agk’s beautiful life » snapshots of a work-in-progress life

Canon EOS 40D, 50mm lens

Canon EOS 40D, 50mm lens

Canon EOS 40D, 50mm lens

Canon EOS 40D, 50mm lens

Weather is a great metaphor for life - sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad, and there’s nothing much you can do about it but carry an umbrella. -Pepper Giardino

Have the courage to live. Anyone can die. -Robert Cody

Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you.
-John De Paola

The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps - we must step up the stairs. -Vance Havner

Sometimes, you have to let it all go…

Canon EOS 40D, 24-70mm lens

…in order to grow.

Canon EOS 40D, 24-70mm lens

That’s the way things come clear. All of a sudden. And then you realize how obvious they’ve been all along. -Madeleine L’Engle

Twice this morning, the green monster visited me. Twice I had to elbow it out of my office. Twice I let it back in. Twice I had to remember I am good enough as ME, that I don’t need to be jealous of the photographer who is a katrillion years younger than me (the gal who is getting work and her photos rock!), nor do I need to be jealous of the writer who just landed a book deal (and deserves it).

Twice I looked at the set-up for the photo below and reminded myself that I am me, different, that I stand out differently because I am me, and that all the hard work toward my goals is paying off, not that it WILL LATER but that it IS.

Twice I’ve had to chastise myself that the others have worked just as hard and this is their turn to shine. Twice I’ve looked in the mirror and smiled because my time will come around again. Twice I read the verse, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” (Proverbs 16:3). Twice I’ve also remembered I should not worry.

Twice I’ve sent thanks upwards for the life that I have and the person that I am.

Canon EOS 40D, 24-70mm lens

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” -Maryanne Williamson

I will not be silent!

But you already knew that, didn’t you?

THIS IS HOW IT ENDS*
at Violence Unsilenced
 
 
*Some of you may recognize this essay. It was written several years ago.