The Camino de Santiago is an ancient pilgrimage across northern Spain. I went by myself, but I met people along the way, and we created experiences together that were remarkable. 

Little did I realize that my sabbatical in Spain and my pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago would lead to one of the biggest revelations of self love, I have ever encountered. It moved me from being focused on caring for others first, to caring for myself first, which in turn has allowed me to serve and share in bigger ways than I ever dreamed possible.

Have you ever said, "No, I don't want to have my picture taken. Not me. I'm not photogenic." If you're a woman, chances are these words have come out of your lips probably more than once. As a portrait photographer, there's not a week-- no, there's not a day that goes by that I don't hear one of these things. And it's simply not true. To be seen is one of the most powerful things as human beings that we can experience. And to not be seen is what happens to women in oppressed countries or to women who are oppressed themselves. We can create an experience where women feel powerful and beautiful and sexy and amazing and gorgeous in a portrait session and forget about all of those things that we thought were true. Now, I understand there are times in our lives, seasons in our lives, when we can go through things where we feel like we don't want to be seen. I had a season like that a few years ago. I went through a brutal divorce. My world, my family-- it felt like I had been ripped apart. And I decided to walk on the Camino de Santiago.

It was a big leap for me to live in another country and culture for six months, however, I felt it is what I needed to do. I felt it so deeply that I didn't have any doubt.

Today and most days since my walk on the Camino, I think about ways I can care for myself, to expand the love I share in the world.  During our especially cold Colorado winter I am drinking more water. And this morning I squeezed fresh lemon juice to add. A small way to care for myself.

What are you doing today to care for yourself?