Sloooooow It Down

The first hint of silver lining I got from Braeden's dad, Aaron, when we first discussed the news about Braeden having Down syndrome was when he said, "Well, he won't have to run the rat race."

True.

I hope.

Because I choose not to run the rat race either.  It's a race you can never truly win.  And as I raise that sweet little Brady P., he constantly reminds me, even by what he represents, to slow down.  Life is not a race.

We literally stop and smell the roses when we go past the big bushes at the post office.  He is so stinkin' cute when he crouches and sticks his little nose in them.

Sniffing the first rose of the year!

He takes the time to show me on his fingers which step he just climbed down.  One through eleven.  To me, it takes forever.  For him it is pride and accomplishment... every step of the way.

He chews every bite of food (well, almost every bite) with appreciation and satisfaction.

He still points at all the cars that go by, so I can tell him what color and what kind of car it is.  Oy, all the parked ones too.  

He is just there.  He is in the moment.  I love it because I get to be in the moment too.

How often do you take the time to slow down?  To breathe deeply.  To be grateful.  To take in the beauty around you.  To feel connected to where you are.

Do you ever do it?

I do it a lot.  And I now feel the most amazing, strong, true, peaceful and joyful that I ever have in my life!  Genuinely.  Without just smiling to cover up the sad parts of my life -- because there are none.  Sure, things can happen, but I choose how to react.  I choose whether I hold on to the pain or let it go.  And I choose what is next.

I know what I want out of life, and I will settle for nothing less.

I wanted a macro lens for my camera.  I knew that little piece of equipment would combine my love for wildflowers and colors with slowing down and really paying attention to the moment.  At a focus 25 times what the naked eye can see.

And now, my friend, now I will show you what I can do with that.

Inside a purple iris

Birdsfoot trefoil

Metallic streamer

Orange hawkweed

Crow feather

Do you see what these images do?  They force you to slow down and look at images we take for granted everyday.  Just objects.  Or weeds.

But it is my intention to stick the magic, uniqueness and beauty of these images right in your eyeball.  You can't deny the colors.  The shapes.  The detail.  And, on a lot of the pictures I'm taking, you can't even tell what it is a picture of!  It's like a mind warp as well.  Sober.

Anyway, I am stoked.  I'd like to keep sharing these images with people.  If I can get my act together (because I have nothing else going on, you know), I'd love to be able to print these captivations and sell them through my website, so people can enjoy them on their own wall.  I'll let you know if that ever happens.

In the meantime, just sit back, take a deep breath, and enjoy.