Inspiration in the everyday.

While this might be corny to say, you can find inspiration in the everyday. Seriously. It’s easy to make excuses, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, and it’s really easy when you’re doing both of those things together to stop appreciating the world around you. Even when things aren’t going your way — you feel alone, you live in a chaotic city during a global pandemic — and suddenly, you’re walking down the street, spot a mushroom growing on a stump, and think: ‘holy shit, that’s really cool and beautiful.’ Just me?

The last few years specifically have really helped me take the time to actually notice the little things that I used to rush past. For my mental sanity when I’m working from home, I go on a daily walk. Typically it’s the same path down by the Hudson River and the Little Red Lighthouse, a place worth seeing if you don’t know what I’m talking about. Seeing the subtle changes in the landscape, and particularly the contrast between the seasons, has been so stunningly beautiful. I am in awe of the beauty of nature, the inspiration from the colors, the allure of the light, and how being surrounded by it can shift my mood or outlook. You easily can take this for granted being in a large city. Realizing that there is still so much beauty around me has now changed my perspective and outlook in my new home base, as my city life is becoming a second home. This shift didn’t happen all at once — but gradually, it started to shape how I moved through my days. My camera roll has quickly filled up with photos of the subtle change. It has inspired other thoughts for projects and simply put, brings me joy.

If you’d like to follow along with the images that spark these thoughts, you can find me at @belovedbymany on Instagram — or drop me a note here so we can explore some ideas together.