A dare
Posted on | August 6, 2007 | 21 Comments
This is a dare. Find good light: late afternoon is preferable, when the sunlight falls in long golden angles through the window or the trees. Take some pictures. Of your face. Of you. Good pictures, that you can love. Maybe go in front of a fan, where the occilating wind tosses your hair about. Maybe smile. Maybe hold the camera out, or prop it up on something sturdy. The important thing is: take pictures. Take enough to be sure there are a few you can look at and immediately love: no criticizing, no rejecting, no nit-picking. Post them. Leave your link. But mostly, just take the pictures.
Here’s why: You will not always be the age you are today, and someday you, or someone who loves you will want to look at these pictures, lingering over the way you looked so beautiful right in that moment, in good light with the wind in your hair.
This is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. How life moves at an exponential speed. When you’re two, one year is half your life. When you’re thirty—a year is one thirtieth. Time compresses, blurs, flutters, but always moves forwards, and with it, you. Always changing. Who you are right now will be a smudge on the window of memory in a handful of years. Take some pictures. Like a watermark or a timestamp. Something to remind you. What are you like, right now?
I’m at this point in my life where I’ve just started to notice that I’m aging. Tiny crows feet dance at the corners of my eyes; a furrow between my brows forever marks the way I frown. Some days, when I kneel in front of the mirror with my little boy, his skin fresh and flawless, I am startled by how changed I am. How old I look. Of course, I know that for someone a dozen or two years older than I, nearly thirty is spring-chicken young. But that’s what I mean: sometimes in the moment it’s hard to just appreciate.
So go do it.
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August 6th, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
Wow…great idea. Great reason to do it. I’m on it…but it might take me a few days. But then I’ll be back to post my link.
August 6th, 2007 @ 10:54 pm
Beautiful pictures. Great idea.
I wish I was photogenic.
August 7th, 2007 @ 12:10 am
Please share this on MSO? It’s beautiful.
August 7th, 2007 @ 2:18 am
You are too lovely. I might take you up on your dare, but it won’t be today
August 7th, 2007 @ 4:23 am
I did this very thing a few weeks ago. In the car, late at night, windows down, music blaring. So fun. I highly recommend it.
August 7th, 2007 @ 4:35 am
I’ve never thought it. It is a great idea. Christina, you are so beautiful. Your smile is delightful.
August 7th, 2007 @ 8:16 am
Liz, make it today! I would love to see pics of you. You have such beautiful eyes and GORGEOUS vavavooom hair!
And Ruby you ARE photogenic–it’s all about good light and not being critical. 
August 7th, 2007 @ 2:23 pm
These are beautiful!! I am almost afraid to do this because there are parts of my face that I do not like. But if you promise to see only the good, and ignore the not-so-good, I will take you up on this dare, open a flickr account and post them.
August 7th, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
love it! will try to make it one of my projects for tomorrow for today is full…good blogs on your spot
August 7th, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
Tanya, I PROMISE.
August 7th, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
De-lurking here. Thanks for this post! It’s a great challenge and encouragement. We don’t often take enough time to notice time as it goes by.
August 8th, 2007 @ 9:52 am
I will try…but most important, it’s just awesome that we can do this and love ourselves, flaws and all…or get a little closer to loving ourselves.
In the first picture of you, I can see a future, wise woman you…
August 8th, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
I love this. I might try it. And I love the new look to your blog. Very different!
August 8th, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
Loved the sentiment behind this idea…I used it as a jumping off point for posting some photos…not exactly the same idea but I think it captures the sentiment.
http://sufferingsummer-ashotinthedark.blogspot.com/2007/08/looking-forward-and-thinking-back.html#links
August 9th, 2007 @ 2:02 am
You look fantastic and I salute your crows feet, and that’s NOT because misery loves company!
ok ok, tomorrow I’ll try this. Oh wait! I’d better get to bed now so I can prevent those nasty baggies!
August 10th, 2007 @ 3:10 am
ok, ok, I did it.
Why was that so difficult?!
http://www.stephs.com/2007/08/10/yeah-yeah-the-dare/
ps–I didn’t tell you: you look LOVELY!!!
August 12th, 2007 @ 1:02 pm
… when I first read your post, I immediately took out the camera and – the batteries were empty. Now, with recharged batteries and a new hair cut since friday, here I am, daring.
http://johannadietrich.de/bilder/Idare.jpg
August 12th, 2007 @ 8:40 pm
All of your portraits are so gorgeous! Just look at yourselves. BEAUTIFUL women!!!
August 13th, 2007 @ 11:45 am
[...] blossom, a bug, a baby fruit. So, I thought, what will they think if I’m out there working on Christina’s dare in the garden? Will they think I’m completely [...]
August 13th, 2007 @ 4:42 pm
you are gorgeous! LOVE the shots!
i am going to do this!
thanks!
tara
August 19th, 2007 @ 9:04 pm
I love this. I found your blog through a friends and I love the ideas in your posts! Great point! And look at how many others want to do it too!