to my VIDA collection. I hope you like these as much I loved creating them.
Here’s the link to my page.
LISA LILLIBRIDGE VIDA COLLECTION
here in Burlington, Vermont. My twin girls will be seniors next year so I’m heading into my last year of parenting kids in high school. I’m finding myself feeling uniquely nostalgic. I’m not sad about the inevitable transition, but I am mindful.
I have friends whose oldest or only children are graduating on Friday. It’s big. When my son graduated from high school in 2014, I was sort of a mess. I believe there’s just something about transitions that requires us to take stock of our emotions.
The summer between my junior year and senior year of high school was rough for me. I had a lot of friends in the class above me and they were all leaving for college and other adventures. Every time during their senior year when we played a ball game, sang in a concert or went to the drive-in movie theater it felt like we were saying goodbye to our childhoods.
Last weekend in South Dakota I got to spend time with some of those friends who graduated a year ahead of me. It was great! I simply cannot believe how much time has passed…1983 and 1984 just don’t seem all that long ago in some ways. I’m very aware of how my daughters are feeling this last summer before they graduate from high school…perhaps even a little too aware.
I guess to honor life’s transitions, we need to slow down a little and try to understand what it is we’re feeling…the good, the bad and the slightly confusing.
I love it when an idea won’t let me go…it seems that it’s demanding more of me. I have some travel time to sketch and write today on my way to my niece’s wedding in South Dakota and maybe some thoughts will take root. I’m pretty sure these images are in reaction to my “shitty roommate” post from last week. Perhaps these images represent the flip side of our lousy inner voice? I thought of this quote as I worked on these photographs.
“Courage is like—it’s a habitus, a habit, a virtue: You get it by courageous acts. It’s like you learn to swim by swimming. You learn courage by couraging.”
—Brené Brown
Below is the link to the post I”m referencing.
https://lisalillibridge.com/2017/05/12/three-life-changing-words/
From a LIFEHACK.org article: “The understanding that complex thinking is not required at all times can significantly help conserve valuable energy. Though major projects and problems may require abstract thinking, day to day life approached in a simple way can help ease stress levels and potentiate energy for the things that matter to you most. Practicing discernment in this area therefore, may prove very beneficial in your progress through burnout.”
There are so many great places to treasure hunt in my neighborhood—Vintage Inspired and Deep 6 Goods on Flynn Ave, the Barge Canal Market on Pine Street and David Robbins’ Upstairs Antiques at 1335 Shelburne Road in South Burlington (scroll down for map).
I ran into David while we were both doing a little hunting last week at Goodwill. We had some catching up to do about the state of the world and I promised to go check out his shop. Here are some images I shot at Upstairs ANTIQUES.
David’s shop for years was where the new City Market is being built on Flynn Avenue in Burlington. You have to work a little harder to find his shop now, but stopping by this well-curated shop will be well worth your effort. I picked up a framed print by my photographic hero, Dorthea Lange and funky hammer with a painted handle (see below).
Happy hunting this Memorial Day weekend.
Making something new out of the discarded or neglected is what gives me the most creative energy. Gutting and remodeling this outdated studio apartment in 2011 was one of my favorite projects of my lifetime. I learned a lot. I really like being dirty and tired from physical work. I slept remarkably well. I knew my mission. There were deadlines.
The downside of all-consuming projects for me is that they become an escape and I neglect other responsibilities in my life. I’m learning something about that now too. When is a project a craving? What am I escaping when I’m willing to get so singularly focused? Who in my life is this affecting? How?
I’m not entirely sure what’s next. I’m learning to be OK with the unknown.
http://www.century21.com/property/131-main-st-509-burlington-vt-05401-C2180124364
https://shopvida.com/collections/voices/lisa-lillibridge
—Benedict Cumberbatch (my hero/Sherlock Holmes on BBC series)
