Come and help me kick off my 6-month countdown to LGP’s 6th anniversary! On Saturday, March 3rd from 3:00-6:00 pm, come on out to Shoreline for some awesome kids’ portraits and a FUN time! I’ll be doing short sessions and offering a variety of portrait packages in exchange for a donation to Room Nine Community School’s PTSA. If you’re interested in purchasing prints in addition to your FUNdraiser package, you may do so. Additional purchases will be charged at regular prices. Location details will be given to those who reserve a time. Don’t miss your chance to get some great photos and support a great cause!
The other day a friend came over to visit with her 6-month-old baby boy (that’s him above, except now he’s bigger). He slept a lot of the time he was here, but when he woke up, he got right down to the task of being extremely active. With a little adult assistance, he did non-stop sit-ups, squats, and even planks as we held him high in the air. Of course, being a baby, he did all of this with a smile on his face, and countless squeals of delight (babies are awesome)!
That same day was my dog’s birthday (that’s her above, too – isn’t she cute?). She turned 10 years old. They tell me she is officially a senior citizen now; 65-70 in “dog years.” But come to my house and watch how she wiggles when she’s excited, barks when she’s hungry, and chases & chews on toys when she’s feeling playful – you’d never know she’s an old lady. Heidi still has that vim and vigor that we all hope to be blessed with.
I’m reading a book that my doctor recommended: Younger Next Year, by Chris Crowley and Harry Lodge. It talks about aging and how what we think of as aging in America isn’t really aging at all. The sluggishness, the aches and pains, and the gradual onset of problems like high cholesterol are symptoms of an un-natural lifestyle, not age. Our bodies aren’t designed to sit in front of a computer or relax in front of a TV, or even drive a car for long periods of time. Even with our plentiful food and shelter, our bodies interpret our inactivity as a sign that times are bad, and we gradually decay. The lifestyle has become so commonplace that we’ve begun to associate the downhill progression with age – but the only thing truly caused by the passage of time is saggy skin and grey hair! If we change our behavior and create an active lifestyle for ourselves, our bodies follow suit by generating dense bones, strong muscles, pain-free movement, and a general optimism in our mood.
Since I started reading this book, I’ve been looking at my life with a new perspective. I noticed the active baby, and wondered why I don’t allow myself to wiggle and bounce when I’m feeling peppy. I also began to wonder if perhaps my dog is still full of life because she spends lots of time outside each day, chasing squirrels and sniffing around for food and critters. Since she still has a connection to nature, her body continues to replenish itself and stay strong. I’ve recently been doing some physical therapy for intermittent and chronic back pain. Doing the exercises each day brings about a deep feeling of satisfaction, and I am easily observing the changes it is creating. It’s making me want to be playful again! There are numerous examples out there, and I’m noticing them every day.
All of this highlights my appreciation for children as examples of how to live our lives as adults. Kids are still connected to their natural state of growth. They run around and move their bodies every single day. They play games and do active things constantly – often until we adults pull them away and tell them they have to stop. They squirm in their chairs, and they get up from their seats at dinner. Their bodies are growing at a rapid pace, and physical movement is a direct partner in this process!
Once again, I say let’s look to children for inspiration! When we behave youthfully, our bodies respond by being youthful. These are amazing machines we each possess. Let’s act like kids. Let’s play games, let’s ride our bikes, and let’s head outside in the cold if the sun is shining! Not only is it fun, but it does the world a lot of good.
How do you live your life youthfully? Do you look to kids for inspiration too? Please comment!
It has been raining. And raining. And raining. And still raining around here. It just won’t let up. I know what you’re thinking – it’s Seattle; get used to it. But in my experience (only 3 and a half years, but enough to feel somewhat at home), rain in Seattle tends to be light and misty. Sure, it might rain all day long, but you typically don’t need an umbrella. As long as you dress in layers, it’s really no big thing.
This week, it’s been like a good old-fashioned rainy day in the midwest. Big, fat raindrops. Thick and heavy clouds. Puddles everywhere. Mud. Worms on the sidewalks. Eeew…
No, I didn't photograph this image. It's from the cover of McCall Magazine back in 1943! The maker's name is Nickolas Muray - he died in 1965.
I had my Beach Photo FUNdraiser this weekend. I got lucky on Saturday, and was able to shoot during the few hours the rain subsided, but there was no chance on Sunday. It was just way too gross. The whole thing got me thinking about my philosophy: Capture life as it really is. Accept what you see and make a memory out of it. Why did I decide enough was enough?
I think the rain is fun and exciting. Shooting in the rain is a challenge worth facing – and it helps to create some of the most unique images out there. I would be thrilled to have a photo session with my family in the rain!
But it’s not about me. It’s about you. I can truthfully tell you that photos in the rain – with the jackets, umbrellas, and all of that – are so fun! But I can also come to grips with the fact that some people don’t want to be pelted in the face with cold rain and wind after they’ve anticipated their photo session for so long. There’s Seattle mist; and there’s steady, fat, and oppressive RAIN. Your pictures will be around for quite a while. It’s important to be sensible and set yourself up to enjoy the experience of making a memory.
I canceled photos on Sunday because it was the best way to make our time together FUN.That’s what this FUNdraiser is all about: Kids having FUN at school, and you having FUN with your family. This kind of rain is just not fun.
If you want to find some beauty in the rain, check this out. These photographers know about rainy day beauty. You could see it too. You just have to be open to it.
