What if hospital families who shared their stories through my lens were gifted the photos and nonprofit organizations had real life stories to work with?
Let me explain where that came from…
I actually wrote my what if statement awhile ago when I was listening to Rachel Hollis’ book, Girl, Stop Apologizing. In her book, Hollis writes, “A goal is a dream you’ve decided to make real. A goal is a destination you’re working toward instead of an idea you’re only considering or hoping for … You’ve got to be intentional, and you’ve got to decide right now that you can be whoever you want to be and achieve whatever you want to achieve.”
Fast forward to this week, when I was hanging out with my Brene Buddies, a couple of my girlfriends who spend time nerding out with me over Brene Brown’s book, Dare to Lead, often with a glass of wine in hand.
Our Brene Buddies get together once a month to work through some of her Dare to Lead workbook and show up to support each other. You caught when I said nerding out, right? Well, this week we got together to watch Brene’s Netflix special, the Call to Courage. After watching, we were talking about what we are each going to do to be brave. My mind immediately went to my what if statement and to how I can lean in to my core values of courage and connection. Brene writes, “Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen…Connection is why we’re here; it is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.”
Today, I was courageous about sharing my what if, which led to an unbelievable connection.
What if hospital families who shared their stories through my lens were gifted the photos and nonprofit organizations had real life stories to work with?
Now I’m just throwing it out there to the universe.
I recently learned of a photographer, Alissa McDonald, who is doing just this. Check out The Mark Makers Organization out of California. Alissa wrote, “The Mark Makers exists because I crumbled and the only way to put myself back together was to create. To create meaning, to create purpose, to create connection, to create income that enabled me to care for my complicated child, to create something beautiful out of the horrors that is pediatric illness.”
Oh, Alissa, I see you.
Mark Makers is a caring, insightful blog…pictures tell the story. Thanks for sharing I wish that I had had this type of communication when Emilee was so sick….It all helps the families and friends….