When I went to the grocery store this week I was sure to look for my favorite checker, Nikhil, a young Nepalese kid with a gentle disposition and a kind smile. We always chat as he scans my groceries and I amuse him with my very limited Nepalese vocabulary. I wanted to ask about his family in light of the recent earthquake. Fortunately, he was working and reported that his family is safe. Then, he went on to express a sentiment that I had been feeling for days.

“It’s so strange to see the news on tv and to think I’ve been there. You know, things happen in other places around the world but it’s not the same as when it’s places you know.”

I couldn’t agree with him more.

When the Tsunami hit Japan in 2011, I was aware. I watched the news and saw the photos. It was an incredible tragedy and I felt for the people suffering in the wake and for the families that had lost their loved ones. But, I don’t have any personal connection to Japan or its culture. I personally only know one Japanese person. That doesn’t mean I was indifferent to their situation but I wasn’t wholeheartedly gripped by it either. I didn’t find myself wondering about the people there and how it was impacting them. I didn’t feel an ache in my bones for the loss … not just of the people but of the sacred places that were destroyed.

The images of Nepal after the earthquake, evoke the smells and sounds of the streets that are engrained in my memory after spending two remarkable months there. Having explored the majestic mountains, climbed dozens of temple stairs and roamed the busy streets … Having shared chai and laughter and connection with so many of her people … it changes everything.  Those experiences have the power to shift my heart from those people over there to my people in Nepal. 

I see this photo of the destroyed Dharahara tower in Kathmandu and I remember everything about the day we visited. It was only our second day in the country and the same day we met Raj, who would end up being one of the most memorable characters in our entire travel story. He took us there and waited outside while we climbed the 213 stairs for a view of the sprawling valley below. 

 

 

I can’t think of being up there without remembering this man. He stopped, nodded and smiled for me to take his photo.  The deep crevices on his face told a story of grief and wisdom. It was a brief but powerful exchange. I wonder if he survived.

This is in the city of Bhaktapur, just outside of Kathmandu. 

 

The highlight of visiting Bhaktapur was this clan of young boys that approached us in the town square and touted themselves as tour guides. They went through tough negotiations with Adrian before becoming our companions for the entire day. They took us to get chai and some famous local dessert and, of course, see the local sights. We bought them ice cream and took them to feed the fish. It was absolutely fantastic.

 

We have no way of knowing what has happened to them or their families, so I offer up little prayers and trust that life always has a way of working itself out.

What about Akal, the taxi driver we befriended and spent several days with? We’ve had friends try to call him but so far, without luck. I am holding out hope that all is well with our dear friend.

I’ve thought of this woman many times. Her little shop was  near our guesthouse and we bought water from her several times a day. Adrian flirted with her mercilessly and she clearly loved it (and him)!

All those kids that live in tent city… I think of them too and offer up more prayers.

I could go on and on. Most every experience is marked by the people that we shared it with, even if those people were little more than strangers. Those shared experiences left an impression that is unforgettable. That is the true gift of travel. When you leave a place, you are not the same person you were when you arrived. You’ve left a little piece of yourself behind in exchange for what you’ve gained – the chance to be a guest and share in someone else’s world.

“Travel is like love, mostly because it’s a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed. That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end.”  -Pico Iyer

 

On May 16^th, I’m going to Costa Rica for a healing meditation retreat called SHIFT. It’s a glimpse of the vision I had almost two years ago. 

I remember it vividly. I had been working through The Artist’s Way workbook with serious dedication for several weeks. We were back in Bangkok after having spent a couple of months in Nepal. We were walking out of our guesthouse one night on our way to dinner when I had what can only be described as a Divine download. The assignment that I’d been working on that week was to daydream about my ideal day. The, if I could do/have/be anything, what would it look like? I know it sounds cliché but I did it anyway. I asked myself what is my wildest dream?

I saw it all visually and felt it like a ripple of waves through my body… I was in this lush, warm place with a group of powerful women. We all stood around a long dinner table strewn with candles, talking and laughing. The energy was intimate and full of celebration. I sensed deep connection with these people. The kind of connection created by sharing profound, life altering experiences together. Everyone was vibrant and full of life, relaxed and at peace. It was a beautiful scene. I felt that I was part of this experience in a valuable way, that I had played a role in the freedom and joy that this group was now experiencing. My heart felt full and satisfied. 

Fast forward to last year when I stumbled across Lacy Young. I can’t say exactly how it happened but I can tell you the thing that had me ‘Like’ her page and instantly like her. She and her husband sold all their stuff and moved into an RV to travel around the US in what they’ve dubbed the Kale on Wheels Tour. Oh yeah, she’s a Health Coach! I didn’t know Lacy at the time but she’s exactly the kind of person I wanted to know – bold, daring and committed to living the life of her dreams.

I began to see her shining face in my Facebook feed and it was a welcomed addition. Then, one day she announced she was going to Bali because of reasons she couldn’t explain. She was feeling drawn to go and to meditate and to heal and she couldn’t ignore the call. I have such deep admiration and respect for anyone that is willing to step into the unknown and confront themselves and their fears on behalf of what might be possible in their lives. Lacy was my kind of people.

One day not long after she returned from her spiritual voyage to Bali she posted this:

 

 

I immediately knew that I was meant to go with her and to be of service. I didn’t know exactly what that meant or how it would play out but I knew it felt right.

I reached out to her and shared what was on my heart. That was the beginning of a conversation that spanned a couple of weeks (and included long emails about who I am and what I believe and lessons I’ve learned along my path) and ended in a shared consensus – I will go to Costa Rica and I will serve in the ways I can serve – assisting with logistical things, ensuring that Lacy has what she needs so she can fulfill on her intentions and, of course, documenting the whole experience in photographs which will be such a joy for me.

The retreat is about the unearthing of deep, inexplicable joy. It’s about healing old wounds and finding peace. It’s about liberation and moving beyond your limits. It’s about transformation.

I am excited to serve and so grateful to receive.

My intention for the week is to cultivate my ability to hear that small voice of wisdom within me – to trust my intuition. This will inevitably mean discovering all the ways that I currently don’t do that. The places where I doubt myself, the places where I look to others for answers instead of trusting my own inner knowing and the places where I just resist listening and honoring it for whatever reason.

I believe our intuition is a direct line to higher wisdom, a gift from God. What would my life be like if I trusted my intuition deeply and relied on it to guide me? 

When we follow the quiet whispers of our soul and step out it in faith toward whatever is calling us, miraculous things happen. I have no idea what will unfold during this one week in Costa Rica but I will show up for it, ready to grow and open to miracles.

 

There is one room left in the retreat. If you hear a little whisper speaking to you, I urge you to honor it. You can learn more and find details here – SHIFT.

 

Signs of spring are in the air. The weather has been consistently warmer, the sun is finally shining and things are beginning to bloom. Yesterday, on the way to yoga, I sighted a small bunch of bluebonnets growing along the highway. It’s a sure sign that we’ve turned a corner. I’m ready for the change.

Rambo is benefitting from the medications the vet has given him (anti-inflammatory and anti-spasm). He’s more playful and energetic than he’s been in weeks. It’s hard to imagine that he’s sick. He’s acting so normal. And that, like the sunshine this week, has been good for my soul.

I have spring-cleaning fever and big plans for April. I’m feeling a desperate need to clean out and make space – physically, mentally, spiritually.

My growing list includes …

• Juice cleanse.
• Eat tons of fresh fruits and veggies.
• Reduce sugar, dairy and carbs.
• Plenty of yoga.
• Daily meditation.

• Sort all my clothes.
• Keep what feels good.
• Give away anything that doesn’t.
• Organize the closets.

• Pull everything out of the kitchen.
• Paint the cabinets.
• Put things back with intention.

• Organize the laundry area. 
• Bring order to the utility closet.

• Sort my art supplies.
• Keep what is useful.
• Let go of anything that isn’t.

• Leave nothing unsaid.
• Do one thing at a time.
• Practice gratitude.

It feels really good to be here – on the verge of what’s next, ripe and weighted with possibility.

I’m going to make space in my life so beautiful new things can show up. It’s my way of telling the universe, ok, I’m ready.

What affect does Spring have on you?

 

Rambo is sick. Really sick.

We took him to the vet last week because he’d been acting funny. His behavior had progressively gotten worse over the course of several weeks. Last Monday morning we decided that it didn’t seem to be improving so it was time to take him in.

When they came home from the vet, Rambo ran in the apartment with his normal I-just-went-for-a-drive enthusiasm and I spoke directly to him well, what did they say? When I looked up at Adrian for an answer his face twisted in pain and he immediately began to sob.

Rambo’s diagnosis is fatal. He is dying.

Prostate cancer effects 2% of dogs and is an aggressive disease. There is nothing they can do to cure it. The only measures we can take are ones that will hopefully provide comfort and ease for him as it progresses. His prostate is four times larger than it should be and, as the cancer continues to grow, it will likely begin to push against his colon and urethra, making it difficult and eventually impossible for him to take care of his doggie business. We will inevitably be faced with a very heart wrenching decision to end his life.

We are absolutely shattered.

I spent all of last week just trying to wrap my mind around the news. I am struggling to imagine my days without Rambo in them. He has been my constant companion since we’ve been back. And because I’m the one that works from home, I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of time with him to myself. We’ve developed our own little routine and ways of communicating. He is a source of love and joy in my life that is irreplaceable.

Adrian is clearly the alpha around here. When he’s home Rambo keeps a watchful eye on him, clearly wants to please him and without question, obeys him. They have an intense bond that is steeped in respect, loyalty and admiration. Adrian is aching with grief.

Rambo is Mama’s boy. And even though he ignores her (and all of us) when Adrian is around, he clearly loves her and wants to protect her. They snuggle and talk and play and have unspoken agreements about territory. He brings life and energy and love into her world in a way that will be deeply missed. 

And oh, how Rambo goes crazy at the mere mention of Chula (Adrian’s sister, Delaney). Perhaps it’s the truckload of affection that she lavishes on him when she’s around or the way she makes him feel so special but he looooves his Aunt Chula. Just say her name and he howls in anticipation.

 

There will be a void in our family when Rambo is no longer here, that is for certain, and there is no way to predict how long we have left with him. While he is not in any pain right now, he is obviously very tired and not his usual self. It could be that he has a few good months in him. It could be a few shorts weeks. We just don’t know.

We are doing the only thing we can do – loving him fiercely and being grateful for every precious second we get to share with him.

 

 

I want to share with you an excerpt from one of my favorite books, Who Dies? An Investigation of Conscious Living and Conscious Dying – by Stephen & Ondrea Levine. I first read this book about twelve years ago after my then husband, Mike, lost his 18 year old nephew. Mike was attempting to process his tremendous grief and something led him to this book. Upon his recommendation, I read it as soon as he finished it and it has become a staple in my life.

It contains simple truths so profound that the mere act of reading its pages has me experience the limitlessness of who I am. Some lessons, like the one I’m sharing with you today, have turned into personal mantras that float to the surface of my mind at the exact moments I need them most. Lying in bed, pressed against Adrian, the thought crosses my mind, he’s already broken. The gentle reminder allows me to melt into him and really feel him there – strong and warm and alive. It leaves me filled with immense gratitude and love.

I hope it serves you too.

“Once someone asked a well-known Thai meditation master, In this world where everything changes, where nothing remains the same, where loss and grief are inherent in our very coming into existence, how can there be any happiness? How can we find security when we see that we can’t count on anything being the way we want it to be? The teacher, looking compassionately at this fellow, held up a drinking glass which had been given to him earlier in the morning and said, You see this goblet? For me, this glass is already broken. I enjoy it, I drink out of it. It holds my water admirably, sometimes even reflecting the sun in beautiful patterns. If I should tap it, it has a lovely ring to it. But when I put this glass on a shelf and the wind knocks it over or my elbow brushes it off the table and it falls to the ground and shatters, I say, Of course. When I understand that this glass is already broken, every moment with it is precious. Every moment is just as it is and nothing need be otherwise.

When we recognize that, just as that glass, our body is already broken, that indeed we are already dead, then life becomes precious and we open to it just as it is, in the moment it is occurring. When we understand that all our loved ones are already dead – our children, our mates, our friends – how precious they become. How little fear can interpose, how little doubt can estrange us. When you live your life as though you’re already dead, life takes on new meaning. Each moment becomes a whole lifetime, a universe unto itself.

When we realize we are already dead, our priorities change, our heart opens, our mind begins to clear of the fog of old holdings and pretendings. We watch all life in transit and what matters becomes instantly apparent: The transmission of love, the letting go of obstacles to understanding, the relinquishment of our grasping, of our hiding from ourselves. Seeing the mercilessness of our self-strangulation, we begin to come gently into the light we share with all beings. Taking each teaching, each loss, each gain, each fear, each joy as it arises and experiencing it fully, life becomes workable. We are no longer “a victim of life.” And then every experience, even the loss of our dearest one, becomes another opportunity for awakening.

If our only spiritual practice were to live as though we were already dead, relating to all we meet, to all we do, as though it were our final moments in the world, what time would there be for old games or falsehoods or posturing? If we lived our life as though we were already dead, as though our children were already dead, how much time would there be for self-protection and the re-creation of ancient mirages? Only love would be appropriate, only the truth.”

-Stephen & Ondrea Levine

I was catching up with my friend, Kim, via Facebook messenger when the words come across my screen I’m pregnant.

A flush of emotion spread through my body, a familiar combination of fear and jealousy.

My very next thought was, that’s it, I’m the only one left!, and my brain quickly started collecting evidence by compiling a list of everyone I know that is pregnant or has recently had a baby. It was a long list. I decided very quickly that I was the only childless person I knew.

Of course, that’s ridiculous but that’s what happens when I feed the fear… my mind contracts and becomes fixated, my heart tightens to protect me and I become dramatic (or, Dramashlie, as Adrian teasingly calls me).

You see, this weird thing starts to happen when you get into your thirties, and it only intensifies when you hit thirty-five, the official crossing point into late thirties territory. You watch as a door that was once wide open before you starts to slowly close and there is the very real understanding that once it does, it will never open again.

And it has the potential to evoke panic.

I want to have a family and I’m afraid the door of my opportunity is going to close and I’ll be locked out of what I imagine to be one of the greatest experiences in this human life.

Sometimes when this fear strikes, my mind becomes fixated and I start doing the math. I calculate how many more months I have before I turn forty because forty is the moment when the door slams shut. (I know this isn’t the absolute truth but it’s hard to convince my fear of this). Then I play out worse case scenarios about how long it might take us to get pregnant once we start to try … If we started trying a year from now and if it took us two years to get pregnant, I would be having a baby at the end of 2018. I would be 39 1/2 years old (part of the weirdness is reverting back to counting your age in half years). That could work. That’s possible. And I breathe a momentary sigh of relief.

It’s crazy making. Really.

“When desire or any object draws our attention in the mind, it is so seductive, so magnetic, that the awareness, the spaciousness of the natural mind, closes around it. The experience of the mind losing its inherent spaciousness is called suffering.”   -Stephen Levine

That is what happens to me. My mind closes around the fear and I suffer.

And then, by some sort of miracle, I notice that I am suffering and begin to wake up. I take a step back to observe my fear and allow it to show me my edges.

I take a deep breath, bring awareness to my body and feel my feet pressing into the ground. I breathe again.

I question my thoughts. Is it true that I’m the only one left? Is it true that I may never have a family? Is it possible that I will?

I settle into what I know. The future is unknowable. There are many things beyond my control. No amount of worry will change what is meant to be.

I remind myself to do what I know to do. Feel the fear, allow yourself to feel the jealousy, experience it all and keep your heart open.

I believe I am here to learn the lessons my soul most needs to learn and ultimately, it is all about opening my heart to life and moving towards love. I have faith that everything (all of life) is happening for me and is in service of fulfilling that purpose. All things work out for the highest good.

What, then, is there to fear?

 

 

I’m learning new tricks over here and as I stumble through the various stages of awkwardness (because learning something new is always awkward), I thought I’d share my progress with you.

Here’s a short video that Rambo and I made. It’s a little peak into our everyday around here and a quick example of how I use photography to celebrate the ordinary moments of my day and steal them away for safe keeping. 

Enjoy!

 

What new things are you learning lately? How do you deal with the awkwardness? 

 

I started analyzing my relationship to my phone when I got serious about being more productive. One obvious way to improve your productivity is to recognize what gets in the way of you getting things done. For me, my phone was an immediate and first response.

Now, I’m not talking about the many things we can do on our smart phones to further what we are up to. I’m not talking about the actual work that can be accomplished or the connecting with other people that can take place. I’m referring to the mindless, numbing out type of behaviors that make our phones a hindrance rather than a help.

I had no idea the extent of my own addiction. Addiction is a pretty strong word but it’s the best fit so I’ll keep it. It speaks to the compulsion that I experience. I feel inclined to make excuses about how I work from home so all my social interaction is online or how I use social media for promotion. Blah. Blah. Blah. But the truth is, I often feel tethered to my phone. I sometimes pick it up and unlock it for no real reason at all. When I need a way to avoid doing what I don’t want to do, my phone is the easiest escape.

Ahhh, it feels good to tell the truth.

Do you have a phone addiction too?

7 signs you might have a problem:

1. Do you start reading your emails (or Facebook/Instagram/Twitter) before you ever get out of bed?

2. Do you have your phone on the table next to you during dinner (just in case)?

3. Do you take it to the bathroom with you and stay longer than necessary just to keep reading?

4. Do you pick up your phone to answer a text message only to find yourself perusing Instagram (or whatever) fifteen minutes later?

5. Do you feel panicked if you can’t find it or accidentally leave it at home?

6. When driving, do you see the traffic light turn yellow and instinctively reach for your phone so you can check Facebook (or whatever else you check) while waiting?

7. When the traffic light turns green do you have to force yourself to quit reading and put the phone down? Do you occasionally continue reading while accelerating onto the highway, all the while screaming at yourself to PUT THE PHONE DOWN AND DRIVE?

If you answered yes to any of these questions (and especially if you answered yes to all 7 of them), you might just have a problem.

I am guilty of all 7 of these harmful habits and I’m out to make a change.

Last week I downloaded a handy little app called Break Free.

The app tracks how many times you unlock your device, how much time you spend online and which apps you use most frequently. You can set personal time limits and get warnings when you’ve exceeded them, turn off distracting notifications for specified periods of time and other useful things like sending auto-responses to callers so you can stay focused.

 

Since downloading the app I’ve tracked my phone usage at 2 hours and 30 minutes a day on average. I’ve started thinking twice before picking up my phone and I’m actually considering if what I’m intending to do supports my commitments or not. Sometimes the answer is yes and at other times it’s no, at which point I resist the urge and take a deep breath instead. Either way, it’s causing me to stop and think.

My intent is to bring mindfulness to everything I do, to be awake to my life, my choices and my experiences. I wake up early to start my day in meditation because I have a commitment to strengthening my mindfulness muscles. What’s the point of making such effort just to numb out reading emails and unconsciously scrolling Instagram for long periods of time each day. It’s sort of like going to a killer spin class and then eating a big piece of chocolate cake. It not only makes me less productive but it’s in direct contradiction to my own commitment to be present which means I’m also less fulfilled.

Bringing intention and presence to what I’m doing as I’m doing it, regardless of what it is – washing dishes, checking email, petting Rambo – is the surest way I know to feel truly alive. And I really like to feel alive.

In what ways do you get distracted or attempt to escape? Where would you like to bring more intention to your life? I’d love to hear from you.

 

“You know what’s great, she was complete here on earth. She’d been preparing her children for the time she would die since they were young. This woman was the definition of unconditional and nonjudgmental Love. She was passionately spiritual and meditated every day for the past 40 years. If there’s anyone one human being that I know who’s been enlightened, Betsy was that individual. Her impact on every single person who she came into contact with was powerful. She leaves behind one hell of a legacy.”

It was two weeks ago today that Adrian received the phone call from his dear friend, Jasmin.

Are you sitting down?, she asked. He told her Yes, that in fact, he was driving.

Can you please pull over asap? 

It’s the kind of question that has you hold your breath. He made his way to a side street and Jasmin proceeded to tell him that her mother, Betsy, was killed on impact when she lost control of her car and collided head on into oncoming traffic.

Adrian and Jasmin have been friends for the last 15 years and along the way he and her mom, Betsy, had forged an incredible bond based on a deep soul connection. She loved him and it’s something that she was sure she’d made known to him every time they talked. She occupied a very special place in his heart. He loved her too. The news of the tragic loss weighed heavy.

This past weekend Adrian went to Florida to be with the family and celebrate the life of this beautiful woman. Every single story he’s shared with me has broken my heart wide open and invited me to more fully express my love. 

It seems she was the kind of woman that made everyone around her feel special, could find the silver lining in the darkest of situations and consciously, actively, daily chose LOVE. Just being around her made you feel bigger.

Who doesn’t want to be around that kind of woman?

I remember an interaction I witnessed several years ago while attending a leadership program. The leader of the program had called a participant onto the stage for an exercise. The woman looked to be in her late forties and was clearly nervous. The program leader asked the woman to walk across the stage and deliver an announcement. The participant awkwardly paced back and forth as instructed and stumbled over her words. The leader encouraged her to keep going, say it again. The woman struggled through the message over and over. Each time the leader would tell her to keep going with a bit more enthusiasm, even walking two steps behind her and saying the words with her for support. And then, something clicked. I don’t know exactly what it was but the shift was visible as the woman physically stood two inches taller. She seemed to shed her unworthiness and self-doubt right before our eyes and I knew in that instant that I wanted to be that kind of person for people. Someone with whom you were reminded our your own worth and goodness, someone who made other people feel bigger. 

For the past two weeks I’ve been thinking about this… the person I want to be and the ways I hope to influence those around me. And the stories of Betsy’s kindness (letters to friends, words of encouragement, calls on birthday) and her loving spirit have been an incredible inspiration.

One night while Adrian was in Florida he called and shared this story… Betsy was a major ice cream lover and every Thursday for many years she and her husband, Jorge, would go to the TCBY yogurt shop down the street to get her favorite flavor of yogurt that was featured on that day, Rocky Road. When the news of her accident made the headlines, one of the long time TCBY employees heard about it and found a way to get a letter to her husband, Jorge. The employee expressed their deep condolences and told him how much they’d always looked forward to the two of them coming in to the shop. Her loving way had made an impression on everyone that worked there and they were certainly going to miss her. Then, he said that he’d made a request to the corporate office and it had been granted… They have officially renamed her favorite flavor in her honor, Betsy Road.

I want to be THAT kind of woman.

I almost forgot to mention… the morning Jasmin called to tell Adrian the news was a cold one and as they sat in the car talking, the windows fogged over with condensation. When they finally hung up and he composed himself to leave, he reached up to wipe the windows clear and saw this:

 

Isn’t that just like her to send a sign letting him know she’s thinking of him?

Thank you, Betsy, for your legacy of love and kindness. Although I never met you, I love you. Your light made it’s way into my life and I’m so very grateful.

 

What kind of person do you want to be?  I’d love to hear from you.

 

 

I’m in labor, creatively speaking. I’ve reached the point in the delivery process where my legs have been thrown into the stirrups and it’s time to push. There is no turning back now. I am a bit scared and I’m definitely feeling vulnerable. But there isn’t time to indulge in that now because the pressure of what wants to be born is bearing down inside me and ready or not, it’s coming out.

This project has been in gestation for months.

It all began when a friend asked me to teach a class on Lightroom, a photo editing software, and I agreed. At the end of our first class together she said I’d also like to learn about my camera, can you show me how to use it? I said, of course, and we planned another time to get together. You know, you should teach classes like this, she suggested.

My wheels started spinning.

I love photography, I love people and I love to help. (And I had this secret DARING dream of creating an e•course.)

 

Months went by and I had done little more than think about it. Then, in October, I met my mom in Albuquerque for the International Balloon Fiesta and over that weekend something shifted. I had been reading The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte and working through the exercises to determine my Core Desired Feelings. Danielle’s work is based on the idea that all of our goals in life are driven by our deepest desires to feel a certain way and if we can clearly identify the ways that we most want to feel, we can do what needs to be done to generate those feelings every day. She calls it creating goals with soul. I shared my discoveries with my mom… The ways I most want to feel are Vibrantly Alive, Free, Inspired, Open-hearted, Connected and Full. I spilled all my ideas out in my mom’s generous listening and my creative wheels began spinning faster than ever before.

*Sidenote: There is something so incredibly powerful about sharing with someone that really believes in you. If you feel stuck, unsure or scared, find those people in your life and let them love you by lending their ear and reaffirming their faith in you.

On the plane ride home I wrote through the final exercises of The Desire Map and my own personal goals with soul found their way onto the page before me. These were the things that would have me feel the way I most wanted to feel.

I started a task list, created a timeline, wrote down things to research, people to consult and what I knew needed to happen to make this thing a go. I had clearly reached my tipping point and things were gaining speed.

In just over six weeks the Everyday Photography Workshop will launch. It’s an online class that will teach participants all the things they need to know to be comfortable with their camera and take great photos. From a distance it looks like a course about aperture and shutter speed and all that jazz. And it is.

But it isn’t.

Photography is about recognizing the beauty in an ordinary moment. It’s about capturing something that is fleeting as a way to hold it and keep it close. It’s about trying on various perspectives, sharing how you see the world and telling your stories. It’s about truth and dignity and honor. It’s about celebrating all this life has to offer.

But, understanding how to use your camera is the first key to unlocking those gifts, so we are going to start there. We will cover technical terms like metering and learn photography lingo like opening up. We’ll talk about how to take great portraits and how to frame a shot for maximum impact. I’ll show them how to find things on their camera and explain what that button actually does. It’ll be practical and useful and informative.

And I trust it will open up a world of light and possibility unlike anything they have ever known.

If you want to learn more about the workshop click here.