365 Project - Day 82

We went as a family to see the movie, Selma, yesterday. My youngest son thought it appropriate to see it on Martin Luther King's birthday. Since both of my sons plan to direct movies for a career, one as a Director of Photography and the other as a Director/Producer, we go to see a lot of movies. Someone once said that it was unlikely we had seen "enough" movies. Not sure how that is possible because the list is always long and we see movies at least once a week, either at home or in the theater. We all agreed that Selma was a good movie. There was a lot to like and it left us with much to think about.

I am awestruck by MLK's conviction to serve and his myopic focus on righting a singular wrong, with tremendous courage and strength. I don't know that I would have managed half as well as King and the Southern Christian Leadership Council in those days. Yet they overcame their personal anxieties and pushed forward driven to lead. Strangely, several times throughout the day, I replayed the jail scene when MLK was reminded of Matthew 6:25-27, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Though the verses are a tiny part in the movie and were said in a low whisper, they sounded like shouting in my ears, "KBP, did you get that?" Yes - it was my personal message! I know well that we likely shorten our lives by excessively worrying and lengthen our lives by stepping out and helping others.

Yesterday, I also had a luncheon meeting as a founding board member for a new nonprofit organization working with at-risk youth in Boston. The team has already begun exciting work. This combines the things I most enjoy, music, youth and leadership. I am excited about the road ahead and stoked to begin this new journey of service.

Best wishes!


Today's Photo: "I have a dream ..."

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'what are you doing for others?'" Martin Luther King, Jr.




EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 800
50mm
f4
1/180 (on camera flash)

365 Project - Day 81

Music is joy! I remember listening to all kinds of music as a child. I cannot pinpoint my favorite song, but I recall choreographing dance routines to match the words of songs like Stop in the Name of Love, Harper Valley PTA and Rose Garden. I remember going to see Tom Jones in concert at the Garden State Parkway Amphitheater (at least I think that's what it was called). And, listening for hours to music on 8 tracks and 45s. Yes, I am that old! When my children were born, I insisted on music playing in the room while they were being delivered by C-Section: Steve Miller for the first born and Andrew Lloyd Webber for the second. I have always loved music.

One of my greatest blessings is hearing my children sing. They are gifted singers. I wish they would sing for me, on demand, but that rarely occurs. We were in Hawaii a few years ago and out in Kayaks to see Dolphins. We were told that if we were good natured, laughing and singing, we had a better chance of the dolphins appearing and "performing" for us. We could tell the dolphins were near, but they were not doing much other than swimming around beneath the surface. I nagged my son to sing and he repeatedly denied. It was difficult for me to stay good natured and nag at the same time. Somehow, though, I finally convinced him to sing for a couple of minutes and voila, the dolphins came up out of the water swimming, dancing and jumping. It was fantastic!

I am so very proud of my son, who will sing with the All Eastern Chorus in April. This photograph was taken after the Connecticut Western Regional Jazz Band and Chorus performance. The music was delightful. Once again, a reminder of the joy music brings.

Today's Photo: Experience the Joy of Music!

"Next to the Word of God, the noble art of Music is the greatest treasure in the world." Martin Luther




EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 800
50mm
f1.8
1/30

365 Project - Day 80

I couldn't stop staring at this photo, but what did it mean? I was willing the words to come to me, until finally I got it.

Too often we think of life and more often snapshot each moment in terms of scarcity rather than abundance. What if we flipped that around? Imagine thinking, "at this very moment, I have more than enough!" I don't mean to trivialize pain, loss and discomfort, life certainly comes with plenty of those. Our lives, however, are not only filled with pain and lack. Our constant challenge is on what we focus. Do we focus on scarcity and pain or do we focus on blessings and abundance? The latter may seem difficult at times, but to be sure, wherever we place our focus will increase.

I want to be quick to add that pain and suffering is not all bad. As I have mentioned often, I am learning so much through this time with my broken leg. Both physical and mental strength and perseverance will be clear outcomes, but so much more. I am grateful for this trial and have long since moved this from my pain category to my abundance category.

I love that Thich Nhat Hanh offered, "Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." And, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin beautifully wrote, "Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God."

I choose to focus on blessings and abundance. Join me.

Best wishes!


Today's Photo: More than enough

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38




EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 200
50mm
f4
1/250 (on camera speed light)

365 Project - Day 79

I am magical! I have come to learn that my 365 Project can simply remind me of simple truths like, I am magical. The photo does not have to be perfect, it just has to remind me.

The other day, I mentioned feeling frustrated, yet I was to look back at that moment and realize I had received a perfect gift. Here's what happened. I was headed out the door to our monthly photography club meeting, with little extra time, when it dawned on me that I had no gas in my car. I don't live like that. I can count on one hand the number of times the fuel light has come on in my car in nearly 10 years. Since my leg is broken, however, I cannot crutch to the pump and back to put gas in the car. I actually rarely drive my car and while I had mentioned to my husband a few days earlier that I was low on gas, I had not reminded him. I was stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place with few options. I could try driving our Suburu, which I had driven only once before and was not comfortable trying again with my leg in a boot or I could not go. There was no time to have someone else fill up the car and I was 16 miles to empty.

I went. With a great deal of anxiety, I stopped by the gas station, prayed for strength and walked to the pump, no crutches. I was immensely proud of myself. Yes, my footwork was economical, but I filled my tank. And, while I waited on the tank to fill I turned my camera on and shot the photo below. I was initially annoyed with the left portion of the photo and at some point I may crop it out, but just like a scar tells a story, I believe that blur tells my story. I stepped out of my anxiety and into my strength. Had my husband filled my tank, like the superman I thought he was, I would not have understood the superwoman I am. I am magical, thanks to God.

People often see me with my crutches and feel sorry for me. I am tickled by their expressions. My response is fairly steady, "It's all good!"

Today's Photo: I am magical.

"For we are God's masterpiece." Ephesians 2:10




EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 400
50mm
f1.8
1/90

365 Project - Day 78

I watched a youtube video today of 3 young girls performing the most incredible poem on the Queen Latifah Show, "Somewhere in America". It was stunning, powerful, courageous, truthful, moving and awe inspiring. I wanted to stand up and cheer, "you go girls!". Such brilliance, such delightful honesty. They are part of Get Lit, an LA based nonprofit focused on "increasing teen literature through classic and spoken word poetry." They are clearly making outstanding progress. The girls in that video will do more than stay in school, they will be our leaders.

I humbly offer this photo in their honor. "Poetry is thoughts that breathe and words that burn." Thomas Gray

Today's Photo: "Get Lit and Lead"

"Poetry comes from the heart, it’s the soul-talk of a culture." Luis J. Rodriguez, poet, activist, author




EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 800
50mm
f2/8
1/4 (light from nearby lamp)

365 Project - Day 77

James said, "Every good action and perfect gift is from God." (James 1:17) Ever feel like you need a day filled with good actions and perfect gifts? Just one day, right? No steps back, only steps forward. If only life was so. I've come to discover the secret to a life filled in this way, is seeing it thus. What does this mean? It means recognizing the many gifts we are given in the everyday existence of our lives. It is adopting a soul of gratitude for all that you have and seeing your life as more full, even with little, than scarce.

In a couple of days, I will write of the momentary frustration I felt today and believe me, you will see it in my photograph. Even in that frustration and in that awkward photograph, however, there is a perfect gift.

"Good" actions and "Perfect" gifts are cannot be determined by how we feel at the moment we experience or receive them, but by how we are changed. It is possible we may see them as mediocre and imperfect. We tend to view everything we experience from our own lens. We expect things to happen a certain way and when we don't experience life the way we anticipate, our world seems askew. Yet God is improving our lives in the very moment His actions take place, regardless of our interpretation. I broke my leg 2.5 months ago. It is certainly not how I envisioned spending the last few months, but it has been a blessing in many ways. And, I am cool with it! One of the best outcomes of "the incident" (as I like to refer to my fall) is that I am more present and mindful in all situations. I can't do multiple things and it takes a long time to accomplish one thing because of both the inconvenience and my deepened intensity. I also am stoked by James 1:12, "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

If we can stay focused on the fact that God has a better plan for our lives than our own plan, then perhaps we can start to see more actions as good and more gifts as perfect. And then know that when we need help, we need God. When we do this, we fill our days with gratitude and open our hearts to receive more blessings and more grace until it spills over to all we touch. Now, I would say that is life lived forward, wouldn't you?

Best wishes!

Today's Photo: Toward Gratitude and Grace

"Every good action and perfect gift is from God." James 1:17

365 Project - Day 76

Perhaps it was the cold temperatures, or the rain, or post physical therapy fatigue, but this was not the photograph I believed I had taken! I put my camera in my glove compartment on the way to PT, but was too tired and the weather was too nasty to stop any where on the way home. When I arrived home, I crutched down the wet, icy slopes of our driveway to the Burning Bush nearest the top of the driveway to take my 365 photo for the day. I do not like to get my boot wet and my hood was up to keep my head dry so I was a bit of a mess. I stood tentatively looking at the bush, determined to compose my photograph. I took a few photos and then turned back toward home, satisfied that somehow magic had happened.

In the end, I believe I took 10 photos, including 2 I shot driving up the driveway ;-) Too many to call me a full on slacker and not enough to call me fully ambitious. I had a difficult time selecting any I liked. And, I'm not wishing for a do over! As you know by now, all I am wishing for is warmth and sunshine. Ahh well, here's my promise, if there is another opportunity I will embrace it. So be it!

Warmest Wishes!

Today's Photos: Frosted Burn

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:11-13




EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 200
50mm
f3.3
1/90