Monday Musings

5 Things I've leaned since owning a dog: 

•  Shit happens. Deal and move on.

• If at first you don't succeed, try...try again. 

• There is always time for play.

• There is no past or future. Only now. 

• If all else fails: love.....just love

Tribe Love

We have all been waiting for this moment, anxiously. Without further delay, I give you what is now becoming an annual tradition. The Tribe video:


The Tribe 2012 from Long Haul Films on Vimeo.

This is why every single person deserves their own Tribe. To break us out of our shells and move...just a little bit. These women bring me so much joy!

Then and Now

24 years ago I wore this sash and today she wears hers. 

How time flies.

Change is in the air

In light of my recent exciting news, I'm working on manifesting a trip to New York to see my photo in the exhibit. I'm planning to visit in December with my lovely Tribe who have rallied together to help Meghan and I celebrate the event. Plus, who wouldn't want to see New York City in all its holiday sparkle?

I'm also cleaning house. I've updated my Etsy shop with my current inventory on hand and am having a sale to move it all out. This will make room for me to add new photos soon and help me save up for that big city trip. Everything in my shop is currently 35% off if you use the code: HARVESTLOVE at checkout. If there is something you have had your eye on, it may not be there next month so get it while you can!

Thank you, thank you for all the support and congratulations. It means the world to me!

Voicing the unspoken truths

Voice. My word for the year. Funny how much power a word can have. Funny how it manifests itself in ways you would have never anticipated. Maybe "funny" isn't exactly the right way to describe it.

I'm struggling right now. It isn't all unicorns and rainbows over here. Most days I collapse in bed too tired to pay attention to anyone but my ragged self at night. I feel as though I'm treading water, furiously attempting to stay afloat.

It was ten days ago that I learned my identity had been stolen. It has been ten days of incredible anxiety, stress and paperwork. Ten days of crawling inside my own skin yet no longer feeling like myself. Ten days of barely keeping a grasp on my escalating anger, pain and furry. Ten days of constant being in the ick.

They say a name holds power. It does. When someone walked around pretending to be me they stole something from me. I'm fighting to get it back. My name is Celina Wyss but I am more than just the letters on a page. I am a soul residing inside this body of flesh and blood. So I have decided even though someone took my name, address and social security number I have to move past being JUST those things. I have to move beyond being a name on a paper. I have to do this or I will completely fall apart.

Thank the Goddess that I had credit monitoring set up and was alerted within days of this all happening. For this I can be be grateful. Some people don't find out that quickly. Because of this, I highly recommend doing a credit check and looking into a monitoring service. It could save you a lot of heartache.

I tend to pretend all is okay on the surface. Typically emotions are not too heavily expressed by me on either side of the spectrum. But here is the ugly truth: on the ouside I appear to have it all neatly put together but underneath I am a few short moments away from snapping. This is not the way I want to be. So I want you to know right here and now that I don't have it all together.

I get my feelings hurt. Sometimes by things I wish I didn't.
I feel left out. A lot. Most of the time this is my own inability to step into a situation and make myself seen.
I am often not remembered when people meet me a second time. I like to think it is my secret shape-shifting super power.
As open as I appear to be it takes a lot for me to feel comfortable around new people.
I'm uptight sometimes. It is often mistaken for being aloof.
I get angry sometimes, just like you.
Most mornings I take my daughter to school in my pajamas.
I don't love my body all the time, nor do I embrace every part of it. It is a work in progress.
I'm feeling pretty much buried in projects at the moment and too paralyzed to move forward with anything.
I get in creative funks just as much as I get in creative flows.
I'm a gamer and I am tired of the stereotype that word brings. Just like this lady. 
I'm behind on reading all of your lovely blogs.
I have several Skype dates I need to schedule and phone calls I need to return. I feel guilt when this happens.

I am showing up today just to say, here I am. This is me. What I am doing in this very moment will be and is enough. I will get past this and I will feel whole. But for the moment it feels pretty damn good to let it all out.

A love affair with film

I've been sitting on some pretty exciting news. News of the IMPOSSIBLE kind! I cannot tell you how smitten I am with this company and so appreciative of the spark they have reignited in the instant film world.

Earlier this year I learned that two Polaroid shots of mine were selected to be included in a deck of postcards set to be released sometime next summer. I was so completely tickled and happy about it that I forgot to mention it here! This is by far the most tangible thing I have ever been a part of photography wise and I will be completely ecstatic to see it on the shelves next year. The shots chosen have not been shared here on the blog or on Flickr and I have decided to keep it that way. Sort of adds to the big reveal for me when they are published next year.

The next part of my wonderful news is that my Twister shot (below) was chosen to be a part of the next exhibit in the Impossible NYC space starting later this month! It was such a huge honor to be chosen and I feel completely blown away to be featured along side all the talented and amazing artists included in the show. I am hoping that the Universe finds a way to get me to New York by next year so I can see it up in person. The icing on the cake is that my fellow Tribe sister, Meghan, will also be exhibiting at the show. How amazing is it that we get to experience this together?

Lastly, have you seen their newest project up on Kickstarter? Yet one more thing I will be anxiously awaiting next year!

Our newest member

As if my life has not been chaotic enough lately (and oh my has it ever) we decided to finally expand our family. He's furry and a lot of work but oh so cuddly. Meet Jake!

The thought process that led us to a dog is a long story but the short version has to do with our daughter and her constant nagging anxiety. We felt this would be a great companion for her and also a tool to help her manage her anxiety through caring for another being. As long time cat people this is something very new to us and it is taking some adjusting. We are stumbling through house-breaking, poop eating and sharp puppy teeth. So far though, he has been far more behaved than we could have hoped for and would very much prefer to hang right next to us than go looking for trouble.

So off on another journey I embark, one step at a time.