A simple capture of @reginaoterra to accompany her beautiful wording. These memories took place in the quite gentle moments when I was stirring, dreamy and vulnerable. Lulling between wake and sleep. It made them seem as though they were ethereal angels in my time of need. Several years later my parents went on to hang themselves 4 years apart leaving me orphaned by 14. So any good memories of them are quite valuable as one would imagine. There is a silly quote I like that reads : “I would rather be someone’s shot of whiskey than everyone’s cup of tea”. It’s taken a lifetime of being on the edges, ostracised and repeatedly rejected to finally stop internalising it. The sweetest richest highest fruits are reserved for the defiant, determined and adversity enduring. I prefer that to a belly-full of easy bland low hanging fruit each and every time. Show me someone who doesn’t have any deep emotional or physical scars and I will show you someone whose never tasted the elixir of victory. It’s f*cking delightful, I’ve had fistfuls of it. Intoxicatedly victorious and no one can ever take that from me. It’s carved into my skin. I am born of my Viking ancestors battle cries. My next dream is now partial amnesty. To be safe enough to lay down my emotional artillery and rest. To be loved unconditionally and not be misunderstood. It will happen. Until then, I keep on refining myself. Some of my traumas are a tawdry adornment posing as my personality. It takes safety and time to disrobe. Like my scars, I see that some of me can be softened and obscured but never removed. It is imperative to not be ashamed of them. That I’m unabashed in all of the ways. So that one day the right person can love me for them, not despite them. They can celebrate how far I’ve come, instead of berate me for the distance left to go. To walk with me bare and honest. That’s love. That’s the meaning of life. For me anyway. Greatness takes time. Great love takes longer. I accept myself. I hope you accept yourself. Part 3 to follow. #beauty #portrait #photography #awareness #London #hasselblad #scars #profoto #burns #TheBrockElbankFoundation #mentalhealth #bodypositive @hasselblad @nathalie.bond