I Feel Happiest When . . .
I feel happiest when I live in the moment and let go of worry.
Sometimes this comes in the form of taking a moment to see and enjoy the way the golden evening light streams through my windows.
Sometimes it's staring into the sky and feeling its vastness.
Other times it's fully giving myself over to rib aching, teary eyed laughter, when hanging out with my funniest friends. Feeling nothing but joy as the jokes flow easily between us.
Or connecting with someone new and those first moments of becoming friends.
Or the feeling of spontaneous adventures with people I like. For example - the other day was quiet at work and we spontaneously went for donuts and coffee. I remember sitting in the backseat of my friend's Jeep, windows down, radio blasting, sunshine coating everything in golden light. And as the wind tangled through my hair, everything slowed and the word 'infinite' ran through my head as I thought, 'this is it.' These are the moments we live for. The ones that matter and make life worth living.
This is life.
And my heart was full enough it could burst.
I feel happiest when I let go.
Photo credit: Allysin Van Ysseldyk
When are you your happiest? Leave a comment and let me know.
Book Review: I Must Say by Martin Short
I started January off the way I always do - by updating my book list.
As I sat looking at the growing list of books I would like to read I knew that I needed to change some of my habits and start reading more so that I could check more off my list. This book was one of the first ones I chose to check off.
Ever since I watched the updated versions of Father Of The Bride with Steve Martin where Martin Short plays Franck - a hilarious wedding planner with a questionable accent - I have loved his quirky sense of humour. It was this history that led me to check his book out of the local library right away, rather than following my carefully alphabetized list.
I loved this book!
As the man who made me laugh with his movie characters throughout the 90s - he didn't disappoint.
From the very first chapter Marty had me chuckling out loud during my lunch breaks at work, whether he was dropping names or detailing the history of his famous characters, everything was written with a sense of humour.
But like any great piece of comedy it was laced with truth and difficulty.
Martin Short's life cannot be described as easy, but man! the way he weaves laughter and depth and grief and joy together is beautiful.
The last couple of chapters talk about his wife, Nancy's, passing.
I read these pages while I was waiting for my car in a mechanic shop, and even in public I couldn't keep the tears from my eyes.
The story was heartbreaking.
But for the first time in my life I saw grief as beautiful.
Grief means it mattered, and that you loved.
Obviously I would never ask for pain, or want anyone to feel so hurt and broken, but how beautiful to have loved so deeply and fully.
This book was beautiful.
A story of resilience.
Rating:
There is a bit of crude humour - but overall the book was funny, and deep - 9.5/10 would recommend!
The Blue Beacon Truck Wash
Maybe it's the artist in me, but I can't help but see the beauty in ordinary things.
If you just shift your perspective slightly, a room that you see daily can surprise you, and a piece of sky you constantly look at can suddenly seem breath taking.
I often experience this when looking at buildings, and there was this one particular building along the highway between Hamilton and Niagara Falls.
It's a little run down, but this eye catching shade of turquoise.
Since the day I first saw it two years ago I knew that I wanted to take photos there.
Finally in January I convinced my sister Allysin to drive the 45 minutes out to it and be my subject with the turquoise building in the background, and it was everything that I had dreamed!
Beth - Winter Portraits
One of my favourite portrait series to date is a folder I labelled 'Snow Portraits'.
Last winter my sisters Beth and Allysin agreed to allow me to photograph them. Usually opposed to anything out of doors in the months of November through March, I was actually really excited to be taking my camera out on a chilly February day.
I remember the original plan had been to go to the abandoned gas station off of the QEW, but after driving close to 40 minutes to get there we discovered that due to construction the only way to reach it was to walk. None of us were into the idea of hiking kilometres in the sub zero temperatures.
Back up plan!
We drove back to Niagara Falls, disappointed by the turn of events, but in a stroke of luck we found a building with a large white wall. I was so happy with the results!
You can find Allysin's pictures here.
Allysin also filmed our adventure. Find her video here!
Sneak Peek - Jacob & Eve's Engagement Photos
Christmas Eve I arrived home to some really exciting news. My sister Eve and her boyfriend, Jacob had just gotten engaged!
So this morning we popped out to catch a winter sunrise, and capture some engagement photos.
Expect a full post to go live later this week. :)
