I haven’t been able to get out with my camera over the past week, but don’t worry, I have many photos from 2022 that I never had the chance to share, and now I’m starting to go through them.

After my stroke, even the simplest things became difficult. I had to relearn how to use my camera, and what once took me seconds in editing suddenly took hours. My hands didn’t work the way they used to, and even holding a mouse was a challenge. It took years of patience, practice, and determination, along with open-heart surgery a year later, before my strength and speed truly returned.

Through it all, my passion for photographing butterflies became my motivation. That first winter after my stroke, I dreamed of spring, when I could get back outside with my camera. Sometimes I would just hold the camera, training my hands to be steady again. I kept taking pictures, even if I couldn’t share them yet, reminding myself that one day I would.

Now, on the days I can’t get outside, I revisit those photos and share them. Each one brings back the joy I felt in that moment, and I get to relive it while sharing it with you.

This Monarch Butterfly and Bumblebee, each busy on the same goldenrod stalk, remind me that even when life slows us down, beauty and persistence remain all around us.

LIFE – Love Is For Everyone 🦋🐝💛

Monarch Butterflies DSCF4120 FUJIFILM X-S10