This image makes me think of independence and determination, as I imagine the subject to be on a journey of her own choosing, perhaps leaving behind her self-imposed obligations… Or perhaps I’m very much mistaken and really she is reluctantly embarking on a journey towards a situation where she feels obliged to participate, for whatever reason.

I have recently had cause to consider the ‘shoulds’ that I place on myself, the things I feel I ‘have to’ or ‘ought to’ do, and where this feeling of obligation comes from. Some of these are things I want to do anyway, but many of them are not. I feel a need to really work out which things align with my own sense of who I am; my values, my priorities, and my real responsibilities. It’s not the work of a moment, it’s probably a process which needs to be revisited often, as life goes on. But it is a process which I’m feeling drawn towards right now.

I imagine I may not come to a definitive answer, but, as with many things in life, I think it is probably a good idea to at least be aware of the need to be thinking about it.