Who am I, you ask?
I am made from all the people I’ve encountered and all the things I have experienced. Inside, I hold the laughter of my friends, the arguments with my parents, the chattering of young children, and the warmth from kind strangers. Inside, there are stitching from cracked hearts, bitter words from heated arguments, music that gets me through and emotions I cannot convey. I am made from all these people and moments.
That is who I am.
~ Ming D. Liu
This quote is so striking, so true, not only for me, but for many of us.
I am indeed made up of all those moments and more. I have always said and still say that in life we first have to go through one thing before we can handle the next. Sometimes there are days between the one thing and the next, sometimes it’s years. My life was not always easy (understatement), but I never stop to think how hard it was, but try to see the beauty if today and future’s brightness beckoning me. I don’t always succeed, but I always try.

I rarely show my face on my blog and in the past when I did, it was only part of my face. This is the first time I have shown my face ‘full frontal’, and yes, I know the umbrella obscures some of it. Maybe one day I will be brave enough to show all of it. And maybe I won’t…
© Rebel’s Notes
It’s so wonderful to see your face! It makes me supremely happy. Great quote that I suspect, like you say, applies to us all – and what a beautiful and pertinent picture.
I love the image❣️ Love lacy parasols too. You are so right, we are all made of those things in one form or another. xx
You are powerful and beautiful! A big step showing your face, one I’m not up to.
This is such a fabulous image, I love the pose and the parasol and the way your eye is so bright behind the lace and the quote is perfect… I can totally relate to that
Mollyx
You’ve found a beautiful quote and I agree it fits you, and many of us. Your bravery and strength may’ve been tested recently but you are facing the challenges full on and (it seems) making progress.
Wonderful image and a very fancy parasol Rebel!
This whole post is fantastic. I love the quoted words, your own words and the striking photograph of you. Everything you said is so true and beautifully put.
Aurora x
WOW <3 What a fab idea to still keep anonymity. You look absolutely stunning. x
I love your strong direct and confident gaze that speaks to the viewer, contrasted by the delicate ethereal lacework of the parasol. A beautiful contradiction. X
I’m blown away, fabulous shot, Marie.
Such a sexy, gorgeous, beautiful photo !!!
Oh and did I say . . . SEXY !!!
Xxx – K
A beautiful image Marie, beautiful and sexy xx
That quote is brilliant. I love the creative way you’ve shown yourself while still keeping yourself a little hidden
This is such a great image Marie! I love the use of the parasol. Lovely as always x
This is such a clever image – delicate and powerful x
I love this image…. it seems simple on one hand but the delicate intricacies of the parasol also make it quite complicated.
Missy x
This is. STUNNING!
Parasols are romantic and sexy in a nostalgic sexy kind of way, but you transcended that here.
Just.
Wow.