A photo captures a single moment in time. Like a fleeting thought, a glance, a smile… that moment when you remember something that gives you butterflies…. a deep breath you take when you realize your mind has been wandering.

If you’re not paying attention, a moment is over before you know it. Either you’ve observed it or you haven’t.

I can look at this photo, and see all the things I could do to fix it. The background, my alignment, the lighting, my hair. And in the moment that I snapped the photo, it was one, single breath. Even less. Was it an inhale? An exhale? I don’t know.

How often do we get lost in trying to perfect a single moment? Or, ruminate over the multiple ways we could’ve done something differently? Or agonize over what might come to us in the future, and how can we best anticipate, so we can make it as perfect/comfortable/idealistic as possible?

What a delight it is, to take that deep breath in, when we’ve been lost in thought. What a gift it is, look at what’s right in front of us, and see it as if it’s the very first time.

What a thrilling moment, when the light shines in so beautifully that you can’t help but set a timer and capture it, as it is.

A single snapshot of life.

Our lives are lived one fleeting moment at a time. One, after another, after another. Accumulating, as we gather experiences and memories, as we build relationships, as we grow as humans.

May we take more time, more often, to revel in the tiniest, most singular moments. And be in the place of celebration and joy. Perfectly, presently witnessing the perfectly imperfect moments.