When Moments Create Us
Brushstrokes. Puppy Love. Beach Coffee. True Love. Wins. Daughters. Apple Pie Day. Her First Rodeo.
There are moments that we create, and there are moments that create us. As a student of photojournalism at Western Kentucky University, I was trained to hunt for those moments, anticipate them but not create them. If a photo was set up — like a frame and paint pallete or a mug set along the beach as the tide rolls in, we were instructed to label the image as a “photo illustration.” (This was before Instagram, AI and even Photoshop of course.) Now, it’s much different to discern what is an illustration and what is real life. But what I’ve discovered over the years in hunting and creating moments is that the moments create something within me, whether they’re captured at just the right second or if they commemorate something intentional that I just want to remember.
These moments are PART of me … part of what makes me ME …
a dog always welcoming me home …
apple pies made in the fall …
sisters holding hands …
the warmth of a horse’s nose …
seeing life through my daughters’ eyes …
a first love, the second time around …
a walk on the beach…
celebrating a win after a hard season.
Relaxing in the beauty of the mountains, the birth of my children, the moment I realized my marriage was over, falling in love...each has molded me in a unique and poignant way.
This post highlights how moments shape us, Stacy. Your examples, like a dog’s greeting or a walk on the beach, show the power of everyday experiences. I agree—small, simple moments often leave the biggest impact. What’s a tiny moment that’s left a lasting mark on you?🤔