10 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT YOU…

When it comes to love I have realized some things.

First.. It does exist and everyone has the ability to love even if you are not in a relationship. Love lives in the depths of your soul just waiting for you to tap into it. It is abundant and fulfilling and only if you can accept and welcome it into your life, then you will feel it. That feeling, the greatest feeling on earth. Sometimes it can just happen, but sometimes it needs to be worked for. Either way, the end result is the same and the feeling can never be shook. A great love takes time, hard work, effort and determination. Love can be found in an instant, but only if that love is nurtured and fought for, will it last for ever. Love does not mean changing your partner to fit your needs and your life. That. That is not love. Love is what happens when two people who know and respect themselves come together and share their lives with one another. Love is the acceptance and the desire to just be with someone because of who they are.

Love is resilience. Love is not giving up when it gets tough. Love is hard work and compromise, but in the simplest terms, love is love.

Dani and Heather are the literal proof of what love is. The hard work, the acceptance, the support, the undying fight and everything that comes with it. No matter what happens, these two will always fight for one another. They have showed me what it means to be in love and how to make it last.

THEIR STORY: They met and immediately fell in love. It was forbidden at first, Dani was Heather’s teacher at PNW beauty school when Heather joined on as a student. Ultimately Dani’s career and educational training ended in order for them to be together. Love has no boundaries, a job is replaceable. Their work wouldn’t allow them to date, but this was the least of their worries and they had bigger obstacles ahead of them. It was head over heels, crazy beautiful, meant for one another love.

They were together, they moved in, got a few cats (literally three cats, I can never hang out at their house. #allergic) and started to plan a life together. When they finally got engaged at this magical castle surround by their friends and family (see their proposal post here), was when they decided to spend the rest of their lives together. With ‘I loves you’s” in the snow, and an overly big ring on Heathers tiny little finger, cheering to new beginnings and ringing in the New Year, is when their love grew even stronger.

At first, as a woman and woman, they were no strangers to adversity. Now, as a woman and a transgender man, they are still not strangers to adversity. They had their challenges and hard conversations with others and loved ones.  Some didn’t understand, some were not ready to accept it. But their love can not be broken, so no matter what curve balls are thrown at them they take it head on without fear, as they should. They are in love and nothing will change that, and no ones opinions but their own matter. Because they are happy, and they love one another for who they are, so why should that be stopped?

The fear others have about same sex couples and gender transitioning humans is severely misplaced. LOVE IS LOVE. There is nothing more greater and nothing more undeniable than it. Love should never be stopped. Love with others, love for yourself and love for the world. Love is for everyone. Love has no boundaries. Love is resilient. Love is Love.

YOU’RE  GOING  TO  WANT  TO  PRESS  PLAY  BELOW

(Since we photographed at Stadium High School in Tacoma, Wa. I just had to incorporate a 10 Things I Hate About You song.)

The Weakness In Me // Joan Armatrading

Photographed at The Tacoma Glass Museum and Stadium High School, location for 10 Things I Hate About You. We got to walk where Heather Ledger walked people!!