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Remember when we could actually be near people?

Remember when we could actually be near people?

At the end of February, I was in New York—meetin

At the end of February, I was in New York—meeting this little one for the first time, exploring the streets of Brooklyn, and enjoying time with dear friends. And now, less than two months later, this memory feels so distant. Time is incredibly strange. The days seem to pass quickly, but this period has stretched us in ways that would typically span over the course of months or years. And though we each face different battles each day, I think we can all agree on one thing: in the stillness and in the deafening solitude, we are reminded how very precious this life is; it’s brevity, so fragile. This pain is merely temporary, and one day, we will taste the goodness of community again. I assume life will certainly never return to “normal,” at least the normal we knew. But it will be full again. And as we wait in expectancy for that day to arrive, may we remember what a privilege it is to breathe the fresh air in our lungs, to feel the wave of emotions that render us whole, and to love through barriers of distance and separation. Hold firm to the truths you believed before all of this unraveled. Because these very truths give us the courage to press on.

The past month has been a whirlwind, hasn't it? I

The past month has been a whirlwind, hasn't it? I spent the first two weeks of quarantine feeling totally depleted: physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. I wondered when I might regain some semblance of contentment, to feel myself again. Many of the days, I battled negative thoughts, self-doubt, and feelings of anxiousness, as I'm sure many of you can resonate with.

Then last weekend, I felt a bit of a shift. It seems spring has come early to Cincinnati this year, an unexpected yet pleasant surprise. And as I walked around the neighborhood, capturing some of the blooms in their element, I began to realize that just like the seasonal changes, there will also be a spring in our hearts, an awakening of sorts. I imagine, when this is all over, we will feel renewed in a way we haven't yet before.

So, I had an idea, one that might give us that same sort of hope the spring flowers bring on the tail end of winter. It will be called COVID Chronicles: honest thoughts in the midst of the chaos. Initially, I thought I would write to you more frequently, to share bits of my days so that you might be encouraged in yours. But it didn't sit quite right in my spirit. I mean, there's only so much I am doing with my days anyway. ‪Until Saturday, in the middle of my at-home workout (which, by the way, has really helped with my mental head space), I thought, why not share the stories of others here? In the past six months, I've met people from all around the world, from different backgrounds and cultures, different upbringings and languages, different perspectives and world-views. And now, we're all going through this thing collectively. Why not bring us together?‬ Through COVID Chronicles, it is my hope to collect the experiences and thoughts of others and share them with you here, to bridge the gaps and the distance that currently separate us. Wherever you are in the world and whatever it is you may be going through currently, whether good or bad, positive or negative, I invite you to share so that even a stranger might find comfort and solace in your journey. Because we all have something to give.

Link in bio for the details!

Before quarantine, I had been in Cincinnati for ab

Before quarantine, I had been in Cincinnati for about a total of three weeks since November. From Australia to Southeast Asia, Haiti and around the US, it had been a nomadic season with even more travel plans to come. But suddenly, that halted in an instant. I had to cancel my trip to Seattle as Covid-19 began to escalate, along with other trips in the months to come. And since then, as most of you, I’ve been confined for the past 21 days, with a few exceptions like going to the store, walking around the neighborhood for some fresh air, or just getting in the car to drive around for some semblance of normalcy. I struggle to sit, not just in the literal sense of the word, but figuratively too. It might be the perfectionist in me, always feeling the need to be productive, to be working on the next project or accomplishing another goal on my list. But when the world literally tells you to stop and slow down, you listen. And I’m trying not to take that for granted.

Love is what binds us, what holds us together when

Love is what binds us, what holds us together when the world around us is falling apart. It gives us strength in our weakness, a companion when we feel alone. And above all else, it gives us hope, a promise of more on the horizon, even when our eyes cannot see. Because this courage it gives, this unwavering courage, enables us to step forward when the ground shakes beneath our feet. Love—the greatest of gifts is love.

I’ve been spending time looking through and blog

I’ve been spending time looking through and blogging photos from last year, including this one, taken just two months before Ruby Lou graced this earth with her sweet presence. And this particular story is such a perfect reminder of this season we currently find ourselves in—a season of waiting, of hoping, of doubting, of trusting, and of choosing to believe something good is on the other side, even when we can’t yet see it. These two spent years in the waiting, yet walked through it with such grace and faith. And I only hope I can be more like that 🌾

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Photography & storytelling with purpose
Feet in Cincinnati, Heart in Haiti