You don’t see it right away, but it’s there. The straw in its mouth, the one it must gather for home; for the nest. It symbolizes a continues gathering until woven pieces can finally hold things together. It is an amazing labor of love. It is much like our work in everything we care for. We labor with love and gather what is needed for the home, for our nest. The home where we live in, with its kitchen and rooms, and the home in our hearts; the place where we gather strength and courage; the place where we gather our dreams and make them real.
What is curious about this moment is its pause. I was witness to it; it was a pretty long one. This maya bird took a moment to perhaps gather its breath; as if to take whatever was in sight all in. A little bird marveling at the world.
I watch these birds every morning now. They teach me how to pause, to breathe, and take in a bit of the world outside my window. I feel like a little bird marveling at the world. There is work to be done, but I shall marvel at the world.
The beautiful, beautiful gift that photography has given me is a voice. A voice for the words in my heart. I think I kept on looking for a way to find a place for all that. I knew I could write, but I wasn’t sure what I could give to the world. I knew I needed to give back something and I thought, why would the world be interested in my love letters? And then it stretches further to, why would the world be interested in my confusion and heart ache? How would the world benefit from all that? I couldn’t figure it out until there were these ‘prompts’ – you take a photo based on a concept, a word, and you could write about it if you want, or leave it to speak for itself. I am drawn to writing about it because when I capture something, I am certainly capturing a moment. And most of the time I like to paint that moment with words, too. What I have realized is that every moment contains a gift. Yes, every moment. Can you imagine how many gifts there are? Certainly enough to give back to the world.
‘Prompts’ are like inspiration, except I think when we just rely on inspiration, we tend to wait for it to come. That’s fine, but we shouldn’t just wait. And wait. And wait. Because maybe we don’t even know what exactly we’re waiting for; a magic feeling? Pixie dust? Nah. It doesn’t really work that way. I think we have to commit to something. It doesn’t even have to be big. So, if you’re prompted, let’s say with a word, you’re given a direction; a kind of path to follow, a way for your eyes to see or find something that’s already there. Somehow inspiration is everywhere; all you have to do is capture it. *insert magic feeling and pixie dust here*
What have you been prompted to notice, see, or capture lately?
Words and image courtesy of Guest Blogger Jennifer Hagendorn Dizon. She can found at Instragram as @beautifulnothing, on flickr as Creative Jen or on her blog The Divine in Everything.
Marcie says
What a beautiful and inspiring post! I think I'm drawn to the finding something new in what I see every single day:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2012/4/3/always-new.html
Puna says
I'm looking for new inspiration. I just need to get out with me and my camera in order to find each other again.
http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2012/04/april-4-new-trails/
rakusribut says
thank you so much jen, for being my prompt today….
brought me back to my commitment to capture some of the marvels of my world every day in my daily photo-blog
here's todays pick
http://kiekjevandedag.blogspot.com/2012/04/parels.html
you are so right! every moment is a gift and our days are full of them
Kathryn Dyche Dechairo says
Love the image. Seeing the little bird there made me smile.
I've been participating in Kat's Photo Heart Connection each month. I love how it makes me look back over the photos I've taken over the month and discover which ones truly speak to me.
http://dychedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/02/photo-heart-connection-january.html
http://dychedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/03/photo-heart-connection-february.html
http://dychedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/04/photo-heart-connection-march.html
Diane says
Your post has "prompted" me to want to grab my camera and go for a walk.
Sometimes I get in this "rut" and I need a push to get myself going away ….. this is what I needed!
๐
Gabriele says
I am into looking for Pantone colors in my close environment and I was driving down the main drag when I noticed Rhapsody purple paint on the espresso stand. I was prompted to jump out and take that shot. I saw a Rhapsody colored mailbox but i didn't stop, maybe tomorrow.
http://backontheflooragain.blogspot.com/2012/04/where-do-all-colors-come-from.html