when questions are answered

"I burn a lot of omlettes. it's a regular occurrence - I'm drawing robots with my kid, I'm jotting down an idea I don't want to lose, I'm taking the call. and then the smoke alarms goes off. I "work" on holidays. last Monday I stayed in bed and read all day. I send birthday gifts three months early or three months late - but it's just the right gift. I can eat cereal every day for a week, wearing the same clothes, never leaving the house because I want to finish a book. I like last minute trips out of town and not answering email for days. the last time I was at a monastery, I tweeted about it.

this is not a balanced life. but it works. and the more I pursue my passions, the more uncomplicated my life gets, actually. there's not much in my life that I resent. and if resentment builds, I'm swift to get it off my plate. it's not the imbalance-ness that stresses me, it's doing meaningless things that aren't taking me where I want to go."

- Danielle LaPorte, the suck factor of life balance, + passion as a cure to stress

on balance

some days I wonder. if balance is something that has to be achieved, or is experienced ever so briefly whenever I find pure joy in the little details and ordinary moments that collectively provide a glimpse of what a fulfilling, imperfect, authentic and happy life truly is.

hmm.

Holga + PolaBack = Holgaroid

everything is going to be alright

curling up in bed with my boys, favorite books and an overwhelming sense of uncertainty as circumstances are forcing our family to make important decisions. yet every day I am reminded of the courage that resides deep within each of us, of the love that ties us together and the goodness that we are capable of. that every challenge that surfaces in life is a new opportunity to learn, and eat chocolate. that I actually don't know everything that I need to. and that it's okay.

that no matter what, everything is going to be alright.

we often tell our children that they can be and do whatever they put their minds into. let's show them how

I once stood in front of the mirror in the 2-bedroom apartment I shared with my mother holding a hair brush, and thanked God, my family and friends, and the members of the Academy for this tremendous honor.

will I ever win an Oscar? I don't know. and the truth is, it doesn't matter much. what matters is that I stop operating under the false assumption that "this" is too big for me. what matters is that I keep working tirelessly, that I keep being brave, and accept that "this" is just big enough for me to build the creative and fulfilling life that I want for myself.

The Beckoning of Lovely: One Year Later (via the lovely Karen)

12 hours between us

last week my mother moved to Seoul, South Korea. and I miss her. while walking up the escalator at the mall, when picking up my boys at school. I miss her, yet even though this has altered my life in very unexpected ways, though I am afraid, I know that letting her go is part of growing up. I miss her, but I'm grateful for the opportunity we have now to deepen our bond, and build a healthier, more loving relationship.

Maria Antonietta Mameli: Human Observation - Red Bags

savor kindness

Rialto bridge

I've finally had the roll of film that I shot with my Holga in Venice developed today.

Trocadero

father and son

one of my first attempts with my Holga camera, peeking into the evolving friendship between father and son.