caitlin elizabeth photography | personal | no excuses. dream big

i sat beside him in 4th period government. it was less than one month before graduation 

and we had just gotten our senior yearbooks.  the classroom was all a-buzz, 

everyone excited to see their senior portraits in print, 

read everyone's quotes and sign their names with messages of well-wishings and 

'it was so good to grow up with you's.

i turned to him to ask if he would sign mine, but the bell rang.

i swiveled back around, saying we could just swap tomorrow.

i didn't want to be late.

but the next day, he wasn't there.

it was something we never expected, to lose one of our own.

it changed me.

it changed all of us.

it's gut-wrenching, realizing that it took a tragedy for me to truly understand how fleeting this world is.

and that life is a precious commodity.

and it's terrifying how quickly i forget.  and that it takes an almost-tragedy to remind me, 

that life is not something we or the ones we cherish are guaranteed.

life is a precious, precious commodity.

treat it like one:

life is short, break the rules.
forgive quickly, kiss slowly.
love truly, laugh uncontrollably.
and never regret anything.
~mark twain

i am thankful every day that i can make memories tangible.  

to capture life's fleeting moments.

to record personal histories.

to find beauty in everyday experiences.

to document happiness and love.

because really, you never know when life will be taken away.

go. tell them you love them.

do that thing you've been waiting to do.

learn how to really dance.

laugh so loud that people stare.

don't care what anyone thinks.

hug your mama.

and don't let your aspirations fall to the wayside because the time isn't right or you're afraid.

no excuses.

dream big.