Week 2: Uniquely Me (Member Photos)

This week I asked everyone to think about what makes them unique. The fact that out of 150 current members, very few chose similar things to focus on in their photos, shows the uniqueness in this group.

Some said that this theme was tough, and that it was hard to pin point what was unique about themselves. That made me sad! I think Snow said it best... "No one has the exact same combination of heart, soul, and personality as me". That makes each of us one of a kind and special. It's time we felt that way.

Snow Cabral - I admit, this was hard for me. I'm not someone who walks around considering herself 'unique'. Then I realized, no one has the exact same combination of heart, soul, and personality as me. No one shares my exact life story or experiences and therefore I am unique, just for being me. I am enough.

Eboni Rivera - These hands of mine are no longer young and are still a distance from being considered old. Yet, they have lived a very humble life...They are ladled with imperfections, scars and chipped fingernails. They are usually bare, with no polish and no TLC from me or any manicurist. They are far from societies standards of how a woman should maintain her nails, but I could care less because you see...These hands of mine — They Nourish and Nurture...THEY ARE FILLED WITH LOVE. They tickle my precious little ones. They help tie shoe laces. They fix boo-boo’s and wipe tears. They help do homework. They cook dinner. They do laundry. They wash dishes. They give baths, and the list goes on and on…But aside from my hands being busy working mom hands,they also CREATE and that’s what I love most about them. My hands, have the ability to help me freeze time with just one click of a button, and they allow me to give a piece of my heart to friends, family members and even strangers alike through one of my favorite pastimes— crocheting. So although they may not be the prettiest hands you’ve ever seen, I'm still so very proud of them and they are ‘Uniquely ME'.

Jenn Marie - When I was in my early twenties I used to keep my hair long just to appease those around me. The last time I cut it was the shortest it's ever been and it was liberating. It's grown a bit since then and is now at my favorite length. I'm to the point where I don't miss my long hair and I don't feel like I "need" it to feel feminine.

Sofia Di Trapani - I've always been a very quiet person. My life, however, has not been quiet for the past 3 years-- since my son was born. Sometimes, I miss my alone time. I just crave that little minute for myself. At the same time, I know my little boy is growing so fast. When I get my alone time, once he moves out, I will terribly miss this season. The toys will no longer be scattered around the floor. I'll probably be able to sleep for 8hrs, have time to focus on one task at a time and I won't have to play nonstop the same silly games we play. Maybe then, my life will be boring, quiet and lonely again. You see, his little hands will no longer be here to pat my back. His eyes will no longer say, "You are my world." Every now and then, when I think of this, I cry.

Tausha Coates - While trying to think of something that makes me unique this week, I sat down at my vanity and looked around me. I have a love for vintage and restoring thrown out, unloved second hand items. Everything in this photo is second-hand except my clothes and the pen. EVERYTHING else is re-purposed, reused and re-loved, including the fabric and buttons on the stool that I got at a yard sale and re-upholstered.

Sean Holler - Well lets just say two words pretty much sum me up, Adventurous, and Fearless.... Well sometime they have not been my best friends, as they have landed me in the hospital with more broken bones than I can count, 9 concussions and several other "I'm fine" when I have a bone poking out of my arm or road rash on half of my body moments. This picture about sums me up, searching for the adventure in the outdoors! Wether it be on my bike or on my feet, always on the hunt for sunsets, butterflies and waterfalls! I feel safe, at home in the outdoors, and my two wild boys are just the same. We spend our free time in search for the next adventure, wether it be searching for rollie pollies to searching the best sunset and then flinging as many huge rocks as we can into the crashing waves. This is uniquely me, not always the greatest mother, but doing my best, and sharing the love of life and adventure with my boys. To help them become uniquely them!

Kristina Dominianni - I'm worried I am obsessed with the the internet. If I'm home, I'm on the computer or my phone. If I'm not driving, I'm on my phone. I think it's starting to affect my marriage and my role as a mother. I know what I have to do and promise myself I'm going to unplug.... but yet, I'm still here.

Kayla Nicole - I am 30 but look 15, I have red hair, and a scar from birth. This is me 30 years of doubt, self consciousness, teasing, never feeling cute-pretty- or even just normal. I can not change how I was born and I feel guilt for my self consciousness because I can't imagine what my mother went through when they told her something was wrong. I have a cleft palate with out the lip deformity . I am 30 and still hate looking at myself despite being married with 2 kids. I am unique and I am trying really hard to embrace this.

Carol Holt - My journey with my camera really started about 3 or 4 years ago, when my friend forced me into manual settings. It's been an incredible journey where I can never stop learning or growing. Soooooo....I've been trying to find my style for the last year or so, but I'm still "seeing blurry"...I know what I'm drawn to...but what's stopping me from shooting that way? I'm trying to open my eyes and shoot from the heart...

Adriana Meixner - Being vulnerable is hard for me. As a child my family and I moved around a lot so there was often a new school and new friends to be made. And even though all of those experiences helped shape who I am today, it also meant that I learned how to be guarded and put up a wall to protect myself from disappointment, change, rejection, etc. But now I have young children of my own and I've come to see the beauty in being vulnerable and present and real and emotional and just ME. I no longer worry about what people think about me, or what they will say about me. I just care that I am being true to myself and being open and honest with those around me. It's not always easy, it is a work in progress. Certain situations can trigger me and make me feel guarded but at least now I am aware of it and I am okay with being vulnerable and showing people exactly who I am. And that is enough. My vulnerability is uniquely ME.

Amanda Faulkner - I had a hard time determining what makes me unique. I thought about many things and finally settled on one - for as small as I am, I'm actually quite strong. You wouldn't know it from this picture, but 3 short years ago I was in the best shape of my life. I was a competitive CrossFitter and took time out for myself - ate well and worked out 5 days a week. But a move across the country and a new job, along with 3 kids and a husband, had me overwhelmed. The first thing to go was taking care of myself. I stopped eating or ate like crap and I haven't been in a gym but maybe a handful of times in the last three years. Because of that, I've gained 40 pounds. For someone 5 feet tall, 40 pounds is A LOT of weight. It has impacted my entire life - my self-esteem, my relationship with my husband, what I play with my kids, etc. I've decided that I've had enough. It is time to focus on myself and get the real me back. I'm hopeful that at the end of this project, a picture of me will look very different than this one - someone that is much healthier.

Sydney Eastburn - For a long time I have battled with who I'm "supposed" to be. I've always asked "what should I do?" and not "what do I want to do?" I've let other people give me the answers of what I should do, and rarely stop and truly ask myself if that is the right thing for me. This year I'm replacing should with want and taking control!