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The one that is raw

If you follow me on facebook, twitter, or instagram, you know I take a lot of pictures. And post them. For anyone and everyone to see. But today I want to share a picture with you that means a little something different.

A company called Social Print Studio has made it possible to take all instagrams photos and print them on quality photo paper. I had several posters made using this company and decided to have some 4x4 prints made.

One of the photos I selected to have printed was of just myself. Which is kind of weird. Maybe. Well, no. It IS weird. It's a selfie. Taken myself. In my car.

When I was flipping through the prints I'd purchased, I came across this particular photo of and stopped.

It's an interesting photo. I have no makeup on. My hair is not fixed. I'm wearing a sweatshirt. These are usually not descriptions that most girls would say they find great about a photo they find themselves in. But when I came across the photo after having it printed, there was something about it... Something I couldn't put my finger on....Something so raw.

Raw. Yes. Raw.

You see, the picture was taken in my car on January 11, 2013. It was 6:30am. I'd just gotten in my car and was headed north. It was my first time in 46 days that I'd had to myself since the fire. I knew a new beginning was taking place. Something fresh. Something big. I was leaving Florida and the ashes and heading to DC.

When I see this photo I see pain. I see loss. I see exhaustion. But I also see excitement. I see a steady resolve. I see strength. I see hope.






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