One of my favorite photog friends that I’ve met online, Dana Pugh, and another inspiring So Cal trendsetting photographer Tara Whitney posed a challenge via twitter last week. Here is Dana’s tweet:
“@shortandsweet and @tarawhitney 5 images that express gratitude this weekend. Who’s in???”
The answer? Me. (And about 500 other photogs I’m sure.)
So I started thinking about all the things I’m grateful for and the list is insanely long. Sure there are things I wish I had like a third arm or laundry that folded itself and dance it’s way into the dresser drawers, but on the whole I am really happy about where I am in my life. So I could post pictures of my husband, my kids, my friends, my clients, my coffee (mmmm… Pacific Bay…), my house, my camera, my iphone, etc… You see the list could go on forever.
I think I have such a long list because after having kids and running my own business, I sincerely don’t have a lot of spare time. I get up in the morning when Crazy #1 wakes up at 6:30 (if Crazy #2 hasn’t beaten her to it!) then I’m up doing the morning routine. When Crazy #2 naps I work non-stop until he wakes. Then we are off doing our daily running about. Once they are all tucked into bed at night I hop on my computer and work until 11pm. Occasionally I’ll take a short brake to watch a show with my husband or just take a few minutes to catch up, but I usually am multitasking (folding laundry or cleaning up the evening mayhem.) So it seems the busier I get, the faster time moves, and the less of it I have.
Out of necessity, I’ve had to let go of little things. You know the book “don’t sweat the small stuff”? It’s kind of like that, but in doing so, I’ve also learned to appreciate the other little things. For example, the bed that used to be made every day without fail is now made only 4 out of 7 days of the week. I’ve let go of the three un-made-bed days and in doing so truly appreciate the days when the bed is made. I think it looks pretty. And it reminds me that I had an extra minute and a half to do something for myself that day. I should post a picture of it because in writing this I’m really feeling grateful for it! Oh wait, today is one of the un-made-bed days, so never mind.
Before you scroll down to my gratitude pictures, allow me to finish rambling for just a moment longer. While reflecting on all that I am grateful for I decided it was too easy to post pictures of the obvious things I listed out above. It struck me that the gratitude doesn’t have to come from me. There is one being in our happy house that is forever grateful for even the slightest nod, a small pat, or some left overs from dinner. These things truly make her happy. Our Beazy. Our giant Ridgeback. She is our first baby and still holds such a special place in our hearts. A few weeks ago she got really sick and I was so scared she wouldn’t be alright. What would I do without her? Sure, I don’t run or hike with her nearly as much I used to. She’s not allowed on our bed any longer because she got to be too big. She takes a back seat to pretty much everything else, but she is still such an important part of this family. She is my running partner, our guard dog, and my friend who curls up outside my office door when I’m up late at night editing. So here is my gratitude post: All five pictures of our Giant Ridgeback, yes, I am that grateful for her. (And she of me.)
jennifer
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