“Love & A Photo”: MY journey

I don’t know about you but I am fascinated by how things work behind the scenes.   Even as a kid I would love to watch those features on special FX, life on set, etc.  Anything to see how “it works”.

Now that I am an adult, when I work on a movie & then see the finished product I am no less impressed by the ‘magic’ that gets spun to create a story to entertain people.

It comes from collecting a little bit each day.  Piecing things together.  We have a saying in the biz:  there’s the movie you shoot and the movie that gets released.

With that, every so often I wanted to check in with you & share just what I am learning along the way of this amazing project.  I think that is half of the fun, right?

So what does a girl who is single have to say about love?  At this point, not a lot. This is where I listen.  This project is about me learning & taking in each and every story these couples share with me.  Enjoying ALL the steps along the way.  I want to be like the silent partner in this process, other than these special update posts (for now, at least. I do have a dream that is in its baby stages).  I think their words will speak for themselves.  Back to what I was saying…

I have this weird habit that within minutes of meeting someone I like to ask how they met their significant other. Usually, once they get over a little bit of the surprise of me asking, they launch into some delectable story about fate, circumstance, coincidence, knowing, or some variance.  It is ALWAYS unique & kind of custom made for the couple; like how they met is what they needed or suited their personalities.

side story:  I have one set of friends that absolutely did not “like each other” but often found themselves in group get together situations.  One day they went hiking and she was walking behind him & it just hit her. She wanted more.   After that, it was pretty much inevitable since it turns out he had a secret crush on her for the 2 years they knew each other. That is the mystery that confounds & delights me.

What am I finding?

Well, people are so excited to share their story of how they met and journeyed to love with their partner. I get to glimpse just how incredible each love pairing truly is.  It’s the most amazing experience to be trusted enough to share these tales. I have read and re-read each one. I want to offer up some cool lessons or tidbits that stuck out to me & that I will carry in my heart!

6 simple lessons of my “Love & A Photo” Journey

1)  There is no formula.  The biggest thing that I took away from Brandi & Jason’s story (besides the fact those two peeps are pretty damn sweet AND funny!) is that love doesn’t have a blueprint.  It looks different for everyone.  Never let someone tell you how your love story should look.

2) Love can come when you least expect it. I think of Connie & Hansel meeting at his work where he made her this awesome salad. I mean, come on, what are the odds? That is so cool!  Let yourself receive that love.

3) True Love can come a second time around (Claudia & Paul). I adore Claudia. I met her over a year ago, and her honesty, frankness, and total devotion to living enamores me. She is full of joie de vivre!

I did not know that she was married before. I was too. For me, it was the kind of relationship where maybe youth and insecurities played against us. Not a good pairing. I wondered for a long time whether love would happen for me a second time around.  If I ever doubted, their story told me, it can!

4) When it comes to a ‘fight’, love the person more than your ego. That was something said by Jeff (of sherri & jeff), and it pierced me to the core.  I think back on some of my past relationships and how much it would have benefited me to have that mind. Also that communication is key.  Now HOW you do that is completely up to you!

5)  ”Love is friendship on fire”.  I must say with Noah & Leah being my ‘youngest’ (in time together) couple I was pretty excited to get a new perspective.  What I was left with that friendship builds love.  Enjoying & being there for your partner.

6) This is from me, a single girl…here goes…to love, it takes putting yourself out there for people to see.  You can’t hide your sparkle (or the not-so- sparkly bits)! They make you, YOU!  Be real with peeps.

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Some spare thoughts:

When you start a project like this you might be tentative, maybe even scared that people will reject your idea.  You know what?

I’ll be totally honest because that is how I roll.  That hasn’t happened.  The peeps around me not only embrace it, they fully support me.  I have people that email to give me ideas of who I can ask or give their time to take part.  They visit & tell others about my series.

There were a few that didn’t want to do it (for some good reasons) but they were so gentle with me, it was fine.

Another great lesson is be ok with making mistakes & gently accept when they happen.  The thing with trying a new project, is that you haven’t done it before. Which means, it’s bit of an unknown.  You have to build it. There will be guessing at how some things work. That’s cool.

Don’t go into ‘i-gotta-be-perfect-the-first-time-around’ mode.  It will keep you from moving forward.  Instead, make a plan.  YOUR plan.  Then follow it, learning along the way.  When you need help, ask for it.  All that is fine.  Just start!

*my spare thoughts are for the people who want so much to do something new or creative or whatever and just can’t move past the idea phase.*

So don’t let fear keep you from living out a dream or trying a new thing.  If you need extra encouragement, to get you started, come to me.  I’m here.  I will cheer you on.

You need to share that sparkle.  It isn’t meant for hiding!

edited to add:  I am a mushball over-the-top romantic.  I left that out & thought it was a tidbit you should know about me.  Just one of the reasons I wanted to do this series. *wink*