that you are someone who can begin, recover, learn, try again, and survive the awkward middle without turning one bad day into a biography.”
— Ayushi Thakkar, Milk and Cookies

Color Therapy

Sometimes life is just a series of snapshots.

“I am not looking for great, award winning images, I am looking for moments that slow me down, make me pause and take a breath.”
— Paul Saunders

Of all of the things that land in my Inbox, the posts from Still by Paul Saunders are consistently those I find most helpful. This week’s newsletter focuses on mental health, and this is truly the most doable list I’ve ever come across. This is a plan I want to try. Thank you, Paul!

Here are my five top tips for looking after your mental health:

Do something creative every week - everyday if you can.

Walk barefoot on the grass or sand at least once a week.

Have a real face to face conversation with someone.

Limit your screen time and stay away from online arguments.

Wake up ten minutes earlier, make a cup of tea or coffee and then either sit outside or with the windows open and listen to the birdsong.

Twenty Years Ago Today

Mother’s Day 2006

For many years, this day was about my mother or my mother-in-law. I loved them both and was always happy to celebrate them, but over time, those Mother’s Day visits and gifts and meals began to feel obligatory and often stressful for me. Now that the mothers in my life have passed, I choose to celebrate differently.

“I prefer, where love’s concerned, nonspecific anniversaries
that can be celebrated everyday.”
— Possibilities, by Wislaw Szymborska

I give a handcrafted gift to my friend Lisa’s mother, who treats me as kindly as if I were her own daughter. I send a thoughtful email to both of my sons and thank them for the joy they bring to my life. I plan an activity that I enjoy to honor that I have done my best (this year it’s a short trip to Culpeper to visit a favorite antique mall and nearby garden nursery). However you choose to celebrate (or not), I get it. I really do.