As I am floating in the ocean carried by the waves that are gently rocking my body back and forth, I can feel my nervous system calming down, and my breath becoming one with the movement of the water. My lungs are filling with salty air as I am deeply inhaling and exhaling. The sensation of it all is so soothing that I can feel my anxious thoughts drifting away into the far horizon.
I am beginning to feel lighter.
We have been spending some much needed family time at the beach. It is hot and humid but there is always a breeze that makes the heat quite bearable. I don’t mind, as I am basically living in swimsuits and sundresses every day.
We are here with extended family. My boys are living their best life laughing with their cousins, and constantly coming up with some kind of mischief.
I love watching them. They are such good friends. Most of them are teenagers, but then there are a couple of younger ones including the cutest four year old niece you can imagine. Her innocent giggles are another noise that is soothing to my soul.
Truth be told, I am not as much of a beach person as I am a mountain person. The mountains are always calling to me, but I have hugely enjoyed the lack of (most) responsibilities, the daily swims, taking barefoot walks along the shore, and spending time in a shady spot while either doing nothing or reading a novel. I love the comforting sounds of the waves, and swimming in the ocean beats swimming in a lake or pool any day.
It’s the waves. I am in love with the waves. They are strong and powerful, and being carried by them is one of the most calming sensations I have experienced in a long time. My whole body relaxes even when a wave takes me under for a few seconds, I come up and feel alive and elated. The salt water causes my eyes to burn, but it’s nothing compared to the comfort I feel in the water.
Before we left for this trip, my anxiety level was at a peak. Partly because we had so much going on and partly because of the state of the world and the state of this country.
I know that many of us are feeling it.
I am privileged to be vacationing right now. This pause has been a gift.
I am giving myself permission to stay away from my phone as much as possible and focus on remaining in the present moment. It is wonderful to be disconnected from the online world while fully connecting to your people and your immediate surroundings. Life away from screens feels much richer and fuller, and it helps me to become aware that, for better or worse, much of the harsh world we live in is out of my control.
The vastness of the ocean makes me feel small, in a good way, and reminds me that I am only a tiny part of a much bigger story.
The waves come crashing in. The tide comes and goes. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. There is a quiet steadiness in the coming and going of the sun and the water. A healthy rhythm that I have been trying to move along with and I am attempting to take with me when we return to normal life.
I watch the pelicans catching fish and flying above my head to find a spot on dry land where they can devour their prey. In the far distance, I can recognize dolphins jumping out of the water. Spying the dolphins makes me teary-eyed. The beauty of it is almost overwhelming compared to the hate, greed and devastation we witness every day.
I have to believe that love prevails in the midst of it all.
I say a prayer for this world and I let it go with the waves. This time with the hope that it will also be carried by the ocean and reach far and wide beyond what I can imagine.
Thank you so much for reading!
Items of Note
Publication
I was recently published in the 8th edition of Darkroom Magazine, edited and published by . Use this link to take a look! It is an excellent edition and I feel honored to be a part of it.
Upcoming Workshop
Exploring The Art Of Multiple Exposure Jul 22, 2025 - Aug 8, 2025
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We begin this workshop with a step-by-step introduction to combining two or more images in Adobe Photoshop. You will learn to use blending modes, layer masks, and other tools and adjustments essential for creating multiple exposure. As you practice these techniques throughout the initial sessions, we’ll also explore the option of creating multiple exposures in-camera. Through experimentation with different settings and reviewing results, we will learn the advantages and disadvantages of both methods. Additionally, we will study the work of various photographers who employ multiple exposures in their art.
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I can see the ebb and flow of both the tide and your emotions in your lovely double exposures. May the waves carry your sentiments far and wide. Enjoy your reset with your family.
Love the softness in your double exposures. Such a treat to spend time with the family. Building memories.