Infectious Joy

Every moment of every day we are spreading something. Stress. Worry. Negativity. Hope. Joy. Encouragement. Almost four years ago (I can’t believe it) Elsie arrived in our lives with a thunderclap. (Click here to see a video of her first five days.)

From that moment on, Elsie has brought an infectious joy into our home. Every “errand” is an adventure, every trip around the block treated with the anticipation of a trip around the world. Being with her, you have no choice but to dance and sing, she’ll have it no other way.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this and I feel this is the greatest gift we can give to our family, our friends, and yes our clients; to bring this same spirit to our encounters with others. If we treat every moment as a responsibility, as a gift given to us to help shape the world around us, what might we do differently in the face of adversity. How might we react to that crazy uncle with his camera, of that thunderstorm that rears its head at exactly the wrong time? It is a discipline, and no doubt a challenge, but in embracing this we will not only change those around us, we’ll change ourselves. The best part of adopting this attitude is, that living like this creates value, significance and meaning in everything we do. Infectious joy, that’s something worth spreading. Just ask Elsie.

Jamie and Elsie, photographed on a Mamiya rz67 with polaroid instant film.