numb + lydia

I'm in my studio right now (voice studio, that is!), catching a breather in between lessons. It smells like Christmas in here, thanks to Laura's incredible candle. The sky outside is a gorgeous blue, and there is some renegade snow clinging to the trees so tightly it looks painted on. It is picturesque, but I am not looking forward to going outside. By the time I get to the car, my legs will be numb, because it is so cold. Numb is kind of a good word to describe my current state of being. I am feeling numb in many ways right now. I am so blessed in so many ways, but I am so overwhelmed by my to-do list that I am not sure where to start. My brain and my body want to shut down, because winter is a time of hibernation. I keep feeling the urge just to draw inside of myself and explore what is there. Next to my bed, there is a little ottoman that my grandfather built for my Mom. There is a stack of books precariously perched upon it, from the Panera cookbook to Tennyson's The Idylls of the King--from Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter to Michael Borg's The First Paul. I don't want to study for my final exams! I just want to curl up under a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate and read. I want to feed my soul. Right now it is starving.

In the midst of all of this, I have had a huge mountain of editing to do, which I find exciting and daunting. I have this vision for my business, and lots of great ideas and goals, but I feel like right now they can't break free of the to-do list. One of them is my blogging. I wish I could make time to blog most days of the week! I want to talk not only about photography but about life. I just find exhaustion so stifling to my creativity - I sit down to write, and I can't shut my stressed out brain off long enough to make a sentence. Maybe it is like that with everyone, but I find it so frustrating.

For anyone out there who reads this, what do you to do de-stress? I need some strategies.

So  now, for something fun: Lydia. Lydia was so much fun to shoot. We have both been voice students at IU for the past few years - I think our first class together was French diction. With her gorgeous classic looks, blue eyes, and wonderful blond hair, her photoshoot was a breeze! Lydia, you are so sweet and so kind - I had so  much fun working with you and I feel so lucky that you picked me to take your new headshots. I think you look like you walked out of a Jane Austen novel...simply gorgeous!

 Hellllllllooooo BLUE eyes! :)

 I think your wonderful kindness really comes through in your photographs.

Lydia, you're awesome. Happy Wednesday!