The greatest treasure mankind has to offer cannot be purchased with silver or gold, but must be earned through the experiences in life’s journey. More valuable than the world’s most prized piece of art is the knowledge and wisdom humanity has gained in our short existence on this planet. With a fantastic imagination and the ability to learn and adapt the race of man has evolved from cave dweller to space explorer.
With everything that people have and can create, the most precious item of all is the one that usually gets overlooked, which is ourselves. In today’s busy and rapidly changing world, it can be difficult to find time for improving as individuals. With career and family obligations, and the random chaos that interrupts daily life, people often neglect dedicating time for them self. When individuals understand who they are inside, they are much better equipped to deal with the world outside.
No amount of wealth can make a person content if they are not first happy with themselves. The world can be a hard and unforgiving place, relationships, careers and possessions can all be taken away from individuals throughout their lifetime. The things you seek today can quickly become the stuff of distant memory tomorrow. When an individual can love and accept themselves, they can find peace with whatever their future might hold.
So if you want to shine up your most precious gem, or put another coat of polish on your greatest treasure then look inside and better yourself. The finest creation humanity has to offer, individually and collectively, is who we are as people. There is no gift more valuable than when people give of themselves.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Winter approaches
Winter approaches, and with it comes a season of change. The leaves start to turn into their autumn colors, floating softly to the ground as they die off, winter harvests of squash and pumpkins fill the fields, children bundled in their winter coats and knit caps, hurrying home after school. I love this time of the year. I love the grey skies and the cloudy days. This is why I made my home in the Pacific North West. Most people are sun lovers, my husband included. But I grew up in the southern states, and winters are still new to me. I still approach winter with wonder. I love seeing the leaves change to orange, red and yellow. I love all the rain, even the days-on-end rain we get here in Vancouver. And I love the snow. Snow, who could have known it would be like that? I’m sure some of you will laugh, as many of my friends do now. But when it starts to fall, I run outside and stand in it, looking up, watching the flakes softly float down to Earth, feeling as if I am dancing in a snowglobe that has just been shook. The thought of making a snowman thrills me, and I prepare weeks ahead of time, gathering branches that might look good as arms and hands, planning out how I will position them, wishing I had as much snow as Calvin did in the old Calvin and Hobbes comic strip.
Living here, I have approached imagination and wonder again. I allow myself to dance in the fallen leaves, to play in the snow, to fly a kite. I have regained my curiosity, and am willing to make up a story about how a shoe got into the middle of the road, instead of passing it by with a glance. I am perfectly willing to eat ice cream for dinner, and have the audacity to stay up until four am, laughing with my friends. Robert shares this with me now, instead of fighting it. He says I’m truly a five year old at heart, and I embrace that. Being able to allow my child out has allowed him to do the same, and with it, our work gets more and more intense.
We are getting busy as the holidays approach. Families are getting together, and memories are being made. We are happy to be a part of this, capturing friendships and love in pictures. We are traveling to the Seattle area the first weekend in December for a commercial shoot, and have a few time slots available for individual portrait work. Any interest should be directed to RGebbiePhotography@yahoo.com.
Living here, I have approached imagination and wonder again. I allow myself to dance in the fallen leaves, to play in the snow, to fly a kite. I have regained my curiosity, and am willing to make up a story about how a shoe got into the middle of the road, instead of passing it by with a glance. I am perfectly willing to eat ice cream for dinner, and have the audacity to stay up until four am, laughing with my friends. Robert shares this with me now, instead of fighting it. He says I’m truly a five year old at heart, and I embrace that. Being able to allow my child out has allowed him to do the same, and with it, our work gets more and more intense.
We are getting busy as the holidays approach. Families are getting together, and memories are being made. We are happy to be a part of this, capturing friendships and love in pictures. We are traveling to the Seattle area the first weekend in December for a commercial shoot, and have a few time slots available for individual portrait work. Any interest should be directed to RGebbiePhotography@yahoo.com.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Briar Wood Pipes
Briar Wood Pipes
For a number of years, Robert has been making Briar wood pipes for himself and friends. These beautiful pipes are cut and hand sanded, bringing out the beauty in the grain of the wood. Straight grains, flame grains, sunburst patterns, these are all seen in the wood. We have made a few of them available on our etsy site, and we invite you to take a look for yourself!
For a number of years, Robert has been making Briar wood pipes for himself and friends. These beautiful pipes are cut and hand sanded, bringing out the beauty in the grain of the wood. Straight grains, flame grains, sunburst patterns, these are all seen in the wood. We have made a few of them available on our etsy site, and we invite you to take a look for yourself!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Our Latest PDX Girl, Jennifer
In the latest of our series on the Essence of Woman, we would like to introduce Jennifer. We had such fun, she was a dream to work with! We are looking forward to working with her again very soon.
Monday, September 21, 2009
The Greatest Adventure
When every day you live becomes your greatest adventure life is an experience you are anxious to greet. While the concept is simple, the task can be overwhelming to accomplish. Maintaining hope and optimism from one day to the next can be a daunting chore in itself. It is always easier to have faith in an ideal than it is to live up to one. Daily events and the chaos of life can make it a challenge to consistently stay unwavering and on track in a person’s endeavors or journey.
For me, the greatest adventure has been to learn, grow and evolve as an individual, following my dreams and developing in directions I would have never explored without the opportunities my journey has afforded me. Each moment is a chance to learn from people, information, and environments around us. Everyone has the chance to better understand their world when one chooses to observe. Understanding the effect a single moment can have on a person’s progress is paramount when seeking to find one’s own self. The truth is often difficult to find, and even more of a challenge when we seek such honesty of ourselves. To understand the world outside we must first know the world within.
The fewer number of obstacles that obscure a person’s vision, the more clearly that individual can see a path to accomplishing their goals. When self improvement and growth are included in an individual’s endeavors, they will continue to excel towards their long term dreams. The desire to better ourselves and evolve as a person is not an overnight journey, and takes a lifetime to reach. The moment one milestone or pinnacle is accomplished, another will present itself and remind us that there is always more to learn and understand. Every individual must discover their own path and define their journey by the maturity, experience and desires of that person, themselves.
In my experience, every step forward presents a larger vision. Through observation and discovery, I have found a greater understanding of myself and the things around me. This forward evolution has helped to balance my life and bring me a peace and happiness I have never known before. The deeper I explored my own misperceptions and obstacles; the more clearly I understood the people, events and actions that molded me into the person I am. The deeper this understanding, the simpler many issues became. Small matters of guilt and emotional stress became much less significant matters to dwell on.
Most people spend a large amount of time discounting the knowledge and experiences of others. Many of the things we are told get judged and discarded without much consideration. Too often, individuals will hold onto the social, emotional or conceptual notions they have developed in their life, and quickly disregard the varied experiences of others. Even in the closest of relationships people often say and do things from a point of view limited by their own very personal experiences. One of the most valuable things a person can do to improve is to close their mouth, then open their eyes and ears to observe. Approaching people and information without pre-conceptions or assumptions is not easy, but will open a path to learning and understanding.
Everyone has more to learn, and each individual has something worth contributing. When people accept that others have lives and experiences which may be different, but just as valuable as their own, they can then see a larger perspective. When people can perceive a wider view on their world, the smaller less significant worries cease to be an issue in blocking success and happiness.
For me, the greatest adventure has been to learn, grow and evolve as an individual, following my dreams and developing in directions I would have never explored without the opportunities my journey has afforded me. Each moment is a chance to learn from people, information, and environments around us. Everyone has the chance to better understand their world when one chooses to observe. Understanding the effect a single moment can have on a person’s progress is paramount when seeking to find one’s own self. The truth is often difficult to find, and even more of a challenge when we seek such honesty of ourselves. To understand the world outside we must first know the world within.
The fewer number of obstacles that obscure a person’s vision, the more clearly that individual can see a path to accomplishing their goals. When self improvement and growth are included in an individual’s endeavors, they will continue to excel towards their long term dreams. The desire to better ourselves and evolve as a person is not an overnight journey, and takes a lifetime to reach. The moment one milestone or pinnacle is accomplished, another will present itself and remind us that there is always more to learn and understand. Every individual must discover their own path and define their journey by the maturity, experience and desires of that person, themselves.
In my experience, every step forward presents a larger vision. Through observation and discovery, I have found a greater understanding of myself and the things around me. This forward evolution has helped to balance my life and bring me a peace and happiness I have never known before. The deeper I explored my own misperceptions and obstacles; the more clearly I understood the people, events and actions that molded me into the person I am. The deeper this understanding, the simpler many issues became. Small matters of guilt and emotional stress became much less significant matters to dwell on.
Most people spend a large amount of time discounting the knowledge and experiences of others. Many of the things we are told get judged and discarded without much consideration. Too often, individuals will hold onto the social, emotional or conceptual notions they have developed in their life, and quickly disregard the varied experiences of others. Even in the closest of relationships people often say and do things from a point of view limited by their own very personal experiences. One of the most valuable things a person can do to improve is to close their mouth, then open their eyes and ears to observe. Approaching people and information without pre-conceptions or assumptions is not easy, but will open a path to learning and understanding.
Everyone has more to learn, and each individual has something worth contributing. When people accept that others have lives and experiences which may be different, but just as valuable as their own, they can then see a larger perspective. When people can perceive a wider view on their world, the smaller less significant worries cease to be an issue in blocking success and happiness.
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