"Oh what a night..." Ever since moving away from my family, my community, I have craved that sense of community again. Community comes a lot more easily when you are in your hometown and you are like "Norm", where everyone knows your name. I feel like I have had the best of both worlds because I had just that for years and years and although it was the scariest thing to move away from that, it was the best thing I could have done. The reward of going out and finding my own community has been the biggest blessing. In order to do so, I have to give my whole self. I have opened up to these people and showed them my open and closed wounds, my hopes and dreams, and my enthusiasm. I am able to tap into just about anyone in my community and go under the surface with them on many discussions. That left me with the desire to get them all together, for one amazing night of energy and introducing them to each other. I tried for a month to plan a purpose, a direction, or intention that the night would hold. The more I tried to plan, the more nothing came to me and all I was left with was the same simple desire to just be with them all at once. To be able to thank them and celebrate my new direction in life. So that is just what I did. I knew the energy would be amazing, and it was just that, and it BLEW me away. When everyone got to the house, it was normal, party surface talk. Everyone was getting to know each other from their titles or connections. I took each person upstairs to take a shot of them for a personal project and for memory's sake. When I came down and was ready to get things started, I said a little prayer that the words would come to me. The words that would be able to suffice the feelings I have for each of these individuals. I was going to be the submarine (with my newly diagnosed, dose of perspective) to take them all Beneath the Surface....
Oh, did we ever get there. I was balling, vulnerable, exposed and in love with every word that I felt in my heart. I went around the room and was able to look each person in the eyes and tell them what they meant to me and how they have helped give me the strength and courage to blaze my own trail. It was almost like a funeral, the raw emotions (not the sadness), only it was the celebration of life, our talents, our friendship and the desire to get out of mainstream. It is very hard for me to put into words, but it was spectacular, humbling, and overwhelming in the most beautiful way. I told them that since I wasn't much a gardener that they were all going to be my organic garden. I will continue to cultivate them and have them in my life to feed my heart, mind and soul and in return I will always give them my whole self and love. So for the 25 people that were here and the 100 others that I wish I could have had, I thank you. I thank you for sharing yourself. For inspiring me daily. And for having faith in me. You have all helped me become the hero of my own story. I hope that I was able to introduce some fresh ways of thinking and positive energy that everyone can bring into their own lives. I know that new connections were made amongst my friends that will be so valuable and rewarding and that is exactly what I want my healthy community to be. A source that we can all tap into to get strength, understanding and guidance. What I do best is share my enthusiasm, and I couldn't be more enthusiastic about my life, my future, my friends, my passion, and most of all, my family! Now that I got the gist of the night out, I will be able to write a couple posts with some highlights of the night...if the words come to me again:)
My Dear friend Brian McDonnell is one of the most talented photographers and beautiful spirits that I know. I love how he talks with his hands. I love how his mind works. And I love his energy. Speaking of creative and why I am blogging about him...you have to go check uot pictures of his studio. I have linked some but there are more and he is ALWAYS changing it up. Both Shannon and I have shot in his space plenty of times and every time it rocks our world. He has been gracious enough to start sharing his space with all of you. Believe me, the small price he charges is nothing compared to the HOURS upon hours, that he puts into perfecting each separate space in there. I hope to see shoots from all of you in the future with all the great walls...I'm pretty sure it will take you to the "next level";) Tell him I say hello....if you're all lucky, I won't rent out all the times to keep it to myself. Click here to go see more details!
Go rent his space, you won't be sorry. Actually you might, because you will need about a week's recovery time to process all of it's amazingness in it once you are in there. The energy and vibe alone will make you crazy, in love:) Thanks for sharing BMAC:)
