The Process

by Cathy 

“ You can do brickwork as a laborer or as an artisan.” ~ Anne Lamott

in the beginning her shutter could not keep up

with the secret conversation within her mind

as she chased the finished product 

mechanically clicking away she hoped for the best 

thinking that if she took enough photos

one would speak to her and the job would get done

once home, the weeding began 

and she usually lucked out;

there were moments worth preserving 

but lately she intentionally walks in the dappled light

without her camera; leaving it at home

working hard to notice the stories unfolding around her 

it rattled her at first; would she miss the shot of a lifetime? 

but she worried more about that fact that she had become lazy

forgotten how to engage in the process

she saw too much

tired to hard

and stayed too comfortable 

she read once that great photos are fueled by new ways of seeing

so today she searches for stories worthy of telling

digs in, works hard and is nourished by the process

she deletes more than she keeps now; 

failed ideas, bold mistakes, 

experiments gone bad

and she works at not holding on too tightly 

because regardless of the end result 

the process matters

there is a chill in the air as fall circles around her

today she has her camera with her and she raises it to her eye 

and catches her breath at the beauty of the sun 

as it touches the branches 

:::

Don't forget to enjoy the process, it is what nourishes us and keeps us going. 

I hope your weekend is grand! 

xooox