September 4, 2006

Self-Portrait: With Someone- ( My Baby Girl)

September is ‘with someone‘ month at the Self-Portrait Challenge- that means I must include someone else in my self portrait. Someone meaningful to my life or to the moment or to a specific event that I wish to document. I think the following image is pretty self explanatory.



It has been eight weeks, and every time I talk about you, I feel like I am stuck in some repetitive cliché, but I don’t care because you have made everything in my life meaningful. I have always believed that as human beings, we are capable of feeling a range of differing varieties of love, but I never realized that I was capable feeling the emotions you bring out in me. Just by looking into your eyes as I give you your bottle, or as the two of us hum to your lullabies, I feel like there is hope for us all. You are so flawless, untainted and pure. I not only love you because you are my flesh and my daughter, but because in you, I see a future that feels promising.

I am sure many first time parents feel this way, but you make me feel unique and special. Staring at you, I feel like I am the first person to be doing this, and I will never let you down. You bring out qualities in me I have been ignoring my whole life. You make me want to be a better man. You make me want to create, and love, and care, and live every second to its fullest, so as not to let you down. I don’t ever want to cut any corners because I don’t want you to miss anything. I will not shield you from the suffering of the world, but I hope that I can prepare you to overcome it with optimism and love.

You are truly a wonder, and through your virtue you help reconnect with a side of me I have not been in touch with since I was a child. We are now a team, forever bound by wordless promises made each night as you fall asleep. Unaware who is the teacher and who is the student, we have a lifetime to try and bring about our own version of peace, a peace that may someday spread to your children. A peace that is created with mindfulness, so that it may even spread far and away to the niches where it is needed most.

Love is the most inadequate word in all the world’s languages. There are no words to describe my feelings for you. There is no lexicon to express what it feels like to hold you in my arms, kiss you on the nose, and rock you to sleep. I have never felt this sensation and already, I know that I would not be able to live without it.

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25 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:32 PM

    Hey Bez,
    I am so loving reading what you write to and for your daughter. Helps me go to that peaceful place with you.

    All the best,
    Susan Sedro

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  2. Anonymous9:44 PM

    Simply beautiful. Congratulations on the (relatively) new addition to your family! ^_^

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  3. Anonymous12:02 AM

    Beautiful.

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  4. she is beautiful- as usual. a true work of art.

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  5. Anonymous6:18 AM

    *sniff*

    That was awesome.

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  6. Anonymous10:48 AM

    unable to leave a message, 3rd try now:

    love this image!!!!
    tender and beautiful

    dani
    lovelifelivelove

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  7. Anonymous11:30 AM

    Your photograph and words flood my eyes with tears. You speak so eloquently about that precious little beauty in your arms and your hopes for the future.

    Maybe next time you could leave a box of Kleenex here for your visitors to dab away their tears.

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  8. Your daughter is beautiful. I hope you save the photo and post to show her when she's older.

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  9. What a gift she is to you and what a gift you are to her. what a gift to me to be able to come here and be filled and witness the perfect words to describe things that I have felt, but couldn't find the words for.

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  10. Anonymous11:40 PM

    Truly beautiful. Your words touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. Your daughter is so lucky to have a father who loves her so deeply. May all the wishes you have for you both come true.

    Jamie
    www.starshyneproductions.blogspot.com

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  11. Found this beautiful image of you and your daughter through SPC...it is intense and amazing--speaks volumes about fathers and daughters. Then, reading your letter to her only deepened it. Thank you so much for sharing this one...

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  12. love the contrast between yourself and that innocent girl of yours. beautiful.

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  13. Wonderful, wonderful photo!

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  14. Oh my goodness! This is an amazing photograph that shows all you have written. The tat and masculinity in contrast to your baby girl is breathtaking!


    They do rock your world!

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  15. Anonymous6:30 AM

    Beautiful photo and post. It's truly amazing the love of parent and child, yes I think it moves everything around, makes us better people even. Congratulations, she is lovely!

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  16. Anonymous11:29 AM

    Gorgeous. And you're right, there are no words....

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  17. Anonymous11:07 AM

    I was riveted to my screen from the first sentence. Your words are so deep and meaningful. I absolutely love the last sentence of your post.

    Enjoy this moment in time, as I know you already are doing, because it is so very fleeting. Each stage of their life brings a new feeling and new experiences and with that, new challenges. Boy oh boy, the challenges.

    This is the best post I have read in a long time. I love it. I may have to blog about it on my own blog!!!

    Wow

    LC

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  18. this was so very moving and touching. the way you expressed our love and emotions for your daughter was so eloquent, honest, raw, real...beautiful.

    this picture is so special. i so wish i was close enough to photograph your sweet, gorgeous little family.

    thank you for all of your support over in my blog world. i look forward to your comments each time i post because i always walk away from them feeling nourished.

    you are such an amazing human being.

    love to you and your family,
    boho

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  19. a beautiful photograph! and you summarized what it feels like to be a parent so well. enjoy watching her grow ... it is a most amazing thing.

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  20. Anonymous4:24 PM

    A wonderful post - beautiful words for a beautiful girl.

    Mel x

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  21. Anonymous12:28 PM

    the photograph is amazingly beautiful. your words are heartfelt and loving. becomming a parent is the most amazing expeirence. I wish you well on your journey.

    Bella
    http://deelovelee.typepad.com/mamamuses/

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  22. Anonymous3:40 AM

    Beautiful photo BZ

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  23. how beautifully you have written about her, about your hopes for both of you, your dreams. i love that you see the beauty in life and that her life brought you deeper life for yourself. beautiful.

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  24. Anonymous11:59 AM

    Hi, I've found the *upgrade to Google/Blogger* makes all users other than Blogspot ... anonymous.
    I don't use Blogspot so the upgrade won't accept my webaddress as a link ... limiting my SPC comments on Blogspot blogs.

    Great photo though!
    girlfriday @ www.girlfriday.wordpress.com

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  25. Anonymous2:09 PM

    Here is an introduction to the world of info search. Read the complete article to get the full introduction.

    ReplyDelete