Week 29: Let Nothing Pass Me By, Never Ever Again

Week 29: Let Nothing Pass Me By, Never Ever Again was taken in Downtown Colorado Springs while sitting at a stoplight with my dear friend, Emily. I was so consumed with taking photos of this rotating sculpture that I think Em may have sat through a green light just to humor me...

I love that she didn't get embarrassed or impatient or try to rush me. She knew (without me telling her) that I was trying to allow life into my lens. I was trying to make sure nothing passed me by. I love that she knew that intuitively. I love that time passes between our times together yet we still don't let each other pass by.

The actual title of Week 29 is a line from a Rosie Thomas song that I love. It's a song that I listened to several times while on the road in Colorado... It's a song about making life count even if your life hasn't turned out quite like you thought it might. It's a song about soaking life into every pore and loving the raw, gritty side of life along with the softer, comfortable things. It's a song about being alive... loving even after you've been burned... being an active participant in the road you're traveling... It's a song that means a lot to me.

This week I'd like to reflect on a renewal of dedication to a vow I made nearly five years ago... Because while I was in Colorado I was afforded the opportunity to sit back from my life and take stock.

After assessing the last five years and being given glances into the lives of others, particularly the lives of people I love, I have promised myself (and God) that I will redouble my efforts to be available... to be willing... to be vulnerable... to be expectant without being assumptive... to be open... to be honest... to be ready... to be sunshine to someone every day... to live the life of joy I know I've been called to... to be full of hope... and to offer that hope to others...

The week I spent in Colorado was made especially sweet by my brother, Gabe Doty, and his wife, April, as well as their two amazing children, Kallin and Aurora. April and I had a great time talking through some pretty deep stuff while doing all manner of daily life. From feeding and changing kids to planning parties, choosing outfits/jewelry and getting dinner on the table we plumbed the depths of life and love. Gabe, of course, served as my reliable sounding board and a great source of entertainment and laughter...along with his own depth and great 'nonsense' radar.

I also gained insight having been with loads of extended family two days back-to-back while celebrating my mom's dad's 80th and my dad's mom's 90th (as mentioned last week). Yes, I wrote that sentence correctly.

And I spent a brief time on the way home with my mom's mom and stepdad that further made me assess my life and how I want to live it. I'm not in a committed relationship as it pertains to marriage right now. But that doesn't mean I'm not committed in my relationships. I have tons of relationships and people I'm committed to. I want to pour myself into people even more than I already have.

I want to hold close the people that matter to me...even if they can no longer remember my name...even if they have a rank wazooer of a diaper...even if they get cake crumbs on me while we're dancing... even if they pee on me (twice)... Or maybe it's especially because of those things, if my heart is right...

And now without further ado, I invite you to enjoy Colbie Caillat's song Something Special while viewing a slide show of some things that are very special to me...