The Prism: Life Reflections

Click!??

The sudden flash dilated my sensitive eyes as the whir of the Polaroid camera, hummed a pictures-on-its-way jingle.?

Earlier that day, my brother and three sisters thundered down the wooden steps where Slinkys had dared to slink. We arrowed through the beaded curtain my mother had strung across the entry. The glass studded string ticked and swayed like the pendulum on our Grandfather clock.

We padded across the shag carpet of the living room with reverence until we reached the savage land of the kitchen marked by the yellow linoleum. There, we twirled, danced, and slapped our feet with delight as our mother explained to us that we were going to take a family photo in the living room.?

The living room was a mysterious no-mans land for us as children, velvet couches draped in heavy plastic. Inedible wax fruit on the coffee table next to a filled candy bowl and a stack of crisp Jet magazines. Ornate lamps with wide shades sat on matching tables surrounded by flowers that never lived and yet would never die. A large cabinet that held a record player and a massive color TV on the top finished off the layout.

We were never allowed, unsupervised, in that room. When mom shared her plan regarding the family picture my brother and I hatched a plan!

While mom sat in the kitchen styling and combing the hair of our three sisters. My brother and I went to work. I slid across the plastic covering the couch, grabbed a Jet magazine, and opened it to the center page. My little brother pulled a handful of candy from the bowl and licked a few pieces. He frowned after tasting the green ones and put them back into the dish. A few He dropped on the carpet. The rest he ate with relish. After a while of "reading" and eating, my brother and I decided to start a battle in the beads. We clicked the jeweled strands against each other, entangling a few and pulling one strand completely out of the wall. After the battle, I flipped the lights on and off and my brother tried to bite the wax fruit.

Mom finished the hairstyles of all my sisters. She came into the living room and found the Jet magazines crinkled, a piece of candy stuck in the shag carpet, and she noted that one of her beaded curtain strings seemed to be missing.?(Thrown behind the couch if I had to guess)

My brother and I received a few swatts before the picture and a few threats to receive more if we didn't smile for the camera.

My mom finally took her family picture and my brother and I were able to experience the mysteries of the living room. I never asked my sisters if they were happy with their hairstyles.

In the whirlwind of life, amidst the chaos and the mundane are moments that define us, moments that shape our understanding of who we are and what we're meant to do. The simple act of taking a photograph has the power to capture these moments. Freeze them in time, and provide us with invaluable insights into our purpose. Here are three compelling reasons why embracing photography can visually aid you as you search for your purpose:

1. Reflection and Self-Discovery: When we snap a picture, we're not just capturing an image; we're encapsulating a moment infused with emotion, meaning, and significance. Looking back at these photographs allows us to reflect on our journey, revisit the moments that stirred our souls, and delve deep into the essence of who we are. In the shared memory, the chaotic yet heartwarming scene of our family gathering for a photo highlights the significance of capturing the everyday moments that contribute to our sense of identity. Each photograph becomes a mirror, reflecting to us glimpses of our true selves, guiding us on the path towards self-discovery and purpose.

2. Finding Beauty in Imperfection: Life is messy, unpredictable, and often imperfect. Yet, within this chaos lies a profound beauty waiting to be discovered. Photography teaches us to embrace imperfection, to find beauty in the mundane, and to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. In the memory, the mischievous antics of my brother and I, amidst the carefully curated living room backdrop symbolize the juxtaposition of order and chaos, of perfection and imperfection. By capturing these raw, unfiltered moments, we learn to appreciate the beauty of authenticity and the richness of life's complexities, paving the way to a deeper understanding of our purpose.

3. Creating Meaningful Connections: Photographs have the unique ability to transcend time and space, bridging the gap between past, present, and future. They serve as tangible reminders of the people we've loved, the places we've explored, and the experiences that have shaped us. Sharing these photographs with others fosters meaningful connections, sparking conversations, evoking emotions, and fostering a sense of belonging. In the story, our family photo becomes not just a snapshot in time but a testament to the bond shared between siblings and the cherished memories created together. By cultivating these connections and cherishing the moments captured in photographs, we cultivate a sense of purpose rooted in love, connection, and shared experiences.

I have learned that photography is not just about capturing images; it's about capturing moments, emotions, and memories that illuminate our journey towards purpose. Through reflection, embracing imperfection, and fostering meaningful connections bound in memory, photography becomes a powerful tool for navigating life's twists and turns, guiding us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. So, pick up that camera, frame those moments, and let the journey of purpose unfold one click at a time.