Pandemics Happen
“The only constant is change.” – Heraclitus
Pandemics happen. Impermanence happens. Hard times are happening. I, along with the rest of the world, am struggling to remain upbeat. I send my heartfelt love, and wishes for good health, to you and yours.
As a result of being sequestered, I’m excited to share that I’ve built a store on Shopify. It morphed into something I didn’t expect at all. Our Collective Humanity Shop is a Fine Art Flower Site For Seekers. It wasn’t calculated, it just happened organically. It’s an extension of who I am, a life-long learner and seeker. I’m way out of my comfort zone, but I’m all in.
I hope that you will “follow” my journey. As much as tech drives me crazy it’s also amazing. With the help of a giving app, 5% of the gross sales will be donated to one of six charities chosen at checkout. I even created an e-book! It was a bit like herding cats and pulling teeth but I did it. I’m excited to share it here.
I’ve become obsessed with creating these Dry Erase Boards. I’m a big self-helper. 12 step programs, therapy, intention setting, and the like have brought me to where I am today, and I’m super grateful. I’m loving curating quotes and sharing what feels really personal to me. Maybe, just maybe, they help others as well. Now back to my personal photography and what else I’ve been up to since my last post.
The Bold Beauty Project presents exhibitions that feature women with varying different abilities; its mission is to change the perceptions of what it means to be beautiful and successful. I participated with my niece Gabriela, which made it extra special for me. Gaby has cerebral palsy, survived a horrific car accident, and has survived childhood trauma. I’m crazy about this image, as she is loving on her “dragons.” She is strong, resilient, and awesome, and of course, I love her too.
Bold Beauty exhibited at Art Palm Beach. I had a little time to play with some of the models. A very inspiring bunch of young women.
I met Maylan Chavez at Bold Beauty. I learned about multiple system atrophy (MSA) while following her on social media. She shared fearlessly about living with a debilitating disease. She has a zest for life and I knew I wanted to co-create with her. She chose a sun goddess crown to reflect her sunny disposition. That’s who she is, full stop. Lucky for me, sun goddesses and flowers work well together.
I describe what I do as “capturing love on life’s terms.” The love I witnessed, shown here, was palpable. Simply love.
In June I photographed David and my good buddy Francois.
David, Francois’s neighbor, was tons of fun. While showing off his rope swing, he let his inner child rip.
I went back a couple of weeks later to photograph David with his beloved Peggy, who has pulmonary arterial hypertension that makes her very vulnerable to the “beast”. Their love was grand.
I’d like to end with a beginning, the rebirth of my beloved friend Francois Szony who transitioned on August 24th from COVID-19. Although I am heartbroken, I am grateful for our friendship. He lived a long, healthy, and full life, and for this, he was truly lucky. You can check out one of my first blog posts. Francois Szony, Forever The Dancer.
I’d like to thank Damaris Ferrer for helping to keep Francois’s legacy alive. She has been distributing his costumes amongst the theatrical community to keep his legacy alive. Christopher is a great young dancer whose life has been touched by Francois. Pictured above from 5 years ago and most recently with a couple of Francois’s famous props.
On Franois’s 90th Birthday we celebrated at the Goldcoast Ballroom. He was 90, I was 60, Ashley Grub 30, and Christopher Lang Jr. was 5 years old. This is part of our little dance. This kind of celebration seems so foreign in today’s world. Thanks for the memories, Francois. Check out Christopher, who directed, danced in, and edited this VIDEO to advertise my Dry Erase Boards. At 10, he’s now my personal videographer.
Please check out our Dance by clicking on HERE.
Once again, thanks for being here. Shamelessly, I ask that you check out my new store and sign up. This blog will remain for my personal work. Your address will not transfer to my new email list, you will need to sign up anew. This is my first commercial enterprise, and I’m on a big learning curve. With fits and starts and lots of frustration, I’m opening. Please bear with me as I figure it out. As you know, I’m no spring chicken and this tech stuff has been daunting! If you have any issues please let me know and I’d love some feedback.
With a heart full of gratitude, Lisa
Follow my journey on my social media!
Thank you for thinking of me when you sent this out, this was absolutely awesome. I needed something uplifting right about now.
Debby
Thanks Debby, We all need to be uplifted! Right now it’s a heavy lift. Sending love. :-))
Love it!
What a joy!!!!
thanks Michele. Is this Michele from Trinadad?
What an awesome journey. Such a beautiful heart.
Aw Eva. I try. I try to focus on the good. As much sh*t I got from my mom, she gave me the most important stuff, love and kindness.
I am so moved and absolutely changed by the magnificence of what you are doing. Lisa, you are a humanitarian river, flowing with abundant art, kindness and connection. Kudos to you! And what a tribute to your dear friend, Francois. I am wordless yet filled to the brim and overflowing. Magnificent.
Gee Deborah, you actually made me cry. Thank you. Let’s all be part of the river of kindness and connection. Not unlike what I’m feeling now with you. And I’m grateful to have the opportunity and a place to share my love and friendship with Francois.
Beautiful idea from a beautiful soul! Thank you for sharing your gifts and passions…we all benefit. Love and hugs.
Thanks Judy. God knows I and my children have benefited so much from what you have shared with the world. I’m happy to now have something that’s a win-win doing something that feels so right. xo
What a lovely way to enjoy your creativity and your giving heart,
I’m a FAN a millions times over .
It is simply just Beautiful Lisa .
Keep going my friend~
Truly
Micki Mazza
Thanks Micki. Well, it’s a mutual admiration society I guess. I’m your fan and keep doing what YOU love. We are the lucky ones, that we love what we do and it makes people feel better about themselves. And we are both dedicated to service as are most of my good friends. We are part of the kindness tribe!
Thank you Lisa for making my Sunday morning so joyous with the beauty of your photos and the meaningful quotes. You have worked so hard to make your ambitious dream come true and we can now benefit from your awesome work.
Blessings and many wishes for your success!
Thanks Diana. Yes, I have worked my ass off, unfortunately not that much of it! LOL I am grateful for the opportunity to do what I do. Of course, I’m thrilled to make your morning brighter. xoxoo
Lisa.. this is so beautiful. Congratulations on your new endeavor doing what you love and are passionate about. Thank you for sharing this with me. Your artistic creativity, along with your beautiful giving soul, really moved me this morning. With that being said, I see your love and your kindness in everything you do. That has been constant from the day that I met you. Grateful for you and our friendship. Much Love…
Oh Diane, you are one of my first friends here in Florida. You have always been my friend and we share the same values and love. As seekers, I know you get this site well. Love you and I too am grateful for your friendship. xo
Wonderful!
Lots of hard work culminating in a remarkable sense of beauty.
Thanks
Thanks Eric. Yes, don’t tell, but you helped! LOL
Hi Lisa: Beautiful work and so refreshingly original. I hope you remember our meeting in LA. Keep up the lovely creative work!
Of course I remember you! Thanks Cyl, Apparently sequestration serves me well! LOL Not really, but I’m really grateful that I have a creative outlet to soothe my soul.
Everyone and Everything is amazing… and absolutely brilliant just like you sister Lisa
X
My family and friends are the wind beneath my wings. I’ve been so blessed. Of course my biggest blessing, mine, yours, and a light to so many, my mommy, Marian.
Lisa…for as long as I’ve known you some 50 loving years plus, you never cease to amaze me. Just when I think you are at full blossom, another sprig appears stronger, brighter and more colorful over shadowing your prior artistic creativity. Congrats on this new chapter…may your book be eternal…Love Donnie
Thank my dear old pal. We go back many moons. One of the cool things is realizing that I could reinvent myself. Bucking agism. I hope I continue to squeeze all the juice out of life I can. xo
Your gifts are so apparent in everything you do. You have a very lucky husband.
Yes, I am blessed with a wonderful husband. Love you. Thanks Shirley and Max.
Wow this is the most awesome site and love your blog! And to see you dance, all of you was fantastic! What an inspiration he is.
Thanks Diane. Francois was my buddy and I love that you watched it. When I do it still gives me joy. Thanks for your support and love!
You never cease to amaze, delight, nurture, and surround me (and everyone who has the honor of knowing you) with boundless positive energy and love. So much love. Our Collective Humanity is glorious my dear friend. It is a dance of joy and hope. And so much love.
I like that you called it a dance of love, that’s perfect. Thank you, my dear friend. I am so lucky to have such loving, supportive, compassionate peeps in my tribe. WE, YOU, I, and our friends and family are the lucky ones.
Lisa, you are nature. You embody the whole of the meaning of the word “artist” – and the positive force of your love, your grace and your humanity shines on us all. You still have within you the wonder of the nine year old I met all those years ago yesterday. I send my love and admiration.