Leif with Kite
My brother in law, Steve, took these pictures of the kids with the Hipstamatic camera app on his iphone. They’re cool pictures, right? Â But taken with a regular camera would they have been so neat? Â Perhaps. Â Not only do these pictures make me want to get the cool Hipstamatic app on Dan’s iphone, but they also got me thinking about the idea of seeing things through a different lens of my own. Â In my life as a parent, this is a reoccurring theme.
Kai on Wave
In relationship to my kids, so often I recognize how a situation can either be way cool or way bad depending on how I see it, respond to it, and navigate through it. Â For me, parenting is so much about growing up myself…I mean, like, becoming WAY more mature and together than I ever expected was necessary in life. Â At the time that I got married and began a family, I’d say I was completely prepared for a life of interacting with other adults with a special ability to connect well with other people’s kids. Â But, parenting my own children in the way I desire seems to require super-hero powers that I don’t always seem to possess. Â Yes, the ability to quickly retreat to my bathroom and *presto*, see a situation through a different, hipsta-something, lens, would be a pretty awesome super power to have.
Leif digging
So, the next time I find myself all crazy mad because the cushions are off the couch (yet again!), I’ll try to squint my eyes and really see the “fort” the children have built, rather than a messy couch.  And, when Leif yells, “Who wants to play with me?” and ignores my answer of  “Me!”, while he waits expectantly for any one of his many aunts or uncles to come forward, I’ll see the admiration he has for his family rather than get bogged down by my feelings of rejection. Because, really, I am in love with Leif’s love for his family…it’s a beautiful thing.
The truth is, this is what this blog is all about. Â It’s my practice in cultivating the super-hero power of seeing with the lens of my heart.
I love it, Marin! Keep sharing and expanding your lens.
So cool! I want to build a development room and start taking medium format images…
Those effects in the hipstamatic are ones that remind me of what can be achieved in the dark room. I mean, that’s obviously where they get their inspiration… But beat up, mistreated photos are the best!
It’s definitely helpful to post your goals and observations publicly. It’ll encourage you to live how you want to live, and get feedback on your insight. I love what you’ve written. Sounds like a good challenge to me. Always striving to become the person you really want to be.