The Waiting Game
Honestly....the cuteness!
At first glance, this portrait seems perfect. The precious little girl, the expression, the rhythm of the black-and-white coexisting in a balanced symmetry.
But, like most things, when we look closer, there's so much more to see...and it happens to exactly represent how I've been feeling lately.
1. Let's start with the mismatched foundation on which she sits. I don’t know about you, but it feels hard to find my footing right now. Sooo much is up in the air, on so many fronts. Trying to stay balanced and upright can sometimes feel like a full-time job! But here she sits...safe, and level.
2. She's totally put together on the outside - the perfect dress and shoes. But look at the ever-so-tentative way she's holding her feet, the crooked part in her hair, the mismatched pigtails...all TOTALLY how I feel! Except I don’t even know if I can really claim that I'm put together on the outside most days! 😂 (Shoes...makeup...and pants that zip?? Oh my.)
3. And then, the most important part...her expression. Staring at us straight on, not shying away, but still slightly unsure. There's a brave and bold innocence there...but those little hands, that little finger on her lips. Watching, taking it all in. Waiting.
And aren't we all feeling a little of that?
Waiting to see what happens with the increasing pandemic numbers...will we be closed down again?
Waiting to see what decision are made about our schools...should they stay or should they go?
Waiting to see if the long overdue changes we so desperately need will finally occur...will we realize that 'Black Lives Matter' in no way means that all lives don’t?
It's funny how the filter through which we view a portrait can change its meaning so dramatically. Back in February, I just loved this image for all the reasons I outlined at the beginning. Now I love it even more for all of the reasons it makes me stop, think, and reflect.
I'll never look at it the same way again.
At Sigmon Taylor, we've declared 2020: The Year of Family. We've experienced a lifetime together in the last few months. But, hopefully we can all see the silver lining that's been offered to us and we'll look back on this time spent with our family as some of the sweetest in its story. Let us create an iconic portrait celebrating the year in which you rediscovered each other.
There's so much else we're waiting on, let's not wait on this.
❤️
With much love and gratitude,
Monica
