Soft and Present
This year my mantra is soft and present.
It can and does mean so many things. Be soft and present with myself. Be soft and present with others. Be soft and present in my actions and words.
There are a lot of things that are hard in our world today. I really like the idea of bringing and sharing softness.
When I think of softness I think of....
my dad's Costco blanket
the little baby kittens next door
my friend’s dog, Lizzie
kisses
kind words
smiles
Things you want to touch. Things that bring comfort.
How can I be soft to myself? How can I be soft with others? How am I present?
In January, I went to Oregon to take care of my mom during her final days. In 2016 when I went home to take care of my dad my mantra was “Release Expectations” I still think of that mantra often as it is so necessary to constantly check my expectations and experience things how they are not how I think they should be. This time, for my mom, I was there to nurture her and be soft and present as she left this world. I wrote a blog about a week after her death called Sweet Sacred Experience. It has been a year of a lot of transition and I am so grateful for my friends and family.
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In June, I had the amazing opportunity to travel for work to Kenya and photograph a student project called GlobalResolve. It is hard to describe my feelings for the land, the people and the animals. I was very present while there and enjoyed my three weeks immensely.
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In July I felt very impressed to go to Utah. Each time I am in Utah I always go see my Uncle Jack. This time Jill, Mitch, Connor and I took him some lunch and had a great visit. I learned that he died a couple of days later. I am so glad that I listened to the spirit and was able to be present one more time with him and at the funeral with my siblings and extended family. I miss him and Wanda.
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Some of my favorite memories and where I felt most present and alive were when I was on photo trips with @jarvie in the mountains and we were listening and singing to music with the windows down in the cold. So fun!
Scotty and I had a GREAT time singing to 80s pop music driving through this gorgeous winter wonderland. The road was closed to Flagstaff so we had to turn around and go to the I17 to go to Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. We didn't mind. It was so beautiful.
A video of @jarvie and I singing to West End Girls and driving down Nebo Loop mountain in Utah with the windows down in the rain. I loved it!
What does soft and present mean to you?
What a beautiful post. I tell you what soft and present isnt... screen time!
Definitely soft and present is being attentive to those you love..such lovely family shots. Yesterday hubs and I took time to snuggle on the deck with a cool breeze and warm sun with the birds singing. We dozed and bathed in love. Definitely beat arguments about whose turn it was to cook.
I love this mantra so much. Xx
So great to hear your thoughts and about that beautiful afternoon!
You have a gift for recapping experiences in pictures and writing
Thanks so much!
Nice photos! Sorry to hear about your Uncle Jack. It's always hard losing someone. Glad you have those great memories, though :-)
Thanks for your comment and yes, those memories with Jack and Wanda are great!