Category Archives: Making it happen Monday

Making it happen Monday

Making it Happen Monday: To do versus To be

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SONY DSCI happened to have this last Saturday night off. Felt very strange to not be going to work!! But I used the evening to just enjoy myself and do things I don’t get to do much any more. One thing being to go to church.

It’s happened before, but it never ceases to bring tears to my eyes. When I go to church for the first time after missing awhile and the sermon is tailor made for me. It almost makes me want to ask someone if they heard the same thing I did, because it is so spot-on for ME.

Lately, I’ve felt incredibly overwhelmed with  my to do list. I never feel like I’m making headway, and I fear I’m going to upset a client by not getting their work done fast enough. My to do list eats up my mental and worry capacity constantly… it takes up my focus.

The sermon this weekend focused on the to do list, and my priest challenged us all to have, instead, a “to be” list and to give it more focus. Be in the moment. Be a better friend, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, christian, etc. Stop letting my to do list on Saturday keep me from going to church. Stop letting my to do list leave me so overwhelmed I want to snap on a family member asking for a favor. Stop letting my to do list leave me in a bad mood when I pick up my husband from the bus.

My “to be” list is what people will remember about me years from now… not whether or not I got a blog post written today or if I got that business card designed by Wednesday. But you know what? I bet if I focus more on the to be list… the to do list will get done just fine and on time.

 

mihm

Making it happen Monday, photography

Making it Happen Monday: Do it even if it terrifies you

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Yesterday, I finally did it. I photographed a wedding. Officially. As in, got paid to do it.

I was terrified.

But I did it.

Oh, I’ve taken pictures at many weddings. I’ve even been complimented that they bride and groom liked my shots better than their photographers. But, it wasn’t all on me. It was for fun, and pressure-free. It was also something I knew I wanted to do… for a living.

When I was asked to photograph friends’ wedding, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. But as the weeks and days approached, I felt my stress and fear grow. Could I really do this? Really?

Yup. I could. And I did.

Photog

I now have a ton of photos to go through and edit, and I absolutely can’t wait. I did it. I faced my fear, and I did it. And I think the photos turned out good! I stand behind my work. And my husband’s…

He’s becoming a good photographer as well. In fact some his shots I like better than my own!! (I’m not going to be learning piano any time soon, but I’ll happily move gear in exchange any day!) SOOOOOOOOOO thankful he’s willing to jump in and help… my parents are in town and also offered to help, something I am also incredibly thankful for as well.

My dreams of doing photography as part of my lifelong career took a huge step forward yesterday. Because I did it… even though it terrified me.

mihm