Speak your Truth

One of the privileges of being a photographer is the access I have to speeches I would not hear or even know about if not assigned to photograph the events at which they were spoken. The talk may be an award acceptance, a eulogy, a teacher's presentation to their students or a commencement speech. In some cases I may be looking at my watch hoping for it to end or I may feel the pressure of having to get a good photo and get on my way to the next assignment before the speaker has gotten to the heart of their delivery. Other times everything falls into place. I have time and the speaker delivers a profound message - a gift is given and I am there to receive it. That happened last weekend.
I accepted a freelance assignment from UCSC to shoot the Crown College graduation ceremony. While I was asked to get candids of the grads and the acting chancellor, the main objective was to get good shots of alumna Marti Noxon who would be speaking.
Marti Noxon, writer for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and executive producer for Grey's Anatomy graduated from Oakes College in 1987. Crown College invited her back to tell her story to the families, friends and grads of the class of 2007. The first part of the speech felt long and hard. Not because it was poorly written or spoken awkwardly but because she had a sad story. Anorexia, alcoholism, lonliness, desperation. She felt lost and didn't know what she wanted to do with her life. I felt fidgety and impatient at times. I wanted her to lift the story. It was hard to hear. After setting up the tragedy and struggle and darkness she said to the stone silent crowd "Thank you very much, have a nice weekend." Nobody made a sound for a millisecond then boisterous laughter filled the open field when she said "just kidding". It was dark, we needed to be lifted from that cavern.
She told us someone mentioned she had a knack for writing so she took that nudge and started writing. She began getting work as a writer. She had various jobs using her skills with words and even though she was making money she still wasn't happy. Again struggles plagued her daily life and unhappiness filled her soul.
Eventually, she awoke to the epiphany that she needed to write from her heart. She had to speak her truth. She stopped writing for the money and started creating for her soul. That is when she began to see and feel success. Doors began to open. She emerged from the darkness. Happiness filled her being. Marti Noxon persevered and is now a success in the tv and film industry and in her personal life.
Since hearing Noxon's story my mind has been whispering to myself - "speak your truth". I am dedicating this time of my life to finding that truth and celebrating it however I can.
Marti Noxon gave me a gift which I gratefully receive. I hope in speaking my truth I can give at least one person a gift they are waiting to receive.