Don't Give Up

“It’s the nagging idea that life could be magical; it could be special if we were only willing to take a few risks.” – from A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller

Sitting in a plane a week ago, I watched the full moon rise, hover over the wing, and ascend in to the darkness. I idly read my book, and took frequent pauses to absorb the truth of the writing, the beauty outside my window, and contemplate the magical experiences of the last three days.

I am not a religious person, but I do have a strong faith that things happen for a reason. How else could I explain to myself that I was rejected from five of the six colleges that I applied to, but I met my husband at that one college I did get in to?

Four years ago, a friend was planning her wedding, and searching for a photographer. Her mother suggested someone, and she asked my opinion. I wasn’t really doing much photography at the time, but looking at the work, I thought (in retrospect, with great hubris) “I could do that – don’t hire him.” And then, she showed me some other photographers recommended by a friend. I was immediately blown away by the images. I knew I didn’t have the skill to do what they did – but I wanted to. Those photographers were The Parsons.

I didn’t know it at the time, but hovering over my friend’s laptop at work that day, the trajectory of my life changed. At 17, my father wanted me to go to art school. It seemed like a really big risk, and I didn’t see a way through. But at 23, I realized my path wasn’t leading where I wanted and that photography was offering a different option – if I would just reach for it. Ever since then, I have been reaching.

Last week, I got to spend three magical days at the Don’t Give Up workshop. The experience doesn’t necessarily translate well into words. People shared stories, and opened up and connected. And of course, made lots of photographs. Isn’t it strange that in this always-connected world of iPhone, iPad, iMac – we’re always behind a screen and so disconnected from the people and environment around us? Those days were like a re-set. We went deep. Some of us cried. We tried new things. We remembered what a really good life feels like – with inspiring friends, delicious food, spontaneous snowball fights, and getting up early to see the sun rise. Back in Boston, I’m fighting hard to keep the magic alive – stepping away from my computer, back onto my yoga mat, maintaining the connections I made, and trying to spread a little more love. And I’m hearing the echo of voices say “you get one life – just one!” and “maybe it’s not about to the take-away, but the leave-behind.”

And I am so grateful to each person who was a part of it.

.