I want to be _______ ______
“Nothing Special”
So this photo was taken a few years ago today.
Insane that I can actually say a few years ago given it feels like yesterday.
This wasn’t the beginning of me using my voice and talents to stand up for those who were not able to stand up for themselves, but instead year 8 since I sat outside the courtroom of the Trayvon Martin case with picket signs in 8th grade.
What a time to be a live.
Nonetheless this photo has over half a million views and almost at 750k, this journey started by asking my little sister if she wanted to go to the park and shoot a concept.
We collaborated and originally it was supposed to be a basketball shoot, but we had a spare mask in the car.
Her shirt was a complete accident but the art was not.
What was created may have been random and unplanned by us, but with the lifestyles we live, our daring attitudes and courageous tones made this picture more normal than not.
Working at my local church in the country Volusia County, Florida I would often wear masks supporting Breonna Taylor. My sister and I frequently attended and for her she led protests. I write essays and delivered spoken words calling out the political system and previous bodies the executive branch of the government executed.
So this photo may have been unplanned, but the life we live certainly is not.
This article being written is by a chance that 90% of my systems and servers are down.
Nonetheless, the photo took a mind of its own, originally being the only “can’t breathe” with a mask on photo and still very rare on the internet. Looking at the photo, this article could be 10x as long if I were to go into the messages of this photo that makes it deeper than the views accumulated.
What’s the point of this article? What is the point of the title??
Stop taking things so seriously, and
stop trying to write something special
stop trying to shoot special photos
stop trying to be so special
you are ALREADY special, being you unapologetically and courageously will lead you to some of the most beautiful places.
Ask yourself this, was it your favorite show’s Christmas special that made you feel warm and fuzzy, or was it the 100 episode special that made it feel iconic, was it your favorite artist’s deluxe editions songs that made you fall in love with the artist? No.
