CLEAN HOUSE

As this year draws to a close.
I look back through the year to review what has worked and what has not.

It has been a good year, A challenging year. A year with a lot of loss, more than any other year so far on a personal level.......Through all of the loss, the one thing that has become crystal clear to me was how important it is to LIVE LIFE NOW....DO NOT WAIT.

Through all of the loss it confirmed that me living my life with PASSION and CREATIVELY and doing what makes me happy leads to a much more richer life. I do not necessarily mean richer in the monetary sense......Although I trust it will turn out that way.

Through all of my years of self help books and watching OPRAH, I am TRUSTING that following my PASSION the rewards and money will follow.

I realize that through lesson in life, death and everything in between,

LIKE A BOOK, A DAY, A SEASON EVERYTHING HAS A BEGINNING AND AN END.

Endings are not a bad thing.........It is the only way to have a beginning or a NEW BEGINNING.

A lot of times in my life I stick around much longer than I should, especially in relationships
that are not good for me.
I always seem to attract the wounded bird the one who needs to be saved. In the process of me trying to save them I often lose myself and distract myself from the abundance and blessing trying to make their way to me.

My promise to myself in the new year is to SAVE ME........And to realize everyone is on their own journey and will learn the lessons that they need to learn for their lives when they are ready to receive them.

I WILL NOT BLOCK MY BLESSINGS.

I realize that I do not have the power to stop a runaway train.

So this year it is very important for me to CLEAN HOUSE.......I never liked endings. I did not realize until this entry how IMPORTANT they are. IT is the only way to have NEW BEGINNINGS OR SECOND CHANCES.

For this Holiday Season........I wish for everyone to get out of their own way to receive all of the good there is in the world and for them to reach their maximum potential. Also to TRUST they and we all deserve a beautiful LIFE.

PEACE AND BLESSINGS.
MAY WE ALL SOAR TO OUR HIGHEST POTENTIAL.

LESSONS FROM LOSS

As many of you who know me and some of you who do not.
The past few months I have been dealing with saying goodbye and a lot of loss.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN??????????????

3 friends died all way to young to die, and a baby who never even had a chance to begin. WHY?
They say that everything happens for a reason and that there are no mistakes. That is if that is you belief system. I sometimes WONDER.

Throughout all of this loss, working though my grief, I realized upon some reflection that I learned a tremendous amount about LIVING and DYING.

My friend and co-worker Steve who died, fought tirelessly in the early days of the AIDS epidemic. He continued to fight for many years to bring awareness to the cause, all why battling his own fight with diabetis.

From Steve I learned the importance of SERVICE.
It did not matter he had his own struggles. Steve would always lend a hand whether he had the time or not and always happy to do so.

My friend Gia who passed away during childbirth. Both she and her son baby Samson died during the delivery.

From Gia that when you believe in something so passionately and commit to it so wholeheartedly you may lose your life and die for your belief.

Baby Samson who never saw the light of day, but left the gift of love and strength and knowledge that when faced with tough situations that you do not think is possible that you can get though. To know that you can and will persevere.

Most recently my friend Linda who left her family and friends at just 45. She taught me that as sad as her loss is and was, if you are doing what you love and being truthful to yourself and are a good person, it does not matter when you transition.............

You can do it with COURAGE & PEACE

Also what is there to FEAR.

My biggest fear prior to me making major changes in my life was to arrive at the end of my JOURNEY with a life full of REGRETS and a life UN-LIVED.

I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU, FOR GIFTS THAT YOU WERE IN MY LIFE AND THE LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED FROM YOU.

Some of you were in my life for a brief period of time and some not at all. But either way you have giving me things to reflect upon and to learn about this crazy wonderful thing called life.

Again Thank you.
May you all rest in peace knowing that you have all touched so many lives.

GIVING THANKS

THANKSGIVING THE HOLIDAY HAS COME AND GONE.

This Holiday has been different than most. This holiday season I was going home to spend with family, and to see friends.

Unfortunately seeing friends from years gone by was not going to be a happy occasion.

TROY HIGH CLASS OF 1984 suffered the loss of a classmate.
45 years old and stricken with breast cancer. Her struggle came to an end on the eve of Thanksgiving.

I thought at first what a cruel joke. What does my friend who now has to bury his wife and her children who now have to bury their mom have to be thankful for.

Upon some reflection the answer I came up with was that they were blessed with a wonderful mom and my friend a fantastic, loving wife. And also that they no longer had to watch their loved one suffer.

DEATH IS NEVER EASY.

My friend fought to the end and died with dignity for her valiant fight.
SHE IS NOW RESTING IN PEACE.

THE SERVICE AND FUNERAL WAS BOTH DIFFICULT AND BEAUTIFUL AT THE SAME TIME.

To see how this woman touched so many lives and was of service to our children to help the to create a vision for a better future.

That was her GIFT.

I said to a buddy of mine at the funeral that it does not seem possible that we are watching a friend bury his wife. It seem like just yesterday we were setting out to begin our lives and pursue our dreams.

THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT DEATH IT HAS AWAY OF BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
Some of these friends I have not seen in 25 plus years.

So I am grateful that my friend through her death were able to bring friends back together that could celebrate her life.

Thank you.

WE must remember that LIFE is TERMINAL.

When we realize that we will than LIVE FULLY.

This photo is titled LINDA'S LIGHT for my friend who just transitioned.
My the next part of your journey be amazing...GOD BLESS

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS AND PASSIONS.

More Goodbyes

Yet another Goodbye.

Speaking to a friend she said to me that we are at the age where goodbyes are going to become more common.  Does not seem possible.

I MEAN WE ARE ONLY 45.

That is young, or so I was led to believe.

As I returned from Upstate New York where I was helping my buddy with his two young sons. The one who lost both his wife and child during childbirth just six weeks ago.

I received an email telling me that yet another friend is losing his wife as well. At this point it is just a matter of time.

These are both childhood friends.
This friends cancer has returned and is now nearing the end of her fight.

TO YOUNG TO DIE....TO YOUNG TO HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE.

So much loss in my friends and my life over the past three months.  This is the third friend who is getting ready to transition. None of them were or are old. All under 50 YEARS OLD.

There is a lesson in all of this loss.......What I get from all this loss is there are
NO GUARANTES.
WE MUST LIVE OUR LIVES FULLY AND NOT WAIT.

LIFE IS SO PRECIOUS........IT IS ABOUT NOW.

I am hoping my friends, their families and myself can find some sort of peace an comfort in the fact that these three friends shared their lives with us, and we are all better people for knowing and having them in our lives.

They are all on a wonderful new adventure.

GOD BLESS THEM ALL.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING A PART OF MY LIFE.

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN.

FATHER'S LOVE

This week I had the opportunity to travel to upstate New York.
The reason for my trip was to go and assist and help my friend in anyway that I could.

Six weeks ago my friend suffered the devastating loss of both his wife and newborn son during childbirth.
My friend is now left to pick up the pieces of his life and to father their young twin boys.

All of his friends including myself were saying to each other how is he going to do this.  We could not even begin to understand.

Well this week I got to be there and witness exactly how he is doing it.
I was witness to COURAGE, LOVE, PATIENCE, STRENGTH. They are just a few of the qualities that I got to see at work as my friend tries to work through his grief.

He is completely devastated by the loss of half his family.
But he gets up everyday and tries to create a new normal for he and his boys.

The three days I spent were a roller coaster of emotions as we talked and cried, took the kids to the park went shopping and just worked at getting through another day.

I am not going to lie or sugar coat things my friend has his worked cut out for him.
But he will get through with the HELP and LOVE of friend and family.

LET US FRIENDS NOT FORGET.
PLEASE CHECK IN ON HIM REGULARLY.

Thank God he has his little boys.......They will keep him present and in the NOW.
They will help him find the strength that he is questioning he has right now.

I am very grateful that I was able to be of service to my friend.

I RESPECT AND AM AMAZED BY HIS STRENGTH AND COURAGE.
I AM HONORED TO CALL HIM A FRIEND.
HE HAS A BEAUTIFUL SOUL AND IS SO COMPASSIONATE AND KIND.

LIGHT AND LOVE AS YOU MOVE ORWARD ON YOUR JOURNEY MY FRIEND.
YOU TRULY ARE AN INSPIRATION.

In my thoughts always. CR and the boys C & N.

This is a reminder that sometimes life is dark but the LIGHT will SHINE again.

REINVENTION OF SELF

REINVENTION OF SELF.

Some days I ask myself WHY???????????????????????????????????????

My life in Los Angeles was very comfortable. I carved a life out for myself that people envied.
I lived there for almost twenty-three years and never had to have a full time job to be comfortable.
There were years that were easier than others.

But for the most part I was able to live there the only way I knew how.

I decided that my soul was yearning for territories untouched and adventures  yet explored.

So I decided to take a LEAP of FAITH.

I have been on an  AMAZING journey.

Full of Travel and Adventure.   I decided to live without FEAR and with PASSION.

I am pursuing a new career path in a new town.

HARD WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  But so worth it even though some days I question my decision for a split second about playing small and safe.  NOT FOR ME.

My mom always says things take time.  That is where my frustration comes in.
I have never been a PATIENT PERSON.

A lesson I am now learning.  Things take time...Sometimes A LOT OF TIME.

I need to stop an BREATHE.   I have tended to my crops. I now have to wait for the HARVEST.
I SURE HOPE IT IS A GOOD ONE.

I know it will be.  THE GIFT that I have given myself is the gift of creativity and FREEDOM.

I AM A PHOTOGRAPHER FOR HIRE LOOKING FOR AMAZING PROJECT AND BEAUTY TO CAPTURE.

I Wish everyone can get out of their own way and listen to the VOICES within.

PAY ATTENTION.......THEY CAN SET YOU FREE.

I read a quote today from Anthony Robbins.

When it looks impossible and you are ready to quit.  VICTORY is NEAR.

ROUGH WATERS

Life is filled with UPS & DOWNS. It is part of what makes things exciting.

LIFE IS A GAME. We get to choose how we play it.

Many times in life we are presented with obstacles to see how we will strategize to get to the next phase or over the next hurdle.

Sometimes in life we just feel defeated by the challenges we are presented with. Sometimes we feel victorious on our abilities to manuveaur ourselves through the rough waters.

My mom always says God gives you no more than you can handle........I like to believe that but sometimes question if that is the truth.

It is these challenges and obstacles that allow us to grow into the people we were meant to be.
We must TRUST & have FAITH, that we are in life exactly where we are suppose to be in order to flourish and realize our gift.  Sometimes that means things or people are taken from us.

This is oftentimes very difficult........We must appreciate the gift that they were and our to us and to honor their memory by living our best lives.

We must SHINE OUR LIGHT and SHARE OUR GIFT.

When the waters get rough we need to TRUST......We need to jump in,  go with the flow and know that we will find our way.

Sometime life's lessons are difficult.

Saying Goodbye

GOODBYES

This week I was faced with saying goodbye, some anticipated and some unexpected.
Either way goodbyes are never easy.

Earlier this week Val's time here had come to an end and he needed to head home to Rio.
It has been really great hosting him and having him revisit my family and stay with me over these past four months.  He, I will see again next year. I look forward to his return.

PEOPLE COME AND GO. That is just the way life is. If we are so lucky we all will cross paths again.

The second set of goodbyes was completely unexpected, and very hard to wrap my mind around and understand. The question that I asked over and over again is
WHY???????????? WHY?????????

After my morning walk yesterday on what was a beautiful fall morning.  When I returned home I sat at my computer and received a phone call from a friend in Los Angeles with some very upsetting news.

She had asked me if I had read our mutual friends face book page.  I said I had not. She than preceded to tell me that our friend Charlie's baby died during childbirth.  I was shocked. That was not all. Shortly after the baby died his wife Gia also died.

I said to her what are you talking about.  I than opened his face book page to have this very sad and tragic news confirmed in 2 status updates.

I was crushed to have read this news. It is SENSELESS. My poor friend is devastated as are his friends and family.

LIFE IS PRECIOUS

We never know when our time is up. This is why it is so important to LIVE IN THE MOMENT. LIVE FOR THE NOW.

Yesterday a beautiful, healthy, vibrant young woman and her unborn, full term and healthy son were taken for reasons we will never know.

One thing that I do know is that Charlie and his sons will be forever guided by the spirits of both
GIA and SAMSON.

Better know now as CHARLIE'S ANGELS

BE KIND, HELP ONE ANOTHER, SHARE YOUR GIFT, SHINE YOUR LIGHT AND LOVE

R.I.P  GIA & BABY SAMSON

LIGHT AND LOVE TO CHARLIE TO FIND THE STRENGTH IN THESE DARK DAYS.

Just say what you mean

This is a situation that I have been dealing with this month.  I do not understand why people just don't
SAY WHAT THEY MEAN. Why play games? I posted this on my face book page to ask anyone to answer the question for me if they felt inclined to do so.

FEAR was the word that came back over and over.

FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL

It just is so uncalled for playing games with people. WHY?
I have always been intrigued by the human mind, and why people do what they do.  I am still trying to figure it out.

I have struggled my whole life with the issue of having expectations......I know that if one has no expectations one cannot be disappointed. This is a theme that has recurred throughout my whole life.
My mother would always say " Actions speak louder than words"  Which is the TRUTH.

Still naively I listen to what people say and am constantly disappointed and hurt.  One of these days I will get it. I HOPE.

Wishing everyone HONEST Relationships in their lives.

JUST SAY WHAT YOU MEAN. COMMUNICATE.

PEACE

Reflections of 9/11 A dark day in American History.

Ten year Anniversary of 9/11.
 An attack on America and the World. It is hard to believe that ten years have gone by.  I sat here in my home Sunday September 11, 2011 and watched all of the coverage. I sat and listened to every single name being read. I figured that is the least I could do to show my respect. I sat and cried for 5 hours.

It seems like the events of 9/11 just happened when you see the images and the amount of pain that people are still in.  Seeing all of the images and hearing the stories so painful. Nearly 3000 lives lost in a senseless act of violence. It is still hard to wrap my mind around that the World Trade Center is no longer a symbol of strength and freedom standing tall in the NYC skyline.
Ground Zero is the final resting place for so many lives lost. Nearly 1000 families still have no closure seeing their loved ones remains have never been recovered. Death toll rising everyday as we are ten years into fighting a war in retaliation for the events or 9/11.  We are losing young innocent children everyday in foreign lands.  Also the number of first responders that have fallen ill and died. So tragic.

Watching the ceremony as sad as it was. The Memorial is a sign of HOPE.
They have planted the Survivor Tree which survived the attack as well as a storm last year. Seeing life return to the area is a beautiful testament to the strength of human beings and especially New Yorkers.

God Bless America.

Ask yourselves how you can make someones day better.  Help those in need. It is our responsibility.

PEACE PEACE PEACE PEACE

joeburnsphotography - Wedding Photographer - Ocean Grove, New Jersey

joeburnsphotography - Wedding Photographer - Ocean Grove, New Jersey