Celebrating every single person on this planet for being their own individual, unique, authentic, true-to-themselves beings and honoring them (YOU!!) for all of the above!! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
I recognize the violence, the discrimination, the injustice, and the fear that the LGBTQ community faces, (and has faced for far too long) for just being who they are and simply attempting to live their lives fully and wholeheartedly. It is inexcusable and downright WRONG.
I support and stand with this community who deserves the freedom and the equality to do just that: to be proud of who they are, who they love, and how they live. And it should be acknowledged how much this world needs their presence, their love, and their uniqueness to show up, unapologetically.
This world needs different and needs variety. This world needs colors and brightness and rainbows and personality and inclusivity….otherwise, what a boring and lonely place this would be.
And in honor of Pride Month, I shall sift through my camera roll on my phone – – that mainly contains photos from 2017 to the present day – – and select photos that signify how important the colors of the rainbow truly are. At least, the ones that speak to me this way. Come and join me for a little walk down memory lane!!
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Here is my gorgeous Mom, the Chef, doing a live cooking demo on local television and promoting her self-created cookbook, Sicilian with a French Accent. She’s so stunning in red, isn’t she???!! And this photo portrays ambition, following a calling, confidence, talent, and the importance of being who we are, influencing those around us, and doing what we love. ❤️❤️❤️
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Nature has the power to restore our mind, body, and soul – – just by being in it, experiencing its beauty, and breathing it in. The vibrancy of nature is plentiful beyond measure and these lovely flowers signify the richness and amazing color schemes that nature has to offer. 🧡🧡🧡
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After I was on the Appalachian Trail for only two days, my $600 sleeping bag got caught in the tent zipper and it created a huge rip! My heart sank – – that destruction happened so quickly! However, my trail partner at the time, Michael, had some yellow duct tape and he helped me patch it right up.
This photo signifies that past hurt can be mended, with both time and intention, and we can carry on as before, even if it is in a “revised” and recreated way. The duct tape signifies the importance of having the right support and resources as well as a reminder to embrace the possibilities, even in not the most ideal of circumstances. And this sleeping bag lasted for two more months+ after this taping and I still have it to this day!! 💛
And we can’t leave 🌞 out of this section!!! The bright and sunshiney rays that bring warmth, light, tans, Vitamin D-3, and smiles like mine!! It cannot be denied, the golden sun brightens up this earth like no other!! 💛💛💛
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A form of training that I always loved was challenging myself on the stability ball. With the green walls of a gym where I used to work, this photo portrays balance, strength, curiosity, flexibility, and the quest to explore and perhaps go beyond the line found between comfort and growth. 💚
And here is my fabulous green tent from the Appalachian Trail – – one that I had to buy on a whim after my trail partner had to suddenly leave the AT due to injury and I was left to journey alone for a bit. This photo not only represents adventure, the wilderness, and safety within a shelter, but also trust in oneself to brave the unknown, to learn as we go, and to allow ourselves to experience what is unpredictable and ultimately so worthwhile. 💚💚💚
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🎶 Nothing but bluuuuuue skies…..🎵 The skies above us and those mountains….
….and the water, both on this planet and in our human bodies that both account for about 70% of the whole!! Admiring the clear blue sky, this majestic photo of Niagara Falls, and how necessary water is for survival, these photos signify life, breathing, cleansing properties, an expansiveness, purity, and a sense of openness and rejuvenation for the soul. 💙💙💙
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I came across this quote and it sincerely touched my heart. When we lose someone dear to us and someone that truly impacted our lives in such special ways, how beautiful it is to carry their incredible qualities with us as we move forward. To embody the things that we most loved about them and to share those very qualities with the beings in our lives. It would be just as powerful if it was written on any other background, but it is purple so it fits perfectly right here! This is an honoring and a remembrance of all of those special someone’s that we have lost along the way yet that still walk this path of life beside us as we journey on. 💜
And I may be taking liberties here, but this photo of the Grand Canyon that I got to see with tour-mates in 2008 has a purple hue to it, does it not?? 😉 And this natural wonder of the world was quite the sight to behold and it serves as a reminder that the world is a big and beautiful place that deserves to be cherished, discovered, and appreciated. Much like each of the unique beings that inhabit this phenomenal place we called Earth. 💜💜💜
And without all of these glorious colors, we wouldn’t bear witness to:
OR
This is a celebration of what makes this beautiful planet…..beautiful!! The assortment of colors, shapes, sizes, and mesmerizing features found in the world. And that is exactly how the people of this world and the LGTBQ community deserve to be seen – – with appreciation, love, and respect.
Thank you for being here, everyone! With immense love and support to the beings that I know and treasure who are a part of the LGBTQ community. And much love and support to those that I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet! You are seen, valued, and absolutely celebrated. 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
