Breathe Deeply

we are always standing in the middle of a sacred space

Wolf Mountain '10

Underworld

National Aquarium

 Baltimore, MD

Live United.

Live United.

view from above

"A stumbling block can really be a stepping stone, depending on your walk."

Warriors of the Rainbow

When the earth is ravaged and the animals are dying, a new tribe of people shall come unto the earth from many colors, classes, creeds, and who by their actions and deeds shall make the earth green again. They will be known as the Warriors of the Rainbow. 

                   Old Native American Prophecy

Lovely

I can't believe this keeps happening to me.  I look myself in the mirror.  Turn right.  Turn left.  Peek out the corner of my eye and try again, side-to-side.  Suck it in.  Squint.  Hmmmm.  When did i become the person this sort of ______( fill in the blank) happens too?  Sigh.  I used to be sooo....

...soooo, NOT, gonna finish that thought.  Let me back up.

I was standing there having a conversation with the Dean of Students from my son's school.  When i saw her approaching from the corner of my eye.  I naturally moved back to create some space for her to walk between us when it  happened.

"Whatcha got in there?", she asks and pats my hard, firm, taut abs.  (wouldn't be blogging this if that was the description of my mid-section.)  Okay.  How about - somewhat firm post two children with an occasional sit-up slightly squishy, stomach.

Drat!  As if that realization wasn't bad enough... Nope.

On this day, a worst nightmare was confirmed.  My mid-section formally known as abs, turned womb (twice), i thought was back to a stomach but apparently a more accurate and appropriate description would be, belly.  Suh-weet! 

"Food," i glibly reply. Hm.

Now, mind you, it's not all 'insane in the membrane'.  Someone complimented me on my physique the other day... just now wish, i hadn't rolled my eyes while quickly scrolling through that ever present mental checklist containing my many (real or imagined) areas of need. 

Agreement # 2: Don't take anything personally

.
Recently, i had the privilege of facilitating a workshop for a group of remarkable young ladies affiliated with CentroNiá, a wonderful resource to the Columbia Heights community. 

After, we concluded i took a few shoots.  Here's what i captured....

The topic was beauty....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are no coincidences in the world in which i live.  I've come to understand that either everything matters or nothing matters.  Therefore, the irony of meeting my own image hasn't passed me by unnoticed and as a result I am left to remember and practice:

"Everything we do is based on agreements we have made - agreements with ourselves, with other people, with God, with life. But the most important agreements are the ones we make with ourselves. In these agreements we tell ourselves who we are, how to behave, what is possible, what is impossible. One single agreement is not such a problem, but we have many agreements that come from fear, deplete our energy, and diminish our self-worth"
                                      The Four Agreements.  

 As for me, as i write this blog, right now, i feel - well, lovely.  And hope that you do to...

Agreement # 2: Don't take anything personally 

Until next time...
B.

Your ego is not your amigo

"Balance is the bedrock of stability; 

if the roof is heavier than its base,

the entire structure will collapse.

Just as-- if an overinflated ego sits

atop flimsy self-esteem, the character will collapse, causing weak

character flaws to ooze from its wrecked host."

unknown

Fingers-crossed

If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, 

we shall have to begin with the children.

  Gandhi

 

I see you

"Let the beauty you love be what you do.

There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the earth."

Rumi

Rockhill House: Alex and Andre

Okay.  I'll admit it.  I've done it for years.  Started doing when i was in 8th grade.  And I've done it ever since.   Ahem... Hello, my name is Beverlié.  And, well, I read romance novels.

There.  Done.  I said it.  And,  i'll say it again, "I, read romance novels."


Yup.  In the interest of full disclosure, really, I inhale them in 2-4 hour sittings.  The sappier the better.  Something about the format.  You know, 2 people meet (beginning), there's always conflict or an obstacle to overcome (middle) and blessed resolution, a happy ending full of love and glorious promises (end).

Ding!  See you in a few hours while i fill my romantic tank with sticky, gooey, yummy, idealize words of love and romance.   Yum!

It took me a while to realize I owe both: the images that come from the weddings i shoot and my love of shooting weddings, to romance novels.  From the moment i book a client my involvement in their story begins.  From conversations and emails images are created, expectations set and as the day gets closer my blood beings to bubble with excitement and anticipation. 

 

Weddings are magic like that.  Full of cheer, well wishes and hope.  Everyone gathered together to celebrate, acknowledge and honor an age-old ritual of lives, dreams and families joining.

The bride looked divine:   

classically exquisite a true knock-out....

 looking out the window she caught sight of her wedding gazebo

Her bridesmaids...

 

Her sister:

His mom:

(when it was time for the mother/son dance, she brought it...)

 The groom: 

and his menfolk:

a few wedding ceremony details:  the dresses were made a friend and were absolutely lovely

 

 the ceremony heartfelt and sincere

first kiss as husband and wife...

 

  the processional...

first dance...

 

The happy couple set aside time immediately after the ceremony for photos, the results:

i'll end the post with these last images and sentiment...

 the beginning...

Until next time...
b