Music has always struck me deeper than any other art form on the planet. I recently came to the startling realization that I have missed my calling as a professional xylophone player. Professional xylophone players get all the perks. They get to marry handsome bearded beekeepers and their wedding registries are at Anthropologie and they can often be found kayaking through the Pacific Northwest while eating organic blueberry muffins. I should really get on that.

But seriously, ever since I purchased the Garden State soundtrack in 2005 and realized there was more to music than Dashboard Confessional and Michelle Branch, my life has never been the same. My favorite song on that compilation is Coldplay’s Don’t Panic. I can remember speeding my electric blue Ford Tempo through suburbia with the windows rolled down singing “and we live in a beautiful woooooorld” at the top of my lungs. It was the same year I learned how to have adventures. I flew kites in the middle of the night, smoked cigars from rooftops while talking about God, and threw parties on the regular.

Coldplay’s music has been the soundtrack of my life ever since. Every album they put out makes me fall in love all over again… not just with them as a band, but with music itself. While other groups like The Civil Wars or Bon Iver might be more played in my iTunes, Coldplay is my grand slam, my favorite, my home base. Five years ago I was given tickets to see them as a Christmas gift from a close friend, but had an important test in a class that night and had to forego seeing them play, much to my chagrin. Then three years ago I had tickets to see them again on their Viva La Vida tour but checked myself into the ER instead with a terribly infected ear piercing. Going to the hospital instead of seeing my favorite band play? Yeah, it sucked.

Finally, FINALLY, this last Saturday I had tickets to see Chris Martin and the rest of the guys rock it at the HP Pavilion with some good friends. With no class to miss, no pierced ear to get infected, we arrived hours ahead of time and sat through some pathetic opening bands until all my dreams came true and Coldplay put on the best concert of my life (no surprises there). With an unforgettable light show, wristbands on thousands of fans that lit up and were synced with the music, and the perfect melding of their old and new stuff, it truly felt like a one of a kind experience… like this was the only show they were ever going to play. They gave it their all. We danced, we sang, we lost our voices, I wept. Uncontrollably and joyfully. It was truly a life changing and spiritual experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Lights will guide you home.

Two weeks ago, I wrote a few haphazard thoughts on taking a break from social media for my friend Eric White’s blog SocialMashupNow. Of course, said break had already begun, so ironically I was unable to tweet, post, gram, pin, or link this particular blog post to anyone on the Internet. I may have texted it to a few people instead. Because obvi they cared.

And here I am, precisely two weeks after I spontaneously deleted every social media app from my iPhone on Leap Day, and I’m still breathing. Barely. Seriously folks – if LL can do it, anyone can do it.

With the help of God Almighty I successfully maneuvered myself away from Instagram, Path, Foursquare, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and anything else that has a Like button for two weeks straight and I am here to tell you that it was SO WORTH IT. I was getting disgusted with my ever-growing obsession for constantly needing to check my iPhone more frequently than a pregnant lady runs to the bathroom. I came to the startling realization that I cared more about documenting my life than actually living it. During the last two weeks, I found that I had so much extra time on my hands that I never knew I had. I started reading regularly again. I exercised more. I prayed more. I spent more time with friends – real meaningful time where I was able to focus on investing in relationships I cared about, instead of being constantly distracted by how best to document the event with an Instagram photo. I still took pictures during the past two weeks. But they’re blurry. Out of focus. More smiling faces. I got back to the heart of it all: LIVING life and using social media as an afterthought to share my joy with those I care about.

By the way, a lot can happen in two weeks. Taco Bell has a new taco made out of a Dorito – wtf?! Also there was a time change? And I seriously hated being the last person on the planet to find out about Draw Something. Thanks guys.

If you find yourself relating to every word uttered in the (hilarious) video below, perhaps it’s time you embarked on a social media fast of your own. Trust me, it will be so rewarding when you cross the finish line. Hit me up if you’re thinking about doing a break and need a virtual pat on the back.

Once in awhile, I find myself stranded. It’s bound to happen from time to time when the mode of transportation known as car isn’t available to you (for those in the dark: I gave up driving two years ago when I was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa). “Taxi” is listed as a contact in my Favorites on my iPhone. Bus drivers recognize me. I am able to spend more money on clothes since I never buy gas (at least that’s how I justify it).

And sometimes, I even use the two legs God gave me.

Tonight was one of those times. At the last minute I was left without a ride home from work. I only work about ten minutes driving time from where I live, but if I walk the three miles home it takes roughly an hour. No big deal right? Well, perhaps. Mind you, it’s late fall. Yes I know I live in California and cold weather is something I only vaguely understand but walking an hour in 50ish degree weather isn’t exactly something I enjoy doing. Especially wearing non-walking boots and a cute blazer. Note: if you ever have to walk for an hour at night in cold weather, don’t get caught wearing a cute blazer. I will admit that my hour walk turned into a two hour walk when I stopped at Walgreens (for toothpaste) and an ATM (for cash) and maybe even a lamp store (for an Instagram picture that ended up not looking that cool).

As I walked, my mind quieted down. I stopped worrying about the busyness and stress of my life. I prayed. I listened. Since I lack most of my vision, I rely a great deal on my hearing. As I walked, I allowed the roar of passing vehicles to guide my footsteps. I admit that I allowed myself a moment of self-pitying jealousy as I watched the drivers control their vehicles without a second thought to the perfect eyesight that enables them to safely maneuver around town. I barely remember what it is like to drive. A few months ago, Braydon let me drive his car for a few minutes while on a deserted road. Truthfully, it was not an enjoyable experience. I was so AWARE of how bad my vision is. Even though I knew there was nothing around me I could run into, I felt anxious and drove like my great grandma.

As I walked, I noticed more. I saw the traffic cone buried in weeds and covered in spider webs, long forgotten and utterly forlorn. I saw the geezers smoking outside of Hooter’s. I saw the birds occupy the space above our heads, flitting to and fro, busy with private errands. I saw the cracks in the sidewalk, the way the twilight shimmered in the cool suburban air, men in nice ties driving nice cars. Red and orange leaves crackled underfoot. I was wooed by the majesty of the outside, the simple joy of transporting myself to where I needed to go without reliance on a machine.

Here’s my favorite photo I captured while walking tonight. May you be inspired to seek out minute details from your everyday routine that put you in a place of awe and humble appreciation for the unnoticed artwork that is buzzing all around us.

Some of you may know my story. For those that don’t, here’s a Reader’s Digest version that was shown at my church this past Sunday (many thanks to Alex Giardina):

“I’M ENGAGED!!!!!”

She called me three weeks ago to deliver the news. Stunned, I sat down at a bench in Nordstrom typically reserved for bored husbands and shed tears of pure joy as my little sister exclaimed those two little words that would forever change everything. Memories of us catching furry black caterpillars and building forts out of blankets rushed through my head as I congratulated my future brother-in-law on his excellent choice in women.

Cassandra’s birthday happened to fall on Thanksgiving this year, so I was able to spend time with her and her Texan fiance Jonathan this past week. The two graciously allowed me to take some engagement photos of them, so we spent our Thanksgiving morning on the beach in Corona del Mar. These are some of my favorites from the session (click on a photo to see it bigger):

It’s still pretty surreal to me that my baby sister has a rock on her finger. I am eagerly anticipating helping plan her late summer wedding as the official MOH. I’m sure you will see many mentions of wedding planning in the next year on this here blog o’ mine. Yay for Pinterest.

On another note, photography is something that I’m beginning to take more seriously. It brings me such a deep level of creative satisfaction in a way that I can’t even explain. Have feedback for me on my photos? I’d love to hear it! I’m just getting started and truly have no idea what I’m doing, so the more feedback the better. Thanks for reading, and I hope you had a lovely and blessed Thanksgiving! There is much to be thankful for.

LL