Trish

Because of you...

I began to feel like I could breathe again after years of carrying so much.

I'm slowly learning to take chances and believe in myself.

I'm learning to give myself grace, to set boundaries, and to notice the small signs that things can get better.

I'm remembering who I am at my core—and giving myself permission to become her again, while making room for all the ways I'm still growing.

And because of you, I'm back in my element, creating again.

You saw me.

Not the version weighed down by grief.
Not the version recovering from surgeries and living with chronic pain.
Not the version trying to find her way before, during, and after a breakup.

You saw the artist. The photographer. The creator.

You noticed how I lit up when I talked about a creative idea, and you made sure I noticed it, too.

You saw me.

You saw her when I had lost sight of her.

And what I think I've learned is that sometimes, being truly seen can change a life.

You challenged me.

You so kindly and warmly challenged me to start setting boundaries—and that gave me the courage to walk away from relationships and question friendships that weren’t healthy for me in this season of my life. You helped me understand that choosing myself doesn't mean I care any less about others. It means recognizing that my own well-being matters, too.

You continue to challenge me to give myself grace and to be kinder to myself, both in my thoughts and in the way I speak about myself. To recognize when I'm being harder on myself than I would ever be on someone else.

You challenge me to “Find the Evidence” before allowing negative thoughts to become my truth. To question the stories I tell myself and make room for a perspective that might be kinder, more honest, and closer to reality.

And you continue to challenge me to stop shrinking myself and start honoring my own worth—as a person, as an artist, and in the work I put into the world.

You encouraged me…

You encouraged me to launch my online store and supported my art, ideas, and creative projects in a way that meant more to me than you could probably ever understand. You reminded me to make room for the things that light me up, and somewhere along the way, I started believing in them… even just a tiny bit.

That encouragement sparked the idea for this website—a place to share the evidence of the gifts people bring into my life. But I wanted to do more than tell their stories. I wanted to show these people what they mean to me through portraits that reflect the beauty I see in them and the impact they've had on my life.

Time is never promised, and I don't want to leave these things unsaid. I want people to know what they mean to me while I can still tell them, through a portrait, a story, and a simple thank you.

And you are part of that story, too. In many ways, this project is a reflection of what you've inspired in me, and I hope these portraits offer a little of that back to you.

You gave me the courage to share.

Because of you, I became more comfortable opening up about my story and sharing the things I once kept to myself.

And in doing so, I began to see how my own experiences could reach beyond me. I've watched friends begin to question things they'd accepted for too long, see their circumstances differently, and find the courage to make changes in their own lives.

You helped me find the courage to tell my story, and reminded me that sometimes, sharing our own journey may help someone else find their way through theirs.

And while you've shared with me an entire collection of tools, advice, notes, and pieces of wisdom that I'll probably carry with me for the rest of my life, there is one moment that still stands out.

You used one simple word to describe me at a time when I felt incredibly broken. A time when I was questioning who I was, what kind of person I really was, and whether there was anything good left in me.

It was such a simple word, but I've thought about it often. I still smile whenever I hear it.

Because in that moment, you gave me something I didn't know how badly I needed. And over time, I've come to understand just how much that small moment meant to me.

I may not know much of your story, but from what little I do know, there's something about that word that feels just as fitting for you, and it's how I've come to see you, too.

Lovely.

Thank you for saying yes to being part of something that means so much to me.

I’m so grateful our paths crossed, and for the past two and a half years you've spent walking alongside me. Thank you for your patience as I work through a lifetime of negative thoughts about myself, learn to quiet the constant worry, and find a little more grace for the things I can't control.

I hope these portraits give you a glimpse of the person I see when I look at you. Not just the person who shows up for others, but the person behind it all—the warmth, the kindness, the strength, the humor, and the light.

A small reminder that the way you show up for others matters more than you may ever be told.

I hope you enjoy these photographs, and that you keep, share, print, or use them however you wish.