Anya, Lydia, & Trisha | A Celebration of Friendship

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.”

- author unknown

The beauty of friendships.

Though the current situation is not anything any of us would have ever chosen, I also see how it’s brought about a great depth of gratitude in a lot of people. Gratitude for the warmth of sunshine they get to feel on their skin as they take a walk. Gratitude for the clarity that comes with a life put on pause, unhurried from the busyness of life. Gratitude for the friendships and family we still have in our life, even though a Zoom or Facetime call might have to suffice for the time being.

The energy and friendship of Anya, Lydia, and Trisha is evident when you spend even five minutes with these ladies. Laughter and warmth is easily seen in their relationship and I am honored to be have created these special portraits for them before the shelter in place a few months back. If anything, especially now, I see these ladies as a beautiful reminder of what a blessing it is to live this life with true friends anchored firmly by your side.

Happy Friday, everyone!

Images | Heartbox Photography

Hair & makeup | Beautiful One Hair & Makeup

“It might be a tragedy to not be born with sisters, but it means you get to pick your own. Lydia, Anya, and I have been friends for over 10 years. We met at work and quickly became close. These two amazing women are sistas who I can tell anything to - my joys, rants, hopes, and sorrows.

And I'm honored to be that person for them.”

- Trisha

“I am an immigrant, a mother of 3 grown up (or almost grown up) children, I made my journey through corporate carrier ladder in high tech - to business consulting and mentoring - to recovering my healing identity and becoming a Chinese medicine practitioner.

I am a healer at heart and I was always meant to do the work I am doing now. “

- Anya

“I'm a California native, wife, kitty mama, and low-tech person working in a high-tech company. I've learned that my hobbies happen in cycles.

At different points in my life, I've been obsessed with dance, knitting, Zentangle, and searching for the perfect lemondrop (martini, not candy).

My most recent hobby is standup paddleboarding, but I don't get out on the water as much as I'd like.”

- Trisha

“We were brought together by laughter.

We traveled from Washington DC business trip and just couldn’t stop laughing. It would have been embarrassing if we were capable of being embarrassed at that moment.

That unabashed feeling of joy and appreciation of life was what made us friends, and it underscores our friendship through all these years. We first became sistas, then become running buddies (and run lots and lots of miles together), and in all that - we became friends for life.”

- Anya

“I feel that I am finally at a place in my life when I live out my vision and my purpose. It does not mean there is no room for growth and learning - actually, there is a lifetime of learning and growing ahead of me and I will never get bored or complacent in what I do, which makes it even more exciting for me.”

- Anya

“In college, I remember learning about The Beauty Myth: how images of beauty are used against women. I've avoided fashion magazines and beauty articles ever since.

Societal pressures are everywhere, and it can be hard to not beat yourself up or get depressed. We have to remember to be our own best allies and have our own back.

Be kind to yourself, you deserve it. And ask for help if your self-love isn't cutting it.”

-Trisha

“Best advice is the one that you are ready to hear.

As I went through life, at different twists and turns of my journey simple words came from sometimes most unexpected people and landed EXACTLY where and how I needed to hear them.

Best truths are always hidden in the plain site.”

- Anya

“Nobody can tell you that you are beautiful - the feeling truly comes from the inside, from knowing your self.

I teach my patients to find the sense of peace and acceptance within selves first, and answer the question Who am I? What do I want? What do I truly want?

Once they find it within themselves - it is all about setting the vision and going after it unapologetically. Then everything falls into place and beauty shines from within.”

- Anya

"Love yourself. No reservations necessary."

- Trisha

Best advice you’ve ever received?

“If I'm afraid of not liking something new, "Try it and see." This was said to me by my boss in my first job out of college, when most things were new and scary for me. It's served me well over the years.”

What do you appreciate most about your life now?

“I most appreciate knowing that I want for nothing. I have a serene home, a stable and nurturing relationship, good health, and enough resources to be comfortable. Sure, there are things I might think I need sometimes - vacations, sparkly things, a new handbag. And it's fun to indulge!

But when I remember to be present and focus on the moment, it's so beautiful to realize I have everything I need.”

Tracie | 2019 | A Celebration of Phenomenal Women

“Feminism isn’t about making women stronger. Women are already strong.

It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.”

-G.D. Anderson

I had the opportunity to opportunity to photograph the beautiful Tracie Root.

And her story? I was seriously blown away. I mean, really, we talk about women and being strong, surviving but to be honest I heard Tracie’s story and all I could think about was how I couldn’t fathom having to endure what she did. There’s something about a woman’s smile that becomes even more beautiful once you learn more about the life challenges they’ve endured that had the potential to wipe away that smile forever - and yet it’s still there, brighter than ever.

Tracie’s own personal story is the backbone to the work she does as an established certified health and wellness coach here in the Bay Area and as the owner of Gather in Santa Cruz and I am so proud to share with you all these images that capture the essence of this phenomenal woman.

Images | Heartbox Photography

Hair & makeup | Daisy Gonzalez-Duarte

***

I grew up in Silicon Valley and was always a high achiever for all the external things - school, performing arts, career - but I always struggled with health and energy. I was overweight as a teenager and was a yo-yo dieter into my 30's. I was a smoker, I lived on caffeine and nicotine and lots of junk food, dieting off and on, with little success as I was motivated by what I looked like on the outside.

“By age 40, I was married to a great man, had 2 great kids, when life hit us hard and my husband lost his 4-year battle with cancer.

I was left with 2 preschoolers and most of my family and friends did not live near me, so the kids and I were literally on our own, attempting to survive in this new season of life.”

A couple of years later I realized that this was how things were going to stay if I didn't make some changes, so I started with my health. I connected with a health coach who had a proven system that taught me how to make real changes. I got to a healthy weight and that trickled to all areas of my life.

“She taught me how to pay it forward, and not only was my physical health transformed but I learned how to ask for and to give help, how to cultivate gratitude, how to hold space for myself and others, and how to find my own peace after trauma.”

I began coaching in 2012 and life has never been the same. Helping people with their healthy body, healthy mindset, healthy finances, whatever is most important to them (or all three and more!)...there's nothing better when you can guide another to transform their life!

What are some things that you would want women to know with regards to beauty, self-confidence, and growing up as a woman in today's world?

“I believe that all people have beauty within them if they focus on love and gratitude. Like in the movies - the "ugly witches" are ugly because they have ugliness within them.

The beautiful ones use their power for good and helping others. The movies didn't just make this up! If you have gratitude and love in your soul, beauty will radiate from within, and you will shine bright.”

Best advice you ever received?

“Everything we do is a choice.

What do you choose?”

What do you appreciate most about your life now?

I'm grateful that I get to pour into others every day. My family, friends, and the world at large, my mission is to show people what's possible and hold space for them while they work toward their transformation

- and I get to live that mission every day!