Behind the Lens – This is 40

September 12, 1977.

2:41 p.m.

Naples Community Hospital, Naples, Florida, USA.

That would be the moment when I would make my grand entrance into this world.

Today…

I am 40.

This age that felt so ancient in the days of my youth. This age that feels so young now that I am standing here.

Hurricane Irma has wreaked havoc on my hometown. I shared my thoughts from the other side of the storm in yesterday’s post. For as long as I can remember my mother has sung me “Happy Birthday” today. When I became a young woman and left the folds of her nest, she would call and begin singing as soon as I said “Hello?”. I wondered about today…would this day…this milestone in my life…be the one exception?

It was not.

She found a signal on her drive into the city and sang to me on this special day of mine.

Me.

I am a fan of being behind my lens.

Time has tried to steal my comfort with the aging process.

So today, I am sharing a series of photos taken of me behind the lens.

Photos that were taken by my mother and my husband.

Ones that I’m often not aware of until a later time.

Photos of me feeling confident and strong as I learn to share what my eyes see through the lens of my camera.

And that were taken by people who love me and believe in me even when I do not believe in myself.

Photos of me as I press outside of my comfort zone…as I grow…as I learn who I am outside of wife…mother…daughter…sister…friend.

Photos that were taken over this past year or so as I marched toward this day…this milestone…this moment of 40.

One of my happy places. River Palm Cottages | Jensen Beach, Florida.

To see things from the other side of the lens, check out this older post of mine.

On an excursion off of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Niagara Dam | Roanoke, Virginia.

To see things from the other side of the lens, check out this post.

A successful hiking day. Dragon’s Tooth | Catawba, Virginia

Hiking Dragon’s Tooth. | Catawba, Virginia

To see things from the other side of the lens, check out this post.

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Every step…every decision…has brought me to this point…today I step into my 40's…stronger…more confident…and more resilient than I have ever been . .This is one of my favorite photos of me in front of a camera. It was taken, unbeknownst to me, by my husband during a visit to the Taubman on an outing in downtown Roanoke to celebrate our anniversary in April 2016 . . .#thisis40 #seekthesimplicity #theglobewanderer #roamtheplanet #sheisnotlost #stayandwander #LoveVA #virginiacities #blueridgeday #darlingescapes #abmlifeiscolorful #ihavethisthingwithcolor #lifeofadventure #liveauthentic #wearetravelgirls #dametraveler #travelstoke #traveldiaries #thehappynow #fromwhereistand #exploretocreate #visualsoflife #welivetoexplore #exploremore #lifestyleblogger #letsgosomewhere #ipulledoverforthis #itsamazingoutthere #ladiesgoneglobal #suitcasetravels

A post shared by Amy Lyon Smith (@bedlamanddaisies) on Sep 12, 2017 at 6:56am PDT

A brief foray into Notre Dame. | Paris, France.

Miss Sunshine was very ill this day. Our visit brief. I haven’t shared the photos from the other of side of the lens as of yet. If you’d like to see a few of my photos from Paris you can check out this post.

Another beautiful place to see.  Palace of Versailles | Versailles, France.

To see the palace from the other side of the lens, check out this post.

One of my favorite places at the Palace of Versailles was the Hamlet of Marie Antionette. | Versailles, France.

To see things from the other side of  the lens, check out this post.

Taking photos of the Eiffel Tower. | Paris, France

This was a walk-by opportunity only, for a shot from the other side of the lens, check out this post.

Walking amongst Scotland’s history. Stirling Castle. | Stirling, Scotland.

To see the castle from the other side of the lens, check out this post.

Atop the roof of Princes Street Suites. | Edinburgh, Scotland

To see the hotel from the other side of the lens, check out this post. For more rooftop views from here, check out this post.

To see some of Edinburgh from the other side of the lens, check out this post and this post

To see more from Scotland, be sure to check out the UK category under Destinations.

Hint: there’s quite a few from Glasgow as well.

My last outing. End of summer. | Carolina Beach, North Carolina.

To see a few shots from the other side of the lens, check out this post. If you’re looking for the sunset, you can find of those in this post or on Instagram.

I hope that you’ve enjoyed a little walk behind this lens with me.

I’m off to see what 40 has in store for me.

Let your light shine!

Amy