From the ages of 13-23, winter was my favorite season. I’m a proud homebody and lover of any reason to put on sweatpants, grab a snack, and lay in bed, so of course it was. Spring and all that came with it–namely, cleaning–was last on my list. Fast forward to having two kids and tromping through 35 degree PNW rain with them for the past five months…and I can say with confidence that Spring has inched it’s way up near the top of my Favorite Seasons list! I’m so excited for some sunshine, comfortable temps, flowers and greenery, and dare I say even the cleaning.
All that said, I do feel myself slipping into go go go mode and making a million checklists with a million ideas of how I’ll be productive once that first drop of sunshine hits. And I am trying really hard to be more mindful of slowing down and soaking things in with my kids, because this is the only Spring they’ll be this age. So: dive into my little list of ways I’ll be slowing down this Spring to soak up the season, because balance is key.
Literally moving my body slowly.
Brushing my teeth is not an emergency. No one is timing me to see how quickly I can get lunch on the table. The laundry will still be there whether I fold with aggression or fold with gentleness. Grocery shopping doesn’t have to be fast. At the top of my list is being mindful about moving slowly, literally, because it has become second nature to go as quickly as possible ALL the time.
Practicing art for fun, not for consumption
Running a creative business is an INCREDIBLE blessing (because I get to make a living from my art!) and also SO HARD (because I am making a living from my art). I think that engaging in different forms of creativity ultimately illuminate my primary form of creativity (photography, obviously!), and trying those things out–painting, pottery, sewing, piano, etc–are really excellent ways to exercise a different muscle.
Cooking at home, even when it feels annoying and inconvenient
I go through phases of loving to cook and hating to cook. No matter what phase I’m in, I always acknowledge that some part of me finds it annoying and inconvenient, because it requires my focus and it requires time and I can’t really speed up the process because the oven does what the oven wants to do. Going into the spring, I want to welcome the fresh flavors and be more appreciative and accepting of the time that goes into cooking a meal at home.
Starting off my summer garden
Last summer I successfully grew zinnias! This was the first time I ever successfully grew ANYTHING and I was hooked as soon as I saw those sprouts popping up weeks after starting the project and hoping for the best. Moving into the fall I started a planter of lettuce and spinach, accidentally way overdid the seeds, and ended up with too much lettuce. Then the wind knocked the whole thing over and I decided my growing season was over. This year I have a few blooms in mind and will be starting them inside while the weather warms up and I work on building my much bigger planter boxes!
Introducing 35mm film photography to my offerings
Okay, drum roll please….I am going to be offering TRADITIONAL FILM photography beginning this year! EEEEK! I have long admired traditional film and you may have noticed my editing inching closer to film emulation; one of the more common love notes I get from my clients is about the film-y quality of my photos, so this was bound to happen at some point. Traditional film quite literally requires you to slow down and watch the moment, because unlike digital, you don’t have the opportunity to snap snap snap, quickly review, and delete what doesn’t look good. Once you click the shutter–that’s it until you get your scans back from the film lab! I’m so excited to practice more PRESENCE and INTENTION with my shooting through this format, and even more excited for my Kitsap and Gig Harbor family photography clients to have access to a local film photography option.
All for now, friends. <3
