Fearless Friday Challenge, Love | NJ Photographer

Back in December, I attended the Making Things Happen Intensive in Watercolor, FL.   The experience was amazing as are the women who run it, Lara Casey, Natalie Norton, Emily Ley, and Gina Zeidler.    When I’m asked about it, I have some trouble finding the right words to describe the experience.  It is not a workshop-workshop.  It is really a life workshop. Correction, life-changing workshop.  You examine your life, your fears, your mental clutter and try to determine what is holding you back.   You laugh.  You cry.  But then you are amazed and overwhelmed by the love and support you receive.   And you feel thankful and blessed.  And finally you walk away with a toolset to help you move forward and to make things happen in your life.

MTH was an experience I’ll never forget.  It gave me new clarity about my business (look for big changes ahead) and my life.   One of the best parts of MTH is the incredible group of  women I met.   A group of supportive, loving, capable, kick-ass, REAL women.     Women who have fears and flaws but are committed to move forward in a positive way and make things happen for them.

A small group of us have gotten together for a regular blog feature.  One we’re calling Fearless Fridays.   It will be a bi-weekly post, each with a different topic or theme.   You’ll get to see how each of us interpret the theme by clicking through to their blogs.     I’m super excited to be part of it!

The first theme is…. drumroll please…..  L-O-V-E.

My immediate thought when I think of LOVE is my family.  Naturally.   I am so fortunate to be blessed with a wonderful family.   So, I started there.  And brainstormed ideas that would convey the theme and the amount of love I have for my family.   Which is a.lot.of.love.

Then at the last minute, I thought to myself, “WTH –This is Fearless Friday.”  I need to put myself out there.    So, I am.   I shifted gears.   I’m feeling the fear and doing it anyway.

New drumroll please…. My LOVE for this first feature is myself.

LOL.  It just s-o-u-n-d-s funny to write that.   But I think it is perfect.    Perfect because if you know me at all, you know I am probably one of the least arrogant people around.   I’m actually self-depricating to a fault.  If someone is kind enough to pay me a compliment, I usually struggle to maintain eye contact, mumble something like “thank you” and generally run for the hills.    It’s something I need to work on.   I know this.

But, I’ve been doing a lot of self-examination lately.  In search of growth.    In search of happiness.   In search of peace.   And I’m working on taking better care of myself. Over the past several years, I seem to keep getting further and further down on the priority list.   Truth be told, I don’t think I’ve even been on that damn list for the past couple of years.

But times are a-changing.  And I’m working on loving myself enough to stand up and do the work to create the kind of life I want for myself and for my family.

“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection. “  Buddha

So, this is me.  Looking at me.  Loving me.  Loving my flaws.  Loving my imperfections.  They are what make me unique and me.  And, you know what I’ve come to realize?   I’m kinda great.  ;^)

Do you know who else I think is great?  And talented and beautiful?  It is the amazing Natasja Vega of Studio 516 Photography.  Please go to her site to see her interpretation of the first Fearless Friday Feature and leave her some love while you’re at it!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Angie

xox