Joyfully Living
Joyfully Living
You know that moment when you look at someone and instantly feel joy? It is almost like you can feel your heart swelling and melting and soaring all at once. You are captivated, you are in love, you are moved. Maybe for you, you’ve known that when you’ve looked at that elderly woman who always seems to be at the bus stop at the same time as you or when you see your husband in the morning. And maybe, probably, most likely, you’ve felt it when you look at your kids.
Sometimes when I look at little ones, I think about how they don’t have any walls yet, no defense mechanisms. Fear has not rooted itself in their heart and in their thinking. They are free. They are free to be vulnerable, to be brave, to be themselves. They haven’t experienced enough of life to even know what could happen or even what does happen.
One of the big reasons we look at them and instantly feel that contagious joy is because they are who they are candidly, fully and honestly.
They are vulnerably themselves. No one has handed them any masks. No one has told them who they should be. No one has made them fit into any boxes. And as they are humbly themselves, it is almost as if their heart is on the outside.
Because they are here. They are joyfully living and alive.
And don’t you think we could lean into that a little bit and be amazed? Don’t you think we can be mentored by that wisdom? Don’t you think we could take a little bit of that for ourselves?
To be fully ourselves is the most joyful expression. It is good.
Sometimes we don’t realize how much joy there is in something until we experience it. Parents who discover they have been gifted with a child who has Down Syndrome may not completely understand the wonderful miracle they have been given. They've not yet experienced it. These parents haven’t yet realized that their lives are going to be changed in the most beautiful and amazing ways. Now that they have this blessing in their lives they get to experience all the sweet smiles, lovable laughs and magnificent moments. Because Down Syndrome comes with overwhelming amounts of beauty.
The best way to put it is that “Raising a child with Down Syndrome is wonderful and amazing because having children is wonderful and amazing.” This wonderful mother, Sarah Dietz, said that. Because at the end of the day their diagnoses doesn’t define their existence. Children define themselves and that’s all we should ever hope for.
Karen’s Gear: Nikon D750, Nikon 50mm 1.4, Sigma 35mm 1.4, Nikon 60mm 2.8, Nikon 70-200mm 2.8, Expodisc
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Hi there, I'm Karen Byker from Grimsby, Ontario, Canada. I'm obsessed with newborn baby yawns, giggling kids and fancy flavoured tea.
I'm a mother of four that understands the overwhelm of the every day, but I've learned how to embrace and enjoy the beauty of it. I believe we should be able to enjoy the life we chose.
I've been a professional photographer since 2005. I've helped hundreds of mamas to slow down, pause and use photography as a reminder to take a breath.
I'd love to talk with you about capturing the beauty through your chaos. Let's chat!
