sorrow

 
I’m not generally given to photographing client’s children while they are in a state of distress, but I felt there was something so poignant in this little boy’s expression that I couldn’t resist. That coupled with the very calming presence of his mother lets the viewer know that everything will be okay……she is near.

While sorrow is certainly not something most of us choose or want to experience, to me the completely open and raw quality of it represents an important passageway. If we don’t run away from it, or aggressively attack it……if we don’t numb ourselves out or delude ourselves by putting a happy face sticker over the top of it……there is a gift in grief. Once we allow ourselves to lightly touch it and look at it with clear open eyes, love and compassion reach back and touch us. Compassion for ourselves and for others, and compassion for the human experience in general. There is something so incredibly humbling and awe inspiring in going to the place that scares us most, meeting it head on, and then rising up from the smoldering ashes of its depths.

Rebirth.

 
~Cynthia

PS Please excuse the really bad scan of this image.