Joyful Things #002 | Chilliwack Photographer

A little forest right off the road, 2020

A list of joyful things to brighten your day - leave your own list in the comments, or tag me on Instagram under @sarahsovereign. I would love to see what brings you joy!

1. I LOVE the work of Andrea Love & Phoebe Wahl and I’m stoked that they’re creating a stop motion animated film called “Tulip”. Here’s the Kickstarter, or visit Andrea Animates for more.

2. When you can look out your window and have a perfect view of the moon.

3. My Favorite Murder podcast. It may be a weird thing to list a true crime podcast on here as something joyful, but listening to Karen and Georgia while I make breakfast is one of the highlights of my mornings.

4. Wildflowers.

5. Margaret, my neighbourhood raccoon.

Joyful Things | Chilliwack Photographer

Frankie, shrimpin’.

I’m going to try and update from time to time here with a list of joyful things - I know times are hard and it’s been a TREK through 6 months of a pandemic - so here’s a list of a few things I’m finding joy in these days:

1. This live 24 hour feed of a bird library

2. Sharing art I love over on the Recraft Community group

3. I LOVE the weather we’ve been having lately - and that storm the other week was everything I needed.

4. The colourful thoughtful work of artist Julie Alpert

5. Sitting next to the river while the wind blows through the overhead trees.

What are some things that bring you joy? Comment below or share on Insta and shoot me a tag - I’d love to see!

"Head in the Clouds" | ADHD & Self Compassion

“Head in the Clouds” 2018

I created this image in 2018 about ADHD with model Anna Isabel, it was published later that year in Louden Singletree. The image shown here has been re-edited slightly.

I share and discuss tons of stuff about ADHD - I think it's really misunderstood, which has lead to stigma, and that misunderstanding is part of the reason I was only diagnosed in adulthood. Funnily enough, I began to suspect I had it while studying it getting my Masters in Counselling - it was eye opening to see a lot of myself and internal processes reflected in the pages of a textbook.

I'm an adult with a Masters, VA Diploma, Degree, a couple extended minors, and 3 classes short of an English degree - I'm heckin' smart. I found ways to work (and cope) with my ADHD, funneled a lot into creative work, and along the way just started embracing the fact that every paper I wrote was going to be done the night before. (I am still surprised I completed a thesis to be honest, but dang - that thesis was GOOD.) The thing though with ADHD is that the coping skills you developed to get you through school don't necessarily translate into your 20's, 30's, 40's post-school - the thing that works one day, might not work the next. This can be incredibly exhausting. I recently had a Dr tell me that getting my Masters with ADHD was “unlikely” - look in any ADHD support group online and you will find people with Masters, PhD’s, multiple degrees - it’s not just about education level, women with ADHD can have ADHD and do incredible things. ADHD is not a measurement of failure, ADHD means that what we seek to achieve will have additional challenges, big and small.

We build tools for the job at hand, and the biggest thing we can do when the tool isn't doing the job we want it to is to give ourselves compassion and room to figure out what shape the tool needs to be. What can we outsource? What can we work with? Do I need to talk with my Dr about medication? For me, having ADHD is a process of constant development, it's learning as much as I can about it - and in learning what I can, finding grace in the flow. Education about ADHD is close to my heart and it's something I'm really passionate about in counselling - there are many - especially women - who are never diagnosed - who struggle to be heard & understood. More than not being diagnosed - there are many who are never seen beyond the challenges that others have used to define them - and that's incredibly heartbreaking.

Lower self esteem can present with ADHD, partially because the challenges inherent in having a brain that processes & experiences the world in a different way can lead to heavier criticisms, frustrations, confusion, disappointment - and for some, those harsh words become an internal dialogue. I think reframing the concept from "normal" and "not normal" to "this brain processes this way" and "this brain processes this way" creates ways to work, grow & thrive as valuable, unique, amazing individuals. We can make room for people to work with tasks in a way that supports them, and we can make room for conversation around what support looks like to them. It's not about a "fix", it's about developing ways to work with it - and the more we access support & self-compassion, the more we build it & refine what support is needed.

ADHD is far, far, far more complex than stopping mid sentence to yell "Squirrel!" and it's a lot more than its name suggests. There are also different types, with girls being far more likely to present with Inattentive Type (hey there!). They're less likely to cause a fuss in class, they're less likely to show external hyperactivity, and they're more likely to be overlooked because they're acting "like girls should". Yikes. More research has come out in the last couple decades on girls & women with ADHD - it’s imperative to find a professional who knows about this research and is well educated in this field when seeking support.

If you want to learn more about ADHD, Additude Mag is a great resource: https://www.additudemag.com , or How to ADHD on YouTube , or this book is great (and this one looks really interesting, too).

Disclaimer: These are my personal experiences with ADHD, and based on my own research & opinions. If you think you have ADHD, contact your Dr. If you need support with managing ADHD or parenting someone with ADHD, reach out to a mental health professional. **I would highly recommend looking for a professional who specializes in ADHD - if you’re a woman, especially with ADHD in women. Be gentle with yourselves.

Life in a Quiet Hurricane | Navigating Quarantine

Together Apart.

Hey friends!

Oof, this is some timeline we’ve slipped into, hey?

I do most of my updating through my Facebook and Instagram pages, but I did feel it was important to address everything going on through here. The truth is: I’m not entirely sure how I want to navigate photo sessions right now, beyond following everything national treasures Dr. Bonnie Henry and Dr. Theresa Tam recommend. That means I’m not booking any sessions - and postponing/rescheduling booked sessions until I’m given the go ahead to do them. So far I’m just taking things one day at a time, editing work, and building community over at the Recraft Community group. Come join me there!

I’m working on some online things and worksheets, but it’s taking time because hey, the world is going through it! This is a lot to take in, and we’re all navigating trauma right now - this is a friendly reminder from me to you to be gentle with yourselves. A lot of counsellors have moved services online if you’re needing to talk with someone. B.C.’s mental health hotline is 310-6789, which you can access for free. We are in this together, we don’t need to it alone. If you’re in Chilliwack and need a hand getting groceries, essentials, etc, visit CCFC Community Cares to be set up with help. (This service is for ANYONE having difficulty getting out of the house, from seniors, those under quarantine, new parents, or people experiencing anxiety that makes it difficult to go out. If you’re struggling, please use this service.)

Hope you’re all doing ok out there. I’ll update more soon, and I’ll be working on some things online for the next while - sending love out there to all of you.