In response to my “mother daughter black belt strength training” (MDBBST) selfie series, I got the question why I don’t choose one iconic image that embodies strength or training. I love this question. So many angles to discuss!

In my creative expression, I endeavor to leave the interpretation of whatever I’m putting out there to the consumer.

What does it mean to YOU, my audience? I hope I am putting enough of the spirit of my intentions in the output that can be caught.

BUT! The selfie genre is not very old. The Oxford English dictionary had it as a word of the year in 2013, since its usage had increased 17 THOUSAND percent that year. People are doing it, but are they doing it well?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As a person practicing the art of the selfie what am I trying to convey?

For the millions of selfies that have been created in the last 10 years, sub-genres have developed. It my MDBBST series I’m doing a crossover of two genres, both of which are mock-worthy.

Most prominently, I am participating in the workout selfie genre. These are snaps taken at the gym, or a trailhead for the runner. I have a friend who is a competitive bodybuilder. She has dozens of fashionable workout clothes, with lights and mirrors as she bends and flexes to catch the best angles on the masterpiece that is her ass.

She might be the apex of that kind of workout selfie. Perfect hair and makeup to match her perfect body. Filters & botox strategically applied. She deserves her thousands of followers.

Others in the workout selfie are more evidence based. The selfie for those say ‘ here is a photo to prove I did the work.’

Like a photo of a kidnapped person holding that day’s newspaper, to prove that she was alive at the moment the shot was taken.

I did it…and my friends, supporters and strangers on the internet can follow along. Maybe they will think “geez, she looks terrible” but maybe they will think “she still at it! good for her.” In my series of workout selfies I’ve had the non-selfie takers tell me “I’m so inspired to see your workouts.”

We are both getting something out of it.

But this MDBBST series has another twist. There is a genre of mother daughter selfies. Perfectly groomed little darlings simpering into cameras with a spotless kitchen displaying a tray of perfect cookies…or some other craft.

Pre-selfie photos of mother daughter activities were not so posed.

The challenge Veronica and I set out for each other after I watched the black belt test at our martial arts studio was to get strong so we would be fit for our black belt training in a few years. 10 minutes every morning doing some challenging strength training. She gets to stay in her pajamas, and we do it every morning without fail. So far. 41 days

We don’t want to let each other down.

I hadn’t done workouts with her before, let alone workout selfies. The first couple I tried to get her in the shot, but she didn’t want to participate. We negotiated that she will throw a first into the frame, which evolved into the complicated action selfie of catching her foot in a kick near my face.

Depending on my WFH schedule of meetings, I am often in work clothes when we do our pushups and squats. It’s only ten minutes so I don’t break too much of a sweat.

I am deeply satisfied that this unbroken series is our mother daughter time. It’s not treacle. She corrected my pushup form today. I tried it her way and she was right. It’s competition and team work at the same time.

But is it art?

It’s something. It’s of its moment. In the world of social media, I’m inviting whoever wants to come along for the ride to join in this endeavor. Some other people can wonder along with me how long we’ll go before we miss a day. Or how long we go before we give it up.

I’m curious to see if we keep it going and get to 50 pushups every morning. That would be incredible!

With an internet full of stories to follow, my MDBBST thread has some value. I’ll share my little life in this big world so we can have community. And I’ll follow some of yours if you do the same.

I’m rooting for you!