A few weekends ago I met up with Michelle and her sister Laura for a shoot. It was an ugly day and to be honest I really did not think many of the photos would turn out. Maybe a couple, but really that was about it. It turned out that we were successful with the day and we ended up with about 10 really good ones. I shared the photos with them over the weekend and I'm glad they were pleased with the resulting images. The success of the shoot pleased their mother also and resulted in an interesting conversation. Conversation is used loosely here as we had this via texts. Michelle shared what her mother had commented about the pictures and it pretty much led to a discussion about the differences between siblings. Which is inevitable in families no matter how hard you try to avoid it. Now, I'm an identical twin so my mother tried very very hard to guarantee our uniqueness. Unfortunately comparisons came up and my grandmother said, from time to time, "why can't you lose weight like your sister". Usually the unintentional comparisons were seemingly simple but they still play in my head, as apparently they do for Michelle and likely her sister.
Isn't it interesting how we can still play that tape recording in our heads 30 to 40 years later? And isn't it interesting that despite knowing it, you still play that damn recording? We can only strive each day to realize our ability to be ourselves and reach our true selves. You know sometimes I do think people can be a bit "preach-ey" but there is something to being your "true self" and if you can get to that point, lucky you and lucky those around you! Not having children of my own, I pray every day that my nephews and my (step) grand-babies can reach that point of being their true selves without having to play any of those tape recordings in their heads! I hope they can reach so much further than anyone of us have. Thank you Michelle for that bit of introspection.

(On one other note, maybe the Bears will realize their full potential next week! It was a bit of a dismal day here in Chicagoland!)