Follow the Light

A photographer's resilience practice

My dear readers - -

How can we find the light when we fear the dark?

But without dark, we would not notice the light.

As a photographer, it is this interplay that captivates and motivates.¹

And isn’t it interesting that it was the dark shadows that attracted my attention, but it is the light that gives them life.

If it hadn’t been for my camera and attention to light, I might have been overwhelmed by this new five mile loop that took me up and down dirt roads and along the Ottauquechee River in Taftsville, Vt.²

For years, noticing the play of light has been one of my first steps in getting to know a place, an object or a person. So when everything is new, I avert overwhelm by following the light and letting it guide me beside, over and through the shadows.

And for me, regularly practicing that attention cultivates resilience.³

Why do I care about resilience? Because when I am resilient, I am better able to respond and adapt to adversity, trauma or significant stressors…like all that transpired last Tuesday and continues to evolve as I write.

I hope you’ll join me next week when I explore how color impacts experience.

Thank you for sharing your time and this space with me.

With gratitude for you being you,

Lyn

And what would my new life be like if I didn’t share this week’s compost bucket - - Showing up, one day, one bucket at a time - - it matters.

In the coming weeks, I’m going to explore the various ways I cultivate resilience by showing up to my photography practice. Please let me know what strategies you use for cultivating resilience in your life - - The comments section is always open!

Finally, if you know anyone who might be inspired by this meditation, please share!

1. In fact, without light, there would be no photography, which would indeed be sad, as it is the very thing that keeps me grounded and sane.

According to Merriam Webster, photography is the art or process of producing images by the action of radiant energy and especially light on a sensitive surface (such as film or an optical sensor).

2. I wonder if this new loop will become my metaphor of choice in the coming years as we navigate the ups and downs of political, social, economic and environmental extremes.

3. In last week’s post, We Vote Every Day - The Power of Showing Up, I re-introduced my guiding mantra - - Just Keep Showing Up - - no matter what.

Really, Showing Up is the first step in cultivating resilience, but following the light is what keeps me going. I’m excited to share these stages with you in the coming weeks.