12/18/2023
Mini blog post ahead…
Today was pivotal. One of those days that just feels different. It wasn’t that much different from other days, but it felt different. Maybe because I actually slept more than five hours last night 🫠 but more likely because I had a shift in perspective after getting over a mental hurdle.
10am - Had a family shoot in studio and it went so smoothly. I felt fulfilled.
11am - Wedding clients came in to review some photos from their wedding day after a loss in the family. I gave them the space to look through all 4000 images, edited and unedited. There were tears. I felt moved.
1pm - I sat outside on the balcony at the studio soaking up the sun and saw three individuals, on different occasions, walking and then stopping to go through the dumpsters. I wondered what I could offer them and came up with nothing. I need to do better. I felt selfish.
2pm - I worked on content, delivering galleries, and ordering supplies. I felt productive.
3pm - Another shoot with a couple and their adorable dog. I felt happy.
4pm - Another shoot with a family outdoors. They were all so kind and the weather was incredible. I felt thankful.
5pm - I delivered more galleries and closed up the studio. I felt proud.
6pm - Dinner with a friend at none other than Caprock. I felt refreshed.
7pm - Baseball with Truett. He can’t catch a ball to save his life but he can hit one with a bat. I felt proud.
8pm - Home for snuggles. I feel exhausted.
The last two weeks, I’ve been in overdrive. I’ve been around 80 hours of work each week between the clinic and the studio, plus getting galleries out and maintenance for my main brand.
Truth is, it’s been a struggle and a half. I’m worn out. I’ve been running on fumes and taking frustration out on the PS5 controller.
But today felt like there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe everything will be okay and I’m overthinking everything. It’s not that things haven’t been okay, but things add up, emotions run high, stress burns the fun away, and life gets tough sometimes.
So if you’re reading this and feeling like I’ve been feeling, hear it from me: giving what it takes isn’t free. It comes with the cost of time, sleep, energy, money, somedays it costs your actual sanity and more. But the sheer will to keep pushing, the courage to not give up, the guts to take a leap, the motivation to wake up every day and do things that you feel are getting you nowhere… that’s what success is made of. Keep going, you got this. It will amount to something if you are consistent and persistent.
Say it with me, continue to be consistent and persistent.
From today’s shoots ⬇️
Gina L Collins Brenda Noemi Martinez Galvan