The One Thing

There is one thing every person in the world can do to enrich their lives. Young or old, rich or poor, large and small, from every country, view or ethnic background; we can all work on who we are as individuals. Every person can benefit from taking time to improve upon who they are.

Imagine, for a moment, the progress our race would make in science, the arts and just about every other aspect of humanity that exists, if we all simply made a small effort to be better people. From the course of our careers to the relationships we have, almost the entire essence of who we are would be greater tomorrow than it is this moment, if only the effort was made. I know it is not likely to happen, the odds are against such a miracle. But still, what if?

What can a person do to be a happier, more confident individual when the sun rises than they were at sunset the day before? Take a breath, slow down, and look at every aspect of our daily lives, less confused and more at peace, to define who we are and the things we dream to be. What a huge leap forward for the evolution of mankind, if we would only, could only, look deep within us to make our lives better. What would you let go of today for a greater you tomorrow?

So, if you wish and want for better, if you would like to be happier, more peaceful and content, then look inside yourself. Face the fears, break down the walls, and make an effort to improve on the individual that you are. Be honest with yourself. Remove the lies and buried misconceptions that hold back the greater you that rests within. Resolve today to define the heart and soul inside yourself, and look forward to life and the journey we are on!

Treasures

The greatest treasure mankind has to offer cannot be purchased with silver or gold, but must be earned through the experiences in life’s journey. More valuable than the world’s most prized piece of art is the knowledge and wisdom humanity has gained in our short existence on this planet. With a fantastic imagination and the ability to learn and adapt the race of man has evolved from cave dweller to space explorer.


With everything that people have and can create, the most precious item of all is the one that usually gets overlooked, which is ourselves. In today’s busy and rapidly changing world, it can be difficult to find time for improving as individuals. With career and family obligations, and the random chaos that interrupts daily life, people often neglect dedicating time for them self. When individuals understand who they are inside, they are much better equipped to deal with the world outside.


No amount of wealth can make a person content if they are not first happy with themselves. The world can be a hard and unforgiving place, relationships, careers and possessions can all be taken away from individuals throughout their lifetime. The things you seek today can quickly become the stuff of distant memory tomorrow. When an individual can love and accept themselves, they can find peace with whatever their future might hold.


So if you want to shine up your most precious gem, or put another coat of polish on your greatest treasure then look inside and better yourself. The finest creation humanity has to offer, individually and collectively, is who we are as people. There is no gift more valuable than when people give of themselves.

Winter approaches

Winter approaches, and with it comes a season of change. The leaves start to turn into their autumn colors, floating softly to the ground as they die off, winter harvests of squash and pumpkins fill the fields, children bundled in their winter coats and knit caps, hurrying home after school. I love this time of the year. I love the grey skies and the cloudy days. This is why I made my home in the Pacific North West. Most people are sun lovers, my husband included. But I grew up in the southern states, and winters are still new to me. I still approach winter with wonder. I love seeing the leaves change to orange, red and yellow. I love all the rain, even the days-on-end rain we get here in Vancouver. And I love the snow. Snow, who could have known it would be like that? I’m sure some of you will laugh, as many of my friends do now. But when it starts to fall, I run outside and stand in it, looking up, watching the flakes softly float down to Earth, feeling as if I am dancing in a snowglobe that has just been shook. The thought of making a snowman thrills me, and I prepare weeks ahead of time, gathering branches that might look good as arms and hands, planning out how I will position them, wishing I had as much snow as Calvin did in the old Calvin and Hobbes comic strip.

Living here, I have approached imagination and wonder again. I allow myself to dance in the fallen leaves, to play in the snow, to fly a kite. I have regained my curiosity, and am willing to make up a story about how a shoe got into the middle of the road, instead of passing it by with a glance. I am perfectly willing to eat ice cream for dinner, and have the audacity to stay up until four am, laughing with my friends. Robert shares this with me now, instead of fighting it. He says I’m truly a five year old at heart, and I embrace that. Being able to allow my child out has allowed him to do the same, and with it, our work gets more and more intense.

We are getting busy as the holidays approach. Families are getting together, and memories are being made. We are happy to be a part of this, capturing friendships and love in pictures. We are traveling to the Seattle area the first weekend in December for a commercial shoot, and have a few time slots available for individual portrait work. Any interest should be directed to RGebbiePhotography@yahoo.com.

Briar Wood Pipes

Briar Wood Pipes

For a number of years, Robert has been making Briar wood pipes for himself and friends. These beautiful pipes are cut and hand sanded, bringing out the beauty in the grain of the wood. Straight grains, flame grains, sunburst patterns, these are all seen in the wood. We have made a few of them available on our etsy site, and we invite you to take a look for yourself!

Our Latest PDX Girl, Jennifer

In the latest of our series on the Essence of Woman, we would like to introduce Jennifer. We had such fun, she was a dream to work with! We are looking forward to working with her again very soon.