I saw wonder through the lens of my mother’s eyes before I even had the words for it. This image of her standing so proudly in front of the ocean, wanting to hold onto its beauty long enough for a picture, reminds me that there is still so much more to life beyond my peripheral. And her smile in this image, so untouched and childlike in the most beautiful way, reminds me that wonder can survive people, hardship, disappointment, and age.  

Like a child learning the world through the eyes of their carer, Mama taught me how to chase freedom, how to remain curious, adventurous, and soft in a world that tries so hard to harden you.  

So on days when my own eyes fail me, I borrow hers for a little while, hoping they remind me that there is still beauty left here. And when my own lens becomes blurred, I know hers will remain intact long enough to cleanse mine too, just until the world becomes clear again.