Thursday, September 04, 2008

good advice from a wedding photographer's mother

...This morning I woke up feeling like I had been hit with a truck. Not sure what is wrong exactly, could be sinus or allergies, but whatever it is, it has made me feel terrible. What is funny is I called my neighbor, who has a son that is in Noah's class and we carpool together, and she feels the same way! My other neighbor also has been sick. Usually it is the kids who get sick but this time it is all the moms. Weird. I am just hoping I get it all out of my system now. One week!

***
I have just finished a book called: Exposed: Confessions of a Wedding Photographer by Claire Lewis. It was a good read with lots of humorous stories about psycho brides and drunk grooms. If you want a quick read that makes you laugh, check it out.

She was also honest about how she became a wedding photographer and her life. Her mother died when she was a young adult and it was a terrible time in her life. She tells about how her mother taught her everything she needed to know about life. The following is a quote from her book:

"Beauty is important, and life is something you must pay attention to and not waste a moment of. You must take life and run with it as far and as fast as you can, and regret only the hurt you may cause but not your mistakes. Pass up no opportunity to love, to explore a new place, to feel deeply. A passionate life is the only sort worth living."

I love this. These are the kind of things I want to teach my sons. This is the kind of person I want to be. I especially love the part about not regretting your mistakes, but only the hurt you cause. I think so many people focus too much on their mistakes and their past. We all need to have grace but not just for other people; for ourselves too.

And the beauty is important part is so true. To me, it means that there are beautiful things all around us and their are moments of beauty that we all live through. But beauty is not what is on a tabloid magazine or a fashion magazine. It is not how skinny and tanned we are or how young we look. It is all about what is inside us, how we live our lives, how we love and how we act toward other people. It is finding the good in the bad, the fun in the boring and the happy in the sad.

I am happy that I read this book. I am happy that I am going to go explore a new place (at least to me). I am happy I get the opportunity to spend time with my sisters and my mom. I am happy that the boys will get to spend some time with just their dad. I am happy that I have friends that help me out when I am sick or tired or sick and tired.

and now I am just rambling so I'll go.

4 comments:

Toby E. said...

Sounds like the truck didn't just stop in your area. I woke up feeling crummy too, not as bad as your's though. Maybe something blew in on the wind. Whatever it is, I had to forego my workout for the morning.
Here's hoping you're feeling better soon.
Looking forward to hearing about your trip.
Now off to find that book.

Anonymous said...

That is really a powerful statement! What a great legacy!

Yes, you definitely need to get better fast.

Mom

Krista said...

Stay in bed, drink lots of tea (or something), and get better soon!

H Noble said...

You've got to get that completely out of your system before the big trip! I can't imagine your anticipation, and hope that it is truly fabulous, both for the amazing things you'll see and do but also the time with your family.