My Sister's Birthday. An Inspired Cup Filling Maine Photographer

Every year since my sister Carmen died I have blogged on her birthday, February 10th.  No need to double check your calendar, I'm a bit behind this year, but all with good reason.

This year I chose to attend Inspire.
Inspire is a little get-a-way retreat for photographers.
A little "cup filling" for the soul

Cup filling.

When my kids were babies, my husband and I agreed to let them go to our employers daycare.  It was pricey, and my part time salary didn't even cover the costs, but we both agreed that the boys would lead a richer childhood exposed to other adults and other kids then they would staying home with me watching Y&R.  Our employers daycare was an accredited little school and we enjoyed a few perks as parents, including an occasional guest speaker with sage advice for new parents.  Hands down, the best advice we ever received had to do with that hell hour...you know the one...when you pick up the kids from daycare and get home and try to start supper.  Why was that crazy hour?  Ugly hour?
OMG get me out of here hour?

Simple.
Our boys needed their cup filled.
Undivided attention.
They needed to know we were there for them.  They needed us to sit with them.  Hold them.  Just be there for them.  They hadn't seen us all day.
Fill their cup.

Sometimes cup filling took just a few minutes.

That advice changed our routine.  Now, nearly 20 years later my husband and I continue to use that phrase, but we are usually referring it to me or to our dogs.

The Inspire photographers retreat was cup filling for my photography business soul.  It was emotional.  It was exhausting.  It was soul searching.  It was sharing.  It was vulnerable.  It was tiring.  It was fun.

So, back to my sister Carmen.
She was with me throughout the retreat.  I took one of Carmen's journals with me to use for notes.
Carmen would have loved Inspire.
Happy Birthday Carmen :)
I am inspired.
My inspirational cup is full