Ben dancin

ben_dancing.jpg
Ben dancing, Berkeley Marina, Canon Digital Rebel XSi

“While I dance I cannot judge, I cannot hate, I cannot separate myself from life. I can only be joyful and whole.”
– Hans Bos

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Hi, I’m Andrea

On this blog you’ll be learning with me how to use our voices, share our creative superpowers and live life in full color.

As an artist, photographer, life coach + mentor, I’m redefining what it means to be a SUPERHERO — ‘cause in my world, it’s got nothing to do with capes, spandex or sidekicks and everything to do with tenderness, intuition & baby steps of bravery.

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77 Comments

  1. Emme

    o.m.g!! Look at the shadow behind that magical moment! Unbelievable photo! What an incredible moment you have captured here!

  2. Camilla

    Fantastic photo!

  3. jen berry

    wow. i think this is one of the most joyous pictures i have ever seen

  4. melody

    Oh rapture…and gimme that T-shirt.

  5. Ange

    I’m delurking to say – fabulous shot! Who wouldn’t be smiling after seeing it. Great capture!

  6. Rach

    Beautiful.

  7. Lucia

    The most amazing photo I have seen for a while. I love it. Bless little Ben 🙂

  8. bella

    What a cutie! He is rockin’ out and loving it.
    Thanks for sharing.

  9. wendy

    beautiful!
    xo

  10. vivienne

    go ben!
    i love this!!!
    and that quote and it completely embodies how NIA has changed my life. that is exactly where i go when i dance and no matter how i may have been feeling before i danced, i leave changed.

  11. Val

    Oh – the dances that they do – uninhibited beauty! If we could all keep part of that would it not be wonderful!

  12. cjh

    Seriously? Could you take better photos? This is awesome.
    Also? I’m loving the cupcakes/cupcake flags from the previous post.

  13. Jummy

    This beautiful picture makes my heart happy.
    It’s lovely to see Ben enjoying life.

  14. stef

    such a great photo – capturing something mid-dance! perfection 🙂
    xo

  15. heather

    Yah Ben!! I squealed outloud at this photo and such a great quote. You captured this so beautifully. Cutness overload!

  16. Jennifer

    I LOVE this picture!!! It does look like he’s rockin’ out in the way that only 2 year olds can do (though I guess he’s 2 and a half now, right?

  17. Shelley Noble

    Brilliant photo, Andrea. Ben has genuine line in the movement. And the quote knocked my socks off, sent it to Paul.

  18. Sarah

    I love everything about this picture but I think the Beatles shirt is the best part!

  19. kelly rae

    my new fave pic of ben!!!

  20. Yolanda

    That makes my heart smile in a thousand different directions. Spend the money. Blow this one up and frame it. Put it in the busiest room in your house. You will never regret looking at this image every day.

  21. nina

    Seeing him makes my heart dance! I love this picture…

  22. celisa

    i LOVE it!!! probably one of my fav pics of ben so far. just a great photo all around. my heart swells 🙂

  23. Kristy

    This image just filled my soul with absolute joy. Thank you for sharing.

  24. Kristy

    This image just filled my soul with absolute joy. Thank you for sharing.

  25. Kristy

    This image just filled my soul with absolute joy. Thank you for sharing.

  26. catherine

    Instant good mood.

  27. Honey

    What I ask is better than this?? I really love the shadow part too. I think of Peter Pan’s shadow. Unadulterated joy. Thanks for sharing all the loveliness.

  28. Leslie

    oh. so made me smile today. love the t-shirt too.

  29. Connie

    what an awesome picture. What a treasure…

  30. Trude

    Wow. Talk about a frameable keepsake! That should totally be up on your wall! 🙂

  31. Laura

    look at him– a sweet little wisp of a boy, he looks like he is about to fly up into the air, perch in a tree and giggle down at you 🙂
    SUCH an awesome shirt! My partner and I were saying the other day that if we ever become pregnant, we’re totally pressing earphones to my belly & playing beatles songs.. (and some joni mitchell- the grass at the roadside in this shot makes me think of prairies, and for some reason joni and prairies are linked in my mind)

  32. Wanda

    Dance on, little dude. Wonderful moving picture.

  33. Sarah

    I truly adore this picture. Ben’s expression and movement are so perfectly joyful, and I love how his little dance-partner shadow looks like it’s taking flight in the background! 🙂

  34. Sarah

    I truly adore this picture. Ben’s expression and movement are so perfectly joyful, and I love how his little dance-partner shadow looks like it’s taking flight in the background! 🙂

  35. Rae

    Oh, Jen, what a beautiful, lovely picture. I think I will go and dance a little myself now, though it’s night here and I will be dancing under the stars.

  36. jenn

    I just adore this picture. I look at it all the time because it just brings instant joy into my life. Rock out Ben!

  37. crissy

    oh lovely! i also love how this is a family photo of sorts, assuming the other 2 shadows are you and matt. i want to dance with ben too!

  38. Dreaming Bear

    This is such a captivating photo! So joyful!

  39. Blisschick

    What a beautiful photo and I LOVE the quote. Thank you! My dancer-self thanks you. 🙂

  40. hippittee

    love the shirt and how it complements the content of the photo~

  41. Blisschick

    What a beautiful photo and I LOVE the quote. Thank you. My newly rediscovered dancer-self thanks you. 🙂

  42. michelle y.

    Oh Andrea! This photo made my day!

  43. Rebecca.

    Remember when he was just a hope? Just a dream and a wish your heart was yearning for?
    What joy he projects…..

  44. Rebecca.

    Remember when he was just a hope? Just a dream and a wish your heart was yearning for?
    What joy he projects…..

  45. jakki

    Good Lord that is some pure joy there!! I love to SEE that in pictures…

  46. megan

    Where did that quote come from? LOVE the picture!

  47. Caroline

    Such a great photo! And I love the quote 🙂

  48. maile

    that is the BEST! love love love!!

  49. Todd

    That looks similar to my son Jack’s dance…we call it “Jelly Legs” Awseome!

  50. Jacki

    He’s adorable!
    (This photo is amazing, breathtaking and spiritual all in one. This is the second time I’ve come to look at it. I wish I could capture that freedom and happiness and share it with the world. So very awesome!)

  51. Sam

    An amazing shot, Andrea! It captures Ben’s utter joy in movement, and I love his hair ruffled by the wind. I know that my own son’s dancing brings me SUCH joy and laughter. Two year olds of the world, dance your bootys off!

  52. suganthi

    Amazing.
    And I love to dance and spin on my feet.
    xo!

  53. Julia

    Ben couldn’t look more “joyful and whole” than in this picture!
    Thanks for sharing this image of your beautiful, dancing boy.
    🙂

  54. Surcie

    Looks like he’s thriving in every way!

  55. yasmine

    and the figures on the Beatles tshirt are dancing right along with him! oh, this photo makes me smile so much =)
    and look at leaping, dancing SHADOWS! =)

  56. Puanani

    Oh, my. How do I love him. Let me count the ways. We drove through San Francisco and Berkley a few days ago and I saw a body of water and walking path. I thought, “I wonder if this is the path Ben dances on…” We also hit the Cafe Gratitude, my daughter wouldn’t order anything!

  57. shona

    that is an amazing photo! i love it, as well as the quote. i hope you’re having a fantastic heart-full weekend! : )

  58. jen gray

    one of my most favorites! xo

  59. gfbgf

    v

  60. Teresa

    Hi Andrea,
    I just LOVE your blog, your photography…your stories about Ben… You have inspired me to start my own blog featuring my twin daughters. I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind emailing me to give me some advice? Help me with a few hesitations I am haivng?
    Thanks!
    Teresa

  61. Valentina

    This is the first time I comment here 🙂 I *LOVE* your work 🙂 And this picture makes me sooo happy! Thanks~Thanks for sharing

  62. Valentina

    This is the first time I comment here 🙂 I *LOVE* your work 🙂 And this picture makes me sooo happy! Thanks~Thanks for sharing

  63. Imelda

    I said it out loud as soon as I saw this: Oh Wow! This is such a beautiful, beautiful picture. Thanks for sharing it!

  64. dani keith

    pictures of ben and his pure joy always make me smile. thank you for sharing!!

  65. Sheri

    so in luh-uv with this photo!

  66. Eve

    I just love this pic!
    Wonderful (even the shirt is perfect)!!
    eve

  67. Leah

    Oh, this picture is such a delight! Love it!

  68. celeste

    oh, we miss the cesar chavez park walk … feeding the marmots peanuts and the waves crashing on the rocks. the kite flying. (sigh)

  69. amanda

    such an amazing photo!

  70. victoria

    This is one of the best photos I have seen. Such an amazing capture of joy and freedom. Thank you for sharing it.

  71. victoria

    This is one of the best photos I have seen. Such an amazing capture of joy and freedom. Thank you for sharing it.

  72. bianca

    andrea, hello.
    this image is quite possibly my favorite of ben. what a magical moment you captured. joyful, youthful, full of abandon. fantastic.

  73. Carol Wiebe

    As the Beatles sang, “I’m happy just to dance with you.”
    For Ben, that statement can be made even more succint: “I’m happy just to dance,” or even “I’m happy.”
    What a photo and what an expansive spirit in such a small package.

  74. Sue

    Love this photo!!

  75. Melissa

    joyful and serene.

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