Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Life's Classic moments...


When we’re in the moment, do we know that it’s going to be one of the memories that sticks? 





Prompt #14: Take a black and white photo of a “classic moment” in your life. 


This picture was taken when I flew to Chicago for my 25th birthday. I went to the Slamaganza, met some Starkids, and finally got to meet Julia in person (after Skyping for 6 months!). This trip gave me so many wonderful memories that I want to capture as "classic" moments, but the one that sticks is this. After Skyping with Julia, and talking about reaching for dreams and not sitting around waiting for life to happen...I was inspired to fly to Chicago and go on an adventure! I'd never flown alone before, stayed in a stranger city by myself, or planned to meet someone in person for the first time like this before. 


After this experience, I've now also taken trip a trip to New York and plan to again travel on my 26th birthday. I'm even thinking of making it a birthday tradition! All because of this lady, this weekend, and this moment. Classic indeed. 

To my mother


Prompt #13: Write a thank you letter to your Mother, or the most important woman in your life.

I love my mom for a variety of reasons. She’s always been there for me, she loves me, and gives more of herself than pretty much anyone in my entire life. She’s caring and funny, silly and comforting…but the biggest reason that I love my mom is because she has been the only example in my life of purely selfless & unconditional love. I’ve seen her give everything she has for my brother and I on a pretty constant basis. When we were little, it probably went unnoticed because she never made us feel bad for asking things of her. She just made it happen, even if it was physically impossible and then went about her day without condemning or shaming us.

As I continue to grow up and see just how self-sacrificing she is, I’m amazed. In all honesty, I grew up thinking that’s how people treated each other and didn’t think much of it. When the harsh reality that that is not true slapped me in the face, my eyes were opened to see how sacrificial her love was/still is for us.  I know growing up we didn’t have very much money, but what little we had, she would use on our needs and desires and instead of her own. We still have to beg her to use the gifts/money/gift cards we buy her on herself and not on us (it’s OUR gift to YOU mom!).

Also, the most amazing thing about unconditional love is that it cannot be manufactured or falsely created. To me, it’s the most genuine expression of love that exists. Typically, I’ve only heard of this kind of love coming from God. I rarely hear about unconditional love in other relationships because we’re all humans and fail one another constantly. Now, my mom isn’t perfect and there are definitely things that we have done to one another that have caused harm/hurt feelings between us…but she continues to display a real-life human example of unconditional love. No matter how much I hurt her or say something wrong, she loves me. I’ve never ONCE questioned her love for me (in my entire life!). And those who know me, know that I’m constantly questioning how other’s feel about me and doubting that anyone really cares about me. But not her.

I’m so lucky to have YOU as my mom.

Thank you for teaching me how to treat others with respect and dignity, how to love unconditionally, and how to be a strong woman in the face of life’s trials and tribulations. I wouldn’t be half the woman I am without your guidance, patience, and strength.  

I will love you forever and always.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Creative Artwork: Movie Stub

Prompt #11-  Make a creative art piece with a ticket stub based off of how the show made you FEEL.


I've posted about this film before, in this post, but it's one of the first movies that came to mind when I thought about films that moved me emotionally. I've read reviews and not many others enjoyed this film, but it really spoke to me on so many levels. Again, see the post to read more details, but I couldn't think of a better film to use in this creative way. The film broke my heart and left me sobbing once the credits rolled. The love lost, the missed opportunity, and the sadness that couldn't be expressed due to the cultural constraints placed on him made it move me emotionally.

Charlie OUT!