Sparkle

DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post brought to you by Dasani Sparkling Flavored Water Beverage.  All opinions are my own.

Dasani, in celebration of their new sparkling flavored water beverage, asked me what makes me sparkle.  Sparkle.  As in…shine brightly with flashes of light…or another definition reads…to be vivacious and witty.It was a complete head scratcher moment.  I am not really something unusually special (I mean I am special…but not necessarily in a good way).  I am not really that great at any one thing.  I claim to be jack of all trades, master of none.  I can’t really dance or sing or have any viable talent.  I attempt to cook and I argue really well but Jeremy isn’t hard to beat (sorry honey that’s true).  I don’t really ever shine…especially with flashes of light.  And my wit is better defined as cheesy humor paired with enthusiasm.

It really got me thinking.  I do believe everyone sparkles sometime…so what is the moment I do?  Am I ever sparkling?

And the only thing I could think of is…yes dangit I do sparkle and it’s not on the outside.  My sparkle…my sprinkling of shiny flashes of brightness all vampire-in-the-sun moments are in my heart and they happen when I am capturing something I hold dear.

So what does make me sparkle?

It could be a father’s love…

or a son’s affection.

I sparkle when I see that moment of bravery…

or the moment of celebration.

I sparkle when I capture a first mom’s stillness…

or the grandmother’s grace.

I feel that warm shining moment when I snap silly moments…

or just plain cute ones.

I feel those flashes of light when I am behind the camera.  And I am not talking about the bulb going off…I am talking about that feeling of worth that only I can give to myself.  It’s not because I am the best photographer.  It’s not because I used the best settings or snapped at exactly the right moment.  It’s because I am putting value on the moments in my life that hold goodness.  I see the good.  I want to hold onto it.  And that is what makes anyone shine…I just express mine through the lens.

It’s ironic that the definition of photography is “the art or process of producing images by the action of radiant energy and especially light on a sensitive surface”.  I think that my insides…my heart…my gut and my brain and everything in me….they are doing that process all the time.  I am a sensitive surface and that sparkle of raw and unashamed good that I can see is producing a beautiful image in my mind and heart and soul and I cling to that like Rose on that plank outside of the Titanic.  I will never let that go.

Is that deep enough for you?  Is that a glimpse into my weirdness?  Did you just go through mental gymnastics to follow my rabbit trail?  I know it’s not normal to go that open on a Dasani post when really most folks are all ‘DRINK UP!’ but that’s me….like I said…I’m special.

I think this dialogue is really important though.  Everyone has something that makes them sparkle.  It could be your work or your kids or your crafty sewing skills or how you encourage others.  It’s a passion and an enthusiasm and that thing that makes you shine (bright like a diamond!).    What’s yours?  I want to know. So does Dasani.

And while you think about that….here is an AMAZING contest that you can enter!

Just upload a photo of what makes you sparkle to twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #SparkleWithDASANI.  You’ll also want to like @dasaniwater so they can contact you if you win.  The Grand Prize is a Sparkling Getaway to the Westin Diplomat in Ft. Lauderdale, and includes airfare, hotel and spa treatments for 4.  Winner will be selected in early August.

So go grab your phone….and IG or tweet your hobby or your kid’s smudgey little face and hashtag that puppy so that when you win, you can take me too 🙂  We can sparkle in Ft. Lauderdale together.  I’ll pay for the babysitter 🙂

For now…let’s talk about what makes you sparkle? What is your special thing? Hobby? Kids? What is that makes you light up like a star in the dark sky?