PIECES OF US // FACE FORWARD
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FACE FORWARD // There’s a chip in my tooth from the basketball camp I attended in 1994, and a deep scratch on my nose from my cat last week when he tried to jump up on the bed and missed (there was so much blood). Hair straightened, sweet cheekbones, strong nose, naturally arched brows, teacher-bags under my eyes…
…smiling wide and genuinely, but no longer naively. I am happy: I’m happy to be doing this challenge with you, happy with who I get to come home to, happy to have a job that takes care of me, happy my coffee was strong this morning... I’m happy in this season of life, but I’ve learned that can coexist with other feelings too - like overwhelm and empathy and confusion - because IT HAS TO. I’m smiling a true smile, but all the while holding in my heart loved ones lost and loved ones who’ve lost (it feels like a lot lately). Behind these eyes is a girl who understands now more than ever who she is and what she hopes for, but also that everything is painfully temporary. This face will continually change, our lives will continually change, and all we can do is move forward.
This post is a part of Ali Edwards’ self portrait adventure challenge PIECES OF US.
I am planning on participating as way to do a few things:
1. pop back on Instagram - I haven’t been able to “get into it” lately (my last post was on New Year’s Day)
2. explore my body through my olw little word: HOME - I’ve been thinking of my body as my ‘home’ & I want to explore that idea this week through the lens of this challenge
3. find out what really matters to me - …in terms of my creativity & what I want to share. I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately…that zest and direction for how I want to use my voice & craft has had little to no focus since I went back to teaching, and slowly but surely I’m getting more clear about it. I think this challenge is a good start.
4. ALSO FUN TO NOTE: Kristin + I recorded a podcast episode dedicated to the whole thing!
We talk about our plan for the week with this challenge, the magic of being part of a creative community of memory keepers, and everything in between.
