Expansion
Hi everyone! It’s been a while since I've written a blog, I hope you have all been doing well :) A lot has happened over the last several months, so I thought I’d share an update and some photos I’ve taken during that time.
Spring arrived with new opportunities. A friend of mine reached out asking if I would like to do a pop-up with my art at an event they were running. At first, I felt unsure, since I had never done anything like that before, and I honestly felt nervous. But it also felt very aligned, and I was so grateful for the chance to do this, so I said yes. I knew it would mean lots of expansion within myself, and sometimes it takes effort to receive the good things that come my way. It's interesting how it can sometimes be hard to say yes to things, even when it feels right. I’m not sure if anyone else can relate to this, but at times my body has a way of reacting to good things with nerves, like I can’t trust it. I often doubt myself, or am hard on myself, which can make it hard to open myself up to new experiences. Doing new things takes a self confidence that I don't have, but am slowly trying to build. When I am struggling with something, connecting to nature helps so much. So, I drew inspiration from Spring, and as the flowers were blooming, I figured I could do the same.
Summer arrived, and it began with lots of connection to nature. A friend of mine brought my husband and I to a beautiful creek in the mountains that I hadn’t been to before. It had been years, probably over 10 years, since I swam outdoors in a body of water. I’ve spent time by them, but not gone in and swam. It truly was so amazing, and felt like a reset to my system. The water there is so beautiful and clear, and the air is so fresh. I was even able to bring some friends who were visiting from outside of Canada to this spot, and it was so special to share this place with them. Now, every time I go to this creek, I feel so much better physically and emotionally. I’ll miss swimming now that its colder, but will continue to visit and spend time by the water during the Fall and Winter. I know in my mind that nature is healing and so good for us, but it's always so special to see proof of that in my wellbeing. It's one thing to know something, but an entirely different thing to feel it.
During the later half of the Summer was the pop-up event. It involved lots of things outside of my comfort zone, but was such an incredible experience. It was amazing getting to share my art in person, seeing how people connected to the things I created. It truly moved me. It made me think a lot about what matters to me, what drains me, what holds me back, what helps me move forward. It made me see how support, encouragement, and having people in your life who believe in you makes such a difference. I’ve been more mindful since then, pausing, being in the moment, feeling the shifts within myself. What helps me on the path I want to walk, and what is an obstacle? It’s been helping me a lot.
It's amazing what opportunities have come my way from living more authentically. The friendships I've made, the experiences I've gotten to have, it's been so wonderful. It hasn't been easy, and it has meant being very patient with myself. Growing pains are difficult, but worthy. It's making me more sure of how I want to live and walk through life. How trusting myself is one of the most important things. I’m trying to focus on building more self-trust, making choices from a thoughtful place, noticing how things make me feel. It's a work in progress, but I believe it's so valuable. I find that when I engage with the things I love, and am kind to myself, it helps so much. And when I have self-trust, I can create more and live life more fully. Have you thought of what helps you build trust within yourself? No pressure at all, but feel free to share in the comments if you’d like, I love reading them (:
Fall has arrived here in British Columbia. I will miss certain things about Summer, but it's so nice to slow down, reflect on the past few months, and embrace a slower, more cozy energy. This time of year is a gift, and I love taking photos during Autumn, with the leaves changing colour and the beautiful scenery. I hope that wherever you are, you are being kind to yourself and connecting to what you love. I’m sending good energy your way.
- Sarah ᨒ 𖠰
1 comment
🪬I was so happy to read your seasonal updates and enjoy more of your inspirational photography.
I appreciate the honest and emotionally mature vulnerability, in the way your words weave together insight, feelings, experiences, environment, nature, interactions, relationships and self awareness.
The sheer maturity, valiance and vulnerability required in getting a message out, that brings all of the topics you shared in your post, is indicative of your character.
In my personal experiences, I have found that the older I get, the easier it is to let go of the things that do nothing to improve my humanity towards those around me. We would not choose to live in a physical toxic dump, when the beauty, perfection and vitality of nature surrounds us. So to, we should view relationships and individuals, who are poison to our emotional well-being, that maim and repress healing and growth.
Letting go, or seeing off of seasons, and greeting and celebrating the incoming and returning seasons, do nothing to lessen the importance they have played in the people we become. Our individual and personal interaction and experiences with our surroundings impart context, understanding and wisdom, which, in turn, allow us to make the choices that separate the seeds from the chaff. The seeds will result in growth and rebirth; the chaff/husks have served their purpose and return to dust.
Returning the chaff to dust, in our lives, is usually difficult, painful and dark. It can be debilitating and has a tendency to invoke procrastination and avoidance, but hording the chaff will usually result in environmental toxicity, if not moved to its rightful place. So we must find a healthy and holistic way to let it go.
What a perfect metaphor nature makes for the seasons in each individual’s life. As we say good-bye to one, and greet the other, we can see that always ahead of us, there will be change, returning and departing, but potential and growth are always ahead of us, never behind us.
Each in its place and time; “There is a season; turn, turn, turn…”
❤️🫂🪬Dad