February 20, 2026
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Not Just an image, A story
your story
I wrote my last post in early December, and it seems like it was in another life. The world has shifted in so many ways since then. But that’s a heavy start for my morning coffee, so I’ll stay with the slow burn.
To be honest, my inbox got saturated with promotions after Black Friday, and I got overwhelmed with the idea of being one more message in an inbox full of messages. Then holidays happened, life started moving too fast, and I found myself crossing the half-century line. A simple two-digit number can rattle a person in so many ways. After a few dirty martinis, I haven’t made peace with it yet. But it’s on the list.
East 91st Street
Last night was warm in New York City, and I went for a walk. The snow is dirty, the crosswalks are soggy, and the freshness of spring is nowhere to be seen, but it’s still a wonderful place to walk, and to talk to yourself, and to wonder if all of this mess will get better someday.
34th & 10th Ave (I think)
I enjoy listening to the different languages I encounter as I walk through this city. It’s reassuring in some way. I’m not constantly eavesdropping on other people’s conversations, but last night I heard an older man tell his friend that the gym on the corner used to be a beauty parlor. Before that, a Hallmark shop, the one that moved to the front street, and is now empty. “Who buys greeting cards anymore?” the friend asked.
I thought about getting involved by saying that I received two cards for my birthday, lovely ones, but instead I smiled and kept walking. I’m not good at starting random conversations.
But the interaction kept me thinking. In New York, remembering what a storefront used to be is almost a badge of honor. It requires good memory and survival instincts. Proof that you’ve lasted long enough in this city to have memories. You survived what others haven’t. Is it worth it? Does it make sense? That’s a different story; the point is that you’re still here.
It also says something deeper about New York. It speaks to the constant need to keep adapting and evolving. The constant evolution of the people who make this city what it is.
As I enter a new chapter in the Hallmark section, I’m following along as my own evolution unfolds. And as much as it feels like a new perspective, it’s still a continuation of what I’ve been doing all along.
I’m launching a new website where you can now book headshots, portraits, and personal branding sessions.
If you’re updating your LinkedIn profile, refreshing your CV, applying for grants, preparing casting materials, or stepping into a more public role, let’s work together. My sessions are guided and collaborative. You don’t have to know how to pose. You don’t have to wait until you lose weight. You don’t have to feel ready. You just need to reach out.
If this isn’t for you right now, but someone comes to mind, please pass this along.
