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To Be PROUD

Downtown Pittsburgh, Pa
Jun 20, 2018
3 min read

I have been eager to reach for something new and different to photograph and share. While I love my weddings,family and lifestyle shoots. I sometimes yearn to shoot documentary if I can get a chance. I figured sharing it on my blog post was the right way to go about it. Sharing some of these experiences with you. Especially to portray the strong interests and beliefs I have in my own life, as an individual.

For several years now, I have been noticing the LGBTQ has been taking off with society, in a more clear understanding of Equality, especially since it has become legal to marry in Pennsylvania. When that occurred it became clear to ME how important it was to those in that community , and who want nothing more than to be treated just like anybody else. It is fair to recognize it and see that community as anything less. Everyone is just someone who is who they are. We shouldn't be trying to "normalize" what someone may think is normal. Everyone perceives it differently. As a young adult, a mom and a wife, growing and maturing in just a few short years. I have become aware and found these simple statements profound. The meaning of life it self and to living the life we have. What we make of it and how we teach our future generations on what is important.

Being a strong spiritual mother, in the lifestyle as close to Taoism, I try to keep a mindset "do without doing".Believe in your heart what you feel is best and the energy source you find yourself making choices in this life, for yourself and towards others. Love always drives us.

My husband and I try to instill this attitude into our children's lives. To show them kindness, compassion, respect and love for everyone they come in contact with. (We are not perfect examples all the time) But to build a foundation where we can show them to be proud of who we are and to not feel like we are any different from anyone else, to never feel like an outsider. That we all are unique and it's okay. (We tend to expose our children to some large worldly beliefs at young ages, all with kid friendly words choices of course ;0P .) We live our "unique" vegan lifestyle, so they are building a slow foundation of activism, in some form. With a greater understanding of WHY. So they at times understand, even at a young age what it feels like to be "different" yet proud of their choices.

The Pride Fest is a great way to come together as a community to show everyone of all ages, how important it is to accept and love one another. Not to mention a reminder of how far the LGBQT community has come over the years and how absolutely wonderful it is. A safe place for a group of people to gather and celebrate progress, while still planning for the challenges to come. One step closer to a world with more peace.

I think the saying goes "to love truly we must accept others as they are without expectations." I think this should be the motto to live our lives by.