Rewinding memories

I was sorting through my iPhoto library looking for some old photos I took of the hotel I am staying in and it got me revisiting my life... who I am... where I have been... the radical life changing junctions that make us who we are. For some reason sitting in a hammock watching elegant egrets fly through the bright blue sky, listening to the steady white noise of the stream while I sway in the breeze... it is the perfect environment to reflect on things.

Looking at old photos from the Auspex days the ambitious young marketing traveler that I was... marriage and a family still a probability in my eyes. Finally sorting out my feelings over the lost love of my life that I had spent 8.5 years with. Dating a series of wonderful men each distinctly different and wonderful in their own ways. Many different paths could have followed... I travelled all over America and to many places in the world. Auspex was a great opportunity that I fully enjoyed and experienced.

Once again my photo journey lead me to my sabbatical near the end of my Auspex journey... reminding me of enjoying my independence, spreading my wings, full of adventure, adrenaline, and anticipating my next step. I travelled to many islands in Greece, throughout Italy, into the French and Italian Alps, under Mt Blanc and back through more of Italy to Monaco and the south of France.

A boost of self confidence as I launched into, a new job, a big promotion, at a small startup full of great friends where I got to travel more and grow professionally and personally. Fast forward through two acquisitions the last one causing a rupture in my linear path of marketing and graphic design... thus leading to my leaving my job, to go on a year long journey through Southeast Asia.

I find myself sitting on a mountain top in New Zealand looking as far as I can see into the distance a scene of rolling hills dotted with sheep grazing on the green grass. Longing to retain that zen feeling I decide that when I return from my trip I will move from the San Francisco Bay Area back to my home state of Colorado where I can enjoy the slower life and natural landscapes. Also on my journey I spent a month in Bali... I had a strong feeling I needed to change my life to incorporate frequent and long trips back to this magical island. my company Stone was born and my first jewelry in the stone line was made while I was still on the backpacking journey around the world.

When I returned from my long and wonderful journey through Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore, China, & Vietnam I stopped in LA and had a dinner with my father and my stepmom, Cheryl. This dinner another very pivotal moment in my time line, ended up changing the next 4 and a half years of my life as I learned, If accepted, I could go to Laguna College of Art and Design on a family program as my father was a Dean of the College. At one point I had two big goals in life... to travel the world and to go back to art school full time. Having accomplished the first, the second goal was right in front of me and attainable.

I can’t believe I am into my 10th year with Stone and still going strong... my graphic design skills are getting rusty as I have not spent the money and time to stay up to date with the latest software. I’m O.K. with it... happy that whenever I am done with this jewelry path, another life changing event will redirect me.

At 2 years shy of 50 I can’t believe how fast life goes. When I look at my photos, my facebook pages, my travel journal, my portfolio etc. I am happy with what I see I like who I am. I don’t have many regrets other than I wish I took better care of the pretty body my parents gave me and I would have liked the experience of having a child; however, if I had a child I wouldn’t have lead such an adventurous and free life and that might have been a regret.

I need to scan more old photos so triggering my memories doesn’t have to start with the photos from the digital era... iPhoto is a great way to rewind memories!