Partied all night Saturday... through Zoom video chat 🤭.
When a friend I met on Clubhouse pinged me into a virtual dance party, at first I was like 🤨. Then I saw his and everyone else’s dance moves, heard the music that DJ Ice Mike was playing and felt the good vibes of the room, I didn’t want to leave. I was in the middle of editing though so just planned on being a spectator but then Wayne Wonder started playing and that was it... Miami girl was coming out 😝. I looked at B who was in the middle of writing a final’s paper and he said, “Let’s do it. Pour the shots.” If you know B, you know 🕺🏻🤣. We still continued to work but def had a good time, ending a week full of work, business, tests, and all that adult stuff, dancing and letting go with people I’ve never met that probably just wanted to do the same 🤙.
Reaching the anniversary of this unprecedented year, this reminded me that you have to find ways to continue to live life and how good it feels to connect with people, even if it’s in a way you never thought you would. Getting out of your comfort zone and opening your heart and mind can bring in amazing times, connections and opportunities …what we all need right now.
I grew up in Miami, living there until I was 18, spending basically every waking minute with my very close knit family that included grandparents, parents, brother, aunts (my mom and her 7 sisters), uncles and my dozen+ cousins. We pretty much went to the same school and lived within blocks of each other so we were inseparable. Friends became family and family became friends because if you knew one of us, you knew all of us so it was always the same group of people.
This made College life such a culture shock for me (especially with it being predominantly white and not Hispanic but that’s a topic for another day). I was 6 hours from home and didn’t know anyone, except my boyfriend at the time. I made friends but never really let myself be truly open or invest in those relationships. All I wanted was to drive to Miami, stay with my family, my friends and in my comfort zone... and I did, most of those years.
Looking back on it, I did myself a disservice. I, for sure, did not get the best out of those college years because I held myself back from all the opportunities while there and instead, only held onto what and who I already knew.
When my husband joined the military, something I had no experience with, got stationed in Hawaii right after college and we moved an ocean away from home - it was a whole new ball game. I couldn’t just drive back to Miami. And soon my husband had to deploy. I couldn’t continue to rely on him or my family and friends back home to help fill my cup. Even though I was completely out of my comfort zone, I had to find ways to live and enjoy life without them. This forced me to connect with other military spouses, my neighbors and the locals. I had the best time and all those relationships, I still hold dear to this day.
Same when we moved to San Diego. This time I was pregnant. Couldn’t just go to a bar and meet people so I had to find another way. Completely nervous and terrified, I joined my first mom group. I had the best time and those mamas are still part of my village now. Also, because of them, I was inspired and empowered to pursue my passion for photography.
Same for Italy. Met people that became my family. It was also where PassportsandLullabies and my photography business really started. I was petrified going into my first sessions but I’m so glad I did.
Same for Seattle. Same for Virginia. And even now when we go back and visit Florida. Moving and having to start over every couple of years plus all the other bumps on the road can be so daunting and tempt me to want to stay in my protected little bubble but I have to remind myself that having been open-minded and open-hearted in the past, gave me some incredible opportunities and even better, allowed me to meet truly amazing people.
If you want goodness to flow into your life, open your door and welcome it.