Ashley Strong Smith - Coach | Podcast Host | Photographer | Author
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Photography is my voice. It's a dissection of my soul.

2/23/2014

3 Comments

 
Picture
Sundays. 
Oh, how do I look forward to Sundays. 
Some are lazy. 
Actually, very few. 
Some are BBQ filled. 
And others, 
actually almost all since arriving in Costa Rica 
have been spent at the beach. 

There is just something about sticking my head out the window. 
I cannot take an aisle seat. 
I just can't. 
It's like holding a lollipop in front of a 5 year old. 
Or bringing a box of fundip to another country and just showing the students the wrapper. 
Not fair. 
Just not fair.

Let me bring you back to where this day had started. 
Alarm went off just as the sun was coming up. 
Morning routine. 
Grabbed my phone to listen to my handsome's morning voice memo. 
Got dressed for an early morning run in the Sabana. 
A beautiful park just moments away from my home. 
Back home to prepare for the day. 
Backpack on my back. 
Sun hat on my head. 
Fresh coffee in my hand. 
And this time, 
an incredible feeling of no shoes on my feet. 

Walked to the bus station with one of my roommates, 
meet a few more amigas from work, 
walked around downtown as we waited for our bus to depart. 
And off we went. 

Back to my head hanging out the window. 
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We passed by towns of all sort. 
Some small. 
Others large. 
Some incredibly developed. 
And many untouched, 
just letting mother nature shine her beauty. 

The bus stopped from time to time, 
each time, 
my head hanging out the window with my camera around my neck, 
held just right for the next moment deemed necessary to capture. 
I smiled at the people below, 
as they gave notice to this person, hanging happily out the window. 
Pure passion in my eyes, 
a massive smile on my face 
and curiosity written all over my body. 

The time has come, 
the realization has set in, 
that many of these moments described on these lines, 
just simply cannot be captured. 
I am sure to process all that is around me, 
capturing a mental picture 
within the cells and structure of my existence. 
Others, 
when the time is right, 
are put into this time capsule of a camera, 
capturing, 
creating, 
therefore recreating 
the moments
and making them possible to share 
and for those looking on to see. 
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Each time my camera is taken from it's home, 
I am reminded of why, 
from moment to moment, 
laugh to laugh, 
city to country to continent 
that sharing is taking place, 
educating is being done. 


Photography is my voice. 
It's a dissection of my soul. 
The vulnerability that keeps me human. 
The passion that keeps me 
thinking, 
feeling, 
yearning 
and thirsty 
for all this world has mapped out for me. 
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Each day I wake, 
some how more thankful than the last 
because each moment, 
every interaction, 
small and great, 
is shaping me, 
building me, 
fueling me, 
pushing me, 
to not only acknowledge, 
but accept 
and honor 
all that I am capable of being and doing. 

These moments, 
I am honored to share, 
are my realities 
making up this thing called life, 
my life. 
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As always, 
thank you for reading, 
for sharing, 
for experiencing. 
Have you asked yourself lately,,, 
are you simply existing or living? 
What is your answer? 

The above photos are a day of my travels from San Jose to Jaco Beach! 
Much love. 
Shine your light. 
Share your beauty with this world!  
3 Comments
Dawn Ariza
3/11/2014 03:03:11 am

Ashley, It sounds like you are having an amazing experience. I sure wish I had your adventurous spirit when I was young. Enjoy everything you can and just getting by can be freeing at times. We miss you here at PBS SoCaL, but love being able to share in your dreams and your free spirit!

Reply
Ashley Strong
3/11/2014 06:55:54 am

Hello Dawn! So good to hear from you. Thank you so much for taking the time and reading my blog. I've been a little slow at updating it as time is moving far too quickly here. Things are beyond beautiful! I fell in love with South Africa (more so the man from there) and will be going back when I'm done teaching in Costa Rica! Teaching is beyond rewarding! My students are so dedicated! I appreciate your kind words! I miss you and everyone so much at PBS! Please tell everyone I said hello and I miss them! I look forward to keeping in touch! Enjoy your day! :)

Reply
Dawn Ariza
3/11/2014 10:38:23 am

I am so glad to hear you are happy! Live the dream! So many people wish they could do exactly what you are doing and they never get the chance. I definitely will tell everyone you said hello. Your pictures are beautiful! We are going to have to send some pictures your way too. Take care!!! I will keep checking back in on you.;)




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  • Welcome
  • About
  • Coaching
    • 1:1 Coaching
    • Membership : Intentional Living Collective
    • Retreat : Intentional Living Weekend Immersion
  • Podcast
  • Photography
    • Portfolio >
      • Weddings
      • Couples and Engagements
      • Families
      • Lifestyle
    • Resources >
      • Favorite Locations
      • Preparing for your Session
      • Planning Our Wedding
  • Contact