Acorn love and a dream

(Top photo: I gathered these acorns while on a walk with my daughter. We both fell in love with how tiny they were and how they each have an adorable winter "hat"). ***Update: Yes, I am loving this photo so much that I am using it for the header, at least through the winter months.***

You guys may have noticed a little change here in my blog as of late. For you regular readers who have stopped in for your once a month visit, you have probably been shocked to find there were multiple posts waiting for you. In short, I don't exactly know what has happened. I think all the recent transitions in our lives have brought the winds of change blowing through this blog. And I like it. Better yet, I love it. I simply love writing and taking pictures. A blog is an unlikely salve for my soul.

Something happened to me last month. You see, I sat down to write my typical post. Except, instead of sugar-coating what was going on in our lives, I was honest. Raw, in fact. I am sure I offended. Out of the rubble of my depression and struggles came a little sapling of passion: writing and photography. Thus began a series of posts. I found that after every post I wrote I felt more inspired than before. The inspiration really helped pull me out of this difficult season. And I have reconnected with my love (and need) to write, something I had buried since college.

I have a dream to write and take photographs professionally (or should I say "quasi" professionally). The passion is stirring, and I am not sure what the steps are to get there. But I'll have you know I am working on it. There are a few things motivating me right now. First of all, a few friends have embarked upon their own personal creative ventures, and I am inspired by their guts and hard work (Thanks Mary and Jenny!). I am also haunted by the fear that I will reach the youthful age of 75 and think to myself, "I would have loved to have been a writer" or "I would have made a great photographer." So a little fear mixed in with inspiration and a heavy dose of passion are driving me.

I really debated sharing this. I know it may sound presumptuous. Perhaps it could set me up for disappointing myself. But it's what I am walking through right now, and, well, I tend to write about those parts of my journey that move me. And in order to be moved into action, I have broken down this big goal into 3 smaller ones, mostly related to networking. I have also shared my passion with friends who are excited and have promised to hold me to my goals and keep me excited about the dream. And now...I have just 46 years to accomplish this goal before I reach my self-imposed deadline.