The danger of a single story

I shall be telling this with a sigh...
...Two roads diverged in a wood,
and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the
difference.
Robert Frost

We live in a world that tells you what your story is instead of invites you to share your story.   And as a result, we've all struggled. 

I remember the first time i heard they were pregnant.  Muuuuu-waaaahhh!  They've become one of us.  

 

He was attentive;

She was beautiful;

they were over the moon filled with joy.

Parenthood is a really unique gift.

a miracle made manifest;

I always say, what it does to your relationship, really, just isn't fair.  (No, conversations should be had at 3 am and you can forget about making a decision...)  One of favorite movie lines from an all-time classic, "As hard as you think it is, you end up wishing it were that easy..." resonated with me when i was sixteen as much as is does now that i'm a momma of two.  She was talking about the experience of parenthood.

I remember the first time I heard they broke up.  My heart sank -  I knew how hard they were trying.   He changed; she changed - they thrived as a family; 

struggled as a couple. 

Around this time I received an email from a friend - it contained a video of a lady speaking about the danger of a single story.  She was spectacular; her message profound.

It helped me to remember two things:

"the will of God will not take you where the grace of God can't keep you..."

 and to remember that:

...there is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that others won't feel insecure around (you)... as you shine you unconsciously give other people permission to do the same...

The two of them are working hard to define what love looks like for them.  I applaud their effort and extend to them both my full support.

click here if you have 19 min: Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story. 

Until next time...b

She did more than exist, she lived...

I had another blog planned for today but when i woke up this morning and saw that Dorothy Height had passed. My heart squeezed...

I'm one of the lucky people who've had the unimaginable honor of meeting Ms. Height.  She was guest at my friend's wedding.  

I tried to play it cool.   Because, well, i am from L.A. and it's not  like i haven't seen or been in the presence of the well-known persons before.  But, oooohhhh this was soooo different.  She didn't announce her arrival by sending her 'personality' five feet ahead.  She graciously greeted, hugged and socialized (it was a wedding after all) while her aura gently and sweetly filled the room. 

And, um, despite my best 'don't-do-it-B' pep-talk, I couldn't help it - i stared.

Who am i kidding?   I gawked.  I ogled.  I stared long and hard... etched every details of her i could into my memory (i'm visual like that...).   And, when it came time for her to leave... i just had to do it.

Hey! Don't judge me... I was standing in front of history.  An elder.  An icon... I shoved my camera toward my friend, Michon and told her,  "Quick, capture the moment!"

Understandably confused, she still took my camera, (Atta girl! Homey!...  She thought  i was going to go up to Ms. Height and ask for a poised photograph......)  Uh no!  I'm waaaaay to cool for that and besides my voice had dissolved like my resolve to 'play-it-cool' - eons ago.

Nope, i'm waaaaaay more subtle than that (see below):

She did more than exist, she lived.
She did more than listen, she understood.

Rest peacefully sweet spirit your light will be missed...

Until next time...b

Let them tell you no...

In my quest to live my best life i am often aware that it isn't what i do that often sabotages my efforts toward success -  it's what i don't do.

I often get stuck in my head.  A million little possibilities buzzing around...even more questions...

Over coffee one morning while visiting with a friend in Connecticut my life was forever changed.  Seriously.  I know it sounds dramatic but really...

For some reason or another we were talking about age, when I realized we were not only in the same age bracket but we were kinda the same age (give or take a few years) yet she was light years ahead me career-wise.  You think i'm successful?  Nooooo.   Kinda disbelievingly (i'm not a fan of false modesty)  definitely stunned I replied, "Uh, yeah you are" and i want to know how.  What's your secret? 

Let them tell you no...

She told me that while teaching at Haveford College a mentor of hers mentioned an opportunity at Yale University she thought would be perfect for her professionally.  Skeptical at best my friends response was anything but confident.  Sensing her uncertainty her mentor said, " Let them tell you no."

Huh?  What?!  My skin tingled.   Recognition...wisdom.  Oh, i love it when we come into contact...

Life is ripe with opportunities.  Your job is not to know which ones are good for you...your job is to go after as many opportunities available to you and let them tell you no.  No is not bad it's a sign to go in another direction.  Yes, is permission to continue... 

Fast forward about 8 years... my friend Katie told me that DCCAH, FotoWeek DC and DC Counts were partnering to promote the 2010 Census through local photography competition DC Photo Census and i should apply.  Me?!  No!  What?!


Let them tell you no...

Just do it B.  What's the harm? 

Let them tell you no...

I selected 1 photograph.  Ordered a print.  Filled out the paperwork.  Let the envelope sit on my kitchen counter for several days.  Drove to the DCCAH office and personally submitted my application packet (March 30, 2010 @ 4:59pm EST) and....waited.

Check out the final product...I was selected!  

1 of 51

In my quest to live my best life i am often aware that it isn't what i do that often sabotages my efforts toward success -  it's what i don't do.   Don't let yourself psyche yourself out.  Walk, trust, believe and


Let them tell you no...

Until next time...

Don't speak unless it improves upon silence

I met him at a function.  He said he needed head shots.  We exchanged business cards, a few emails and voila,  one week later i'm driving downtown to the old 9:30 club .Suh-weet!  I've always wanted a look inside.

cue music...the more string instruments the betta...

I remember when that building was just a shell of a space, windows were non-existent, its gut was filled with bricks, dust and wires...  Now, it's anything but ... and as a result,  I found myself nervous. The new space was 'that'  swank and the part of the building i was being lead too was even 'swankier'.

They had complimentary coffee; it was delicious.  I nervously sipped it while trying not to notice everyone  was wearing the same muted tones: blue, black or grey.  And, well, let's just say (thanks to my slight obsession with Anthropologie) I wasn't.

Drat and gulp...

His assistant promptly meet me downstairs and was kind enough to show me around upstairs.  The space was really impressive - it spoke nothing of the non-profit world of which i hailed, you know cutting-edge-on-a-budget.  No, this was quiet luxury, well lit offices,  dark paneled sitting area, rooms with row-upon-row of leather-bound legal volumes... the natural light pouring in from the windows was insane.

Mr. Morgan came straight from a meeting;

Poised and present in a very personal yet extremely professional way;

His time was tightly scheduled so I had time but not in a leisurely kind of way;

I arrived early to scope out the rooms with the best light;

Much to my delight, Marc Morgan was a wonderful person with a remarkable personality.

Capturing one's natural essence while celebrating life's events is what i do and i sincerely appreciate Marc Morgan for thinking and trusting me to capture this particular moment of his life.

Until next time...

Bold and beautiful

She contacted me months ago regarding corporate head shots for her company Artmonkey. I was psyched she thought of me. She's knows a lot of people.

Anyway, what she doesn't know is that her building was one i secretly coveted. Every time I would drive by, sometimes i would even create reasons to drive by, like it's on the way to the wonderland , with a few extra turns here and a few extra turns there...I would longingly look, (Hi my name is Beverlie and I have a staring problem), at the building on the corner and wonder: who lives there, what's it look like on the inside, man, i wish i could get a peek...


On April 4, 2010 here's what i saw:

 When i arrived at the shoot i could feel she was ready.

Her energy felt powerful. Balanced.

She totally commanded her space and while in it managed to not only look bold but beautiful, as well.

I love strong women. I surround myself with them. They inspire me to not be afraid and to take myself seriously. Being Bold and beautiful is sooooo the new in  especially if your balanced.





Until next time. b