Hours

Photo taken by contributor Shelby Hall, a 22-year-old mother from Dallas, Texas. Before her boys were born, she had a difficult relationship with her now fiancé, in part due to his struggles with drug addiction. She suffered from depression through much of their early relationship as a result of being unable to cope. Loving someone with addiction can feel hopeless at times. She felt lost and unsure about who she was, and who she was trying to be. During that rough time in her life she found herself comforted and consoled by her photography. Shelby’s fiancé is now two years sober, and they are wonderfully happy parents. She loves having her photos to look back on. They read like a timeline and you can see the progressions and pitfalls through them all. They also serve as a reminder of how much stronger she and her fiancé are today.

About this photo: “I love this photograph. When I took it I felt I was finally in a better place, but I never wanted to forget where I had been. I wanted to remember every “hour.” I had never weathered a storm like the two years I spent fighting depression and anxiety, and I was so proud of where I was after spending so long in my hole. I wanted to always remember and remind myself how strong I am.”

Find more from Shelby at her blog.

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