“A woman  must find time for herself. Time is what we spend our lives with. If we are not careful we find others spending it for us. . . . It is necessary now and then for a woman to go away by herself and experience loneliness; to sit on a rock in the forest and to ask of herself, ‘Who am I, and where have I been, and where am I going?’ . . . If one is not careful, one allows diversions to take up one’s time—the stuff of life.”
― Carl Sandburg 

FOUR

WHOLE

MONTHS

Of self portraits. I’m sharing that quote to serve as a reminder, whether you have children or not. Alone time is OK. I have yet to attempt another round of solo self portraits, and I can say with certainty that they make me reflect so much. As I sit there looking at myself in the camera , having all of the tiny pangs of self hate and loathing, I am able to think of myself for a second, to look at my features and examine and as I most often do,  make a list  in my head of the things I would change about myself . Still I welcome solo self portraits as my alone time, not only physically but mentally.

So many of us have called photos with our children cheating, as we are able to hide behind hugs and giggles.  So I want to challenge you to take a solo self portrait if you haven’t already. Feel the bareness . & take it all in.

song recommendation : Sara Bareilles , She used to be mine.

TAMARAH HODGSON ADRIENNE LOUISEMEGAN BOGGS 

ADRI DE LA CRUZ BECCI RAVERA ANNMARIE DENIS CAMILLE ARNER

KISHELLE LINENKO MINDY TINGSON TINA STRICKLAND SARAH SAVINSKI AMBER WEST 

GINA SANTELLANO 

JANEL PEYTON 

LAURA WOOD BETH CAGNONI AMANDA BARRICK BRITTNY DEBONISANNE UEBERSETZIG 

NINA MARTINEZ MARISSA ROSEILLER ASHLEY ESSIG 

KATIE DECKER ASHLEY MARSTON 

SELF PORTRAIT GROUP : ENTER HERE