Happiest New Year to us all!

I’m sitting here in front of a gorgeous picture window, I’m looking out at waterfalls, tropical forest, and the frequent beautiful butterfly. (Yes, that photo above is right here right now and totally unfiltered)!

As I get to do from time to time, I am spending this week surrounded by and photographing incredible places and people. 

What makes this particular group of humans so spectacular is that they are fully engaged in being self-expressed, in creating, and in sharing what it is they create with the world.

In order to do that, they’re willing to cut through self-doubt, real-life limitations, and self-sabotage.

They take gorgeous care of themselves, they invest in themselves. 

They aren't perfect or immune to the very real challenges life brings, but their collective motto is "make progress, not excuses". 

This is big, courageous stuff. 

Taking time to know yourself, making space to pursue your own creative work, showing up and allowing yourself to be seen - this is the work of pioneers, change makers, and healers. 

Today, in particular, I want you to know that knowing yourself, deeply, is an ever-renewing form of power.

I want you to know that you are entitled to take up your full space in the world. 

It’s impossible to control or diminish a person who knows who she is and what she wants.

And knowing yourself means not hiding away from parts of yourself…

…and not hiding yourself from us.

Visibility is a form of power.

It’s also an invitation. 

A partner can’t fall in love with you if you don’t show up for the first or 1000th date.

A client can’t be touched by your unique medicine if they can’t find you in the first place.

We can’t join you unless you tell us you’re here for us.

And you can’t know yourself, fully, if you shy away from meeting your own gaze.

I want you to meet your own gaze. 

I want you to know yourself and know your power so you can use it.

Look into my lens, and later, in the photo, look into your own eyes. 

See what I see.

See your medicine.

Liberate it.

Show it to the world.

Invite us in. Let us find you.

Meeting your own gaze is medicine. It will heal something inside of you, fortify you, galvanize you…

…and allow you to regard yourself with the same radical tenderness that you offer to the people you most love and protect.

If we want to better the world, that’s what we do. 

We liberate. We cherish. We protect. We share our medicine with each other. We invite each other in.

We change everything.

But first, we’ve got to show up. We’ve got to be visibly here for each other.

Let’s show each other we’re here and ready with our medicine.

Let’s deliberately reject the commodified, narrow, cruel version of beauty that gets imposed upon us and harms us.

And then let’s do something radical: let’s embrace raw, real, essential Beauty as a life force…

…and a source of power and fuel to make the difference we’re here to make.

Beauty is part of your medicine. 

I’d love to show you yours.

If you are ready to be more visible, to see and be seen, to invest in yourself and take gorgeous care of yourself. I'm here for you.

Much love,

Danielle