What we can learn from 8 year olds!

My Niece Sage

I have been given this incredible gift of photographing Sage's life journey! AND she is only 8.

She's is an old soul and understands creativity well beyond her years. I am so inspired by her. During our photographic playdates she doesn't hold back, never has.

Oh to be like her! 

She doesn't self edit, who she is, how she looks, her expressions or her feelings. She is who she is and owns all of it. She loves being different and totally lets loose playing and creatively modeling for me. She is in the moment and perfect in every way.

Oh how my little inner girl wanted to feel like she was perfect in every way. She is screaming to me that she wants to come back out and play like Sage does, with totally abandonment, self confidence and innocent joy.

The irony is that I was taught at a very young age that curly hair wasn't attractive (some of you may remember the 60's, curly wasn't in, straight hair was!). One of Sage's favorite photograph that I took this summer, she is wearing a wig abundant with curly locks.

She never ceases to amaze me and inspire me. 

She shows up exactly as she is, loves that camera on her and plays her way through our photographic dates. Whether she is adorned in fairy wings or swimming underwater in a pool, she is who she is, totally present in the moment, having fun and being Sage.
There is so much for me to learn from her.


Who is this girl dressed in a wig, completely vulnerable, filled with beauty and self confidence? I wish I was as comfortable in my body as my niece Sage is. Well it is never too late.

Being inspired by a 15 year old.

As many of you experienced the 'Sandy' storm this past week, there were so many unknowns. Toby Donoghue inspired me by what her creative spirit shared with me the day after 'Sandy' left the east coast. 

"every broken tree is a photo opportunity :)"

 Photograph by Toby Donoghue

As a 15 year old just reminded me, it is so simple to tap into our creativity.

Retreat for ONE

A retreat for one. This was written over a year ago when I seriously began working on Celebrate the Creative Feminine.

 

CAN YOU RELATE?

I was tired, overwhelmed, no energy, not enough time for anything and I lost me. This was not the first time, probably, not the last, but at least I knew I needed a life raft. No one else was going to send a life raft so I sent one to ME.

I am one of the sandwich generation, as so many of us are. We've been blessed with many gifts, but I have to say the challenges have been immense. I thought being the nurturer of others was behind me, having raised two boys on my own.

WAKE up Laurie! It is never really over. What is new however is that it's my turn to be nurtured by ME. I used to be a super mom. My needs were inconsequential to the needs of others. That choice came at the expense of ME. So I ask you, and I ask me, how is that working for us?

My parents have challenging health issues and at times I wonder who the children really are now? Can’t I just be a kid again with no responsibilities? Well I guess not, but this is the time of life to put myself first. The gremlins in my head are saying this is no time for a retreat for one!  I have taken a lot of time off of work, taking care of others in the last 6 months, I am growing a new business and need to tend to it.

Slow down I have a choice..... am I an artist? Am I a creative being whose passion is screaming at me to come out?  I am going out of town to find my balance, my center and let creativity rule in my life again. I am going on a retreat for one, for ME.

So here I am in the Berkshires. After chocolate and listening to my inner muse I am getting my Mojo back. How could I have strayed so far from her, from me? I am letting go and feel back in my body.

I have this incredible room at The Chambery Inn which once was an old schoolhouse that was moved years ago. Check out the great room above. Breakfast is delivered to my  room every morning.  I have been shooting everyday. As many of you know my medium of choice is infrared. Well, I felt like going out of my box would be good for me on my retreat. so I began to use my iPhone to photograph in color.  The best part is I don’t have to show any of them to anyone, it was just for me. My grandmother used to say if it feels yummy doing something, then you know you are on track. I feel yummy.

My retreat for one has been a huge success. As artists we know it is all in the journey not in the arriving.

I will be ready tomorrow to head home. I am so excited about work again and clarity is abounding. What I did learn was to set aside part of the mornings for rituals, exercise and creativity. Everything else will fall into place and if I am happier and joyful and abundant, I know I will attract more of that into my life. I also am in a better place to help others.

Miracles happen when we sit back and are filled with love and joy and not when we are trying oh so hard.

It isn’t too late to take care of ourselves.