There's this challenge floating around on social media right now: "7 days, 7 black and white photos of your life. No people. No explanations. Challenge someone different every day." I'm a sucker for these kinds of things.
Maybe it's because I'm in love with lists. Maybe it's because I like the spark that a little challenge adds to my life. Maybe it's because I really am a social media addict. Or, maybe in the case of this particular challenge, it was the intriguing idea of 7 pictures of my life that didn't include people.
Do you have any idea how much of your life includes people?
Coming up with 7 meaningful photos of your life without including any people in them is harder than you might think. I quickly discovered my whole life is entwined with people. My life without people would be meaningless, dull and lonely.
I did do the challenge. I spent 7 days looking at my life with eyes to see what photos I could take that would give a true picture of what it includes. The interesting fact is that, while the photos do not include people, every one of them is evidence of the many people in my life.
Day 1/7
Five mornings a week I pack lunches for my school children. The contents of each are as individual and unique as the person who eats them.
Day 2/7
It's a rare day that couldn't include some version of this photo. Why? Simple. Seven people live in this house and they all wear clothes.
Day 3/7
Some version of this photo could also be found nearly every day. Why? Again, the people who live here. At least three of them are young, creative, messy and have huge imaginations -- that's a house behind those curtains.
Day 4/7
Five afternoons a week I see some version of this scene. It represents the privilege of a Christian school and a row of dedicated mothers, unified by one cause: Time to pick up school children.
Day 5/7
Shopping day. Need I say more? That Goodwill bag is definitely the most fun part of the photo.
Day 6/7
Food prep. How much of my life is taken up by that task? I could have just used some version of this photo every single day but the stuff usually disappears before you have a chance to take a picture, if you know what I mean.
Day 7/7
This is kind of my favorite photo in the whole bunch. That silent, empty auditorium represents so much more than meets the eye. It represents community, friendships, encouragement, fellowship, belonging, growth, accountability, security, faith, love... All because of the people who are not pictured.
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Maybe some of you are like me. If you are, take up the 7 day challenge! Regardless, take this opportunity to go let all the people in your life know how important they are to you.
4 comments:
Now why didn't you let us see what's in that Goodwill bag? 😇
Well now, I didn't think of that! Just for you -- it was a pair of shoes for me and a sweater for Jasmine ☺
Oh wow! Good!😋
Occasionally I get a few hours without any of my people, and I realize that I do not know what to do without them. It is good for me, both the white space, and the happiness at getting back to normal life where someone is always around. It's stifling at times, but in a good sort of smothered way! I enjoyed your black and whites.
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