I’ve always thought that the further I could get from what I know about myself, the closer I’d get to whoever I am. My life has been this for so long now that I don’t quite remember other versions of myself. As if always standing open before the window of life and being, will allow me to see a glimpse within or a reflection.

On my very first bike ride through the canals; through the tourists, the cigarettes smoked while waiting for the train, the stones beneath me that the most remarkable men of Dutch history have also pondered upon, the ducks napping together beside the pond; I noticed something very unique to each small town that I traveled through. As the silence of the wind passed through the trees and the warmth of the day touched my shoulders and filled me, I thought with such stillness. “...the windows here hold such beautiful and delicate emotional metaphors within them.”

These windows are the visual narrative that I hope to give eloquent justice to in these final words;

Whether we are looking into them or looking out, the window is a representation of self, of being. The general openness observed in Holland was this visual nuanced language of an unfamiliar culture; being authentic, open, vulnerable, and even inviting. Sometimes the curtain only remains half-open; sometimes, there are treasures of the individual for the world to see.

I felt this as a very intuitive and gentle reminder that we, no matter where we are from nor wherever we go, can always strive to remain open, honest, and inviting to the world and others, not only unafraid but beaming to show others the bits and pieces of ourselves that make up the person that we are. In fact, the photos of Dutch Windows is me sharing pieces of myself with you. Each of these moments were captured during very long walks around places I’ve never been, and something about the composition resonated with my soul. These photos are an expression of my truest self— a quiet paradox of a human being; lost yet found, passionate yet gentle, melancholic yet joyful, nostalgic yet dreamy, adventurous yet reserved.

By sharing this openness, by remaining transparent about ourselves, our beliefs, values, and opinions, we invite the same from those around us. It is irresistibly contagious.