Learning To See

by Leigh

This has been a year of transformations for me.  It all started last January when I picked mindfulness as my word for the year.  Mindfulness sparked a journey for me both physically and spiritually.  As my outside changed through eating right and exercising, inside began to change as well.  I began to open up and become who I really am.  I learned to embrace my imperfections because that's who I am. Learning to enjoy the journey has become my new mantra.  It's not always about the end result, but what we learn along the way.  

"Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance." ~Brene Brown

Maybe this is why I've always been so attracted to macro photography.  Instead of showing the whole picture the focus is on a small part that contributes to the whole.  The beauty of macro photography is that it uncovers the often unseen….the overlooked….the cast aside.  Macro photography makes us slow down and uncover the beautiful details….the perfectly imperfect.

We so often expect perfection from ourselves.  We become our worst critic. But there is a lesson in slowing down and taking the time to notice the little things that make us beautiful.  As we learn to love ourselves from the inside out we share that love with others.  Enjoy slowing down with your camera, paying full attention, observing beauty that many people pass right by.  Your generosity of spirit and keen eyes may open the door to many mini miracles others would not have access to otherwise.  And you might just discover something new about yourself along the way.