Thursday, August 4, 2011

looking up and standing your ground

ampersandgrey1

Preparing this post I found a letter I had written to myself just shy of a year ago. I like letters, so I hope it's ok that I share parts of it with you.

...It's going to be a big year and not just on paper. I can feel it inside. Deeper than the obvious. Let me lend you some advice from a previous version of yourself who wasn't scared and didn't worry about being safe or doing the right thing. Hike up your skirt and be bold. Don't worry about getting a little dirty and taking the long road - easy is for the weak and boring. You are neither of those things. Remember stripping buck naked, setting the timer on your camera and jumping into that pool beneath the waterfall in northern Laos? Do that everyday for the rest of your life. Don't forget how that felt. Do whatever it takes to get the shot and don't be a chicken. Stand your ground a be true to what you believe is right. Tell people how you feel and be gracious in humility. Think with your head too, your heart can be kind of a dumbass sometimes. Keep looking to the future, planning for what might come next while being alive in the moment. And after all this, get off the fricken computer and go hug that man you love!...

When Tammy and the other muses invited me to be a part of the anniversary posts I felt that same rush as the first time they asked me to be a part of the muses in the beginning. I feel honoured to be a part of this alumni. I even got a little teary thinking back.

Of the ladies that I mused with every week, I can't say enough about you. I love you all. Big-boob-squishy-hugs love you all, you pushed me everyday to be a better photographer - I thank you for taking me in and can't wait to follow you into your new endeavours. To the new muses, be bold, hike your skirt up and jump into that water. I can't wait to see what you will come up with here.

I have new digs at blog.ampersandgrey.com and would love for you to find me on Facebook.

p.s I like you

Michel of Ampersand Grey

348:365 canoe
348:365 canoe by misty croney

13 comments:

Unknown said...

"Keep looking to the future, planning for what might come next while being alive in the moment."

LOVE IT!

Unknown said...

oh, miss michel, i miss you so! so good to hear your voice. your images and posts always bring light and laughter to my world. get that man of yours to give you one of those same kinda hugs from me. xo

urban muser said...

michel, thank you for this inspiring post. i'm hiking up my skirt and i'll race you to the water!

Anika said...

Really beautiful post...love the letter to yourself {i may re-read it in times of need!} Like the diptych too!

donna said...

skirt being hiked, standing in jump stance....come on courage.
you inspire ME!

p.s. your photos are pretty great too!

christina said...

so very cool!
xo

Barbara said...

Can I pretend you wrote that letter to me? Thanks for the inspiration!!

Kirstin said...

Fabulous, Michel. And thank you for your lovely words of encouragement. It has been such a laugh, musing with you, x

esra said...

such an inspiring post...

cara said...

the letter is amazing. i'm so glad you are taking off into your own business. someone who writes like that ABOUT that can take on anything!

Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal said...

What a great letter! We should all hike our skirts up together. What a shot that would be :) I'll be by to check out your new digs. Thanks for the inspiration.

mosey (kim) said...

Right on, sister. I'm going to hike up my skirt, and I like Anita's idea of getting a shot of us all doing it! Tastefully of course. Or not. x

Maureen said...

I love so many things about you. But especially your honesty. Okay, and your sense of humor. Oh, and your mad photography skilz. Oh, crap, I just love you to bits. I'm so glad we mused together, and I can’t wait to hike up my skirt alongside you and jump.
xoxo
Mo

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