30DWC - DAY 2 - Somebody told me once.....

I had a really difficult time thinking about this one. And I don't know why. I know people have told me things like "you're so talented", "you're so pretty", blah blah blah, but a lot of times I let it go in one ear and out the other (thank you self doubt and lack of confidence). So I and gonna tell you one thing someone has told me in general, and one thing someone has said about myself ( or rather, my work).


My mom has always said "life is full of choices". Which, i know is pretty generic, but it's so so true.
And I have never forgotten it, because she says it quite frequently. Everything in life is choices. We choose what we do, what we say, how we live our lives. Whether or not we become dental hygienists or photographers, or teachers or theater actors; its all a choice. And the kicker is, we MUST be confident in our choices, because they are ours, no one else's. And sometimes you only get one choice. So we need to stand by our choices and what we choose to be in this life.


When I was in my last year of college and trying to figure out what my final project should be, I was trying to dig deep yet play it safe at the same time. And..that wasn't going to work. Attempting to portray insecurity yet displaying it in a beautiful bow with pretty scenery and dresses wasn't going to cut it. Next step? Take nude self portraits and present them to other humans. Probably the most terrifying thing i have ever done in my life. I burst into tears all 3 times I showed them for the first time to 3 different classes. But what people said to me that i haven't forgotten was "this was/you are very brave".

Brave.

I have never really considered myself brave....at all. I am quite the coward. I hide from a lot, I keep myself hidden to protect myself. But from what? What is so damn scary? I do know that after  I showed those photos to my classmates and teachers, I have never felt more liberated, or more sure of myself. Or more confident for that matter. I was owning up to my insecurity, not hiding from it or anyone else. And that was very freeing.


-Cobb