As I have mentioned often here, my Dad, as most that knew him would affirm, was and is still, unquestionably, a larger-than-life personality, and a man of his times, a seamless combination of Jack Kennedy, John Wayne, and Vince Lombardi.
He cast a very long shadow in all he did in life.
He was and is loved, by so many, for so much.
I didn’t really think much about it, as a kid, growing up but now, in hindsight, as an adult and parent myself, my Dad was one of the hardest-working human beings in the universe.
He worked, tirelessly and sacrificially, at home, in school, at church, and in the community at large.
His energy, in almost everything he did, was indefatigable.
Like many parents of the day, my Dad and Mom, invested so much in our family life, that, perhaps, they neglected, by choice, their own self-care.
My Dad’s pure modeling of drive and determination, as noble as these were, has got me, more recently, thinking about how our lives, each of us, are so full, busy, occupied, and engaged but, sadly, in a way, unavailable and, often, uncared for.
Could it be that, for many of us, in our relentless pursuit of resolution and resoluteness, innocently, we lose sight of our own needs, wants, and wishes?
We end up leaning more towards the status of human doings rather than human beings.
I have come to realize this, in more recent years, through both therapy and self-reflection, that one of the reasons I have such a vigorous, even herculean, attachment to Cape Cod because it’s the place and season, where both my Mom, Dad, siblings, all of us, whether it was our intention of not, naturally practiced, to the best of our ability, the art of self-care.
Here, we were free. Even if for only a few months in time and space.
On the Cape, during these glorious and seemingly endlessly-summer months, our family, all of us, wore different faces and robes.
We lived a different kind of lifestyle because we felt a different kind of way, about ourselves, each other, the roles we played in the universe, what we truly loved
I know that many of you feel overwhelmed and under-appreciated about so many things, in so many ways.
Hang in there. Be strong.
Maybe it’s the right time, even in the dread and dead of winter, to pretend it’s summer, and practice, without guilt, in your own way, the art of self-care
For those of you, here, that are photographer types, self-worth, in photography, is often born out of self-care.
It’s time to hold court for yourself, and indulge in your mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health and well-being.
Pretend like, even for a minute, it’s summer, in your mind, heart, and soul.
Your resurrection and awakening await.
Click.
Jack
