Two years ago, my good friend and wealth of inspiration of a human and creative Chris Martin launched Give-A-Day. He wanted to take a more active approach to living life with intention, purpose, and in making a difference in and for the lives of others. Last year I asked if I could join him (every wedding needs a photographer, too, right?!), I was feeling adrift and knew that putting my heart and talent behind a cause that positively impacted my fellow humans would fill my heart. Which I desperately needed. It’s no surprise I was elated and ecstatic when he agreed to my partnering up on his beauty of a project. I’m honored and humbled by the honest, heartfelt, courageous and inspiring stories that were sent to us last year, and as such am So. Damn. EXCITED that Give-A-Day is back! (Click here to see the images from last year’s...
love is autumn wildflowers, overcoming writer’s block, and giving back to pay it forward | love is kate + adam’s wedding story
It’s been awhile since I’ve blogged a wedding story. For a long time (too long, really) I would find myself very well intentioned and motivated AF to share whatever beautiful, humbling, perfect story I had most recently captured. But my own marriage was falling apart, which made it seem as though everything in and around and about my life was on fire, and to top it off I was in the throes of the deepest depression of my life. There was no way I could even begin to endeavor to speak humbly or honestly or optimistically about two people and the promise of lifelong love and commitment. But, being the stubborn perfectionist-fire-sign-always-have-t0-get-shit-done-come-hell-or-high-water woman I am, I was bound and determined to dredge up some inner fucking strength and try. Fast forward to several days/nights/entire weekends of me spent inextricably staring at my keyboard, the cursor flashing impatiently, annoyingly, emphatically on the...
on embracing fear, pursuing my legend, and finding strength in the unlikeliest of places
“The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.” –The Alchemist I’ve written about fitness before. Four years ago, almost to the day, I admitted that I loathed my body. That I hated what it looked like, and how I was complacent in my disdain – too afraid to do anything about how I was feeling. It took me a long time to realize that my complacency, and subsequent failure in achieving my “ideal body” wasn’t fear of getting fit, but that in getting fit I’d realize that the hatred I felt towards my body was a symptom of a bigger issue and a deeper fear, the truth of which wouldn’t fully surface until two years later in the summer of 2016. As women it’s easy for us to subconsciously place the solution to all of our problems upon our appearance. As if losing...
grief is a faster teacher than joy | on depression, the pain of discovery, and finding my true self
The funny thing about grief is that no one really explains it to us. Save for the Five Stages we are told we must falter and trip our way through, we don’t really know anything about what profound grief can and will do to or for us. It’s an experience and emotional endeavor that we can’t begin to fathom until after it has wholly enveloped us. We see it clearly once we’ve clawed ourselves out from under it. The asshole that is Grief cannot – and will not stand to – be fully understood until we have finally moved through it. In all of my wisdom and intelligence, it never occurred to me that grief doesn’t only show up when someone dies. I understand now the disastrous effects of my naïveté. As it turns out, grief cleverly meanders its way into our lives when we least expect. Grief, like joy or happiness...
