Just before summer I hosted a small workshop. During the workshop we discussed the power of having a blog. But, if you were going to blog you needed to do it consistently. Then I shared my goal for the year to blog 3x a week. I shared it with them thinking if I told a group of people learning from me that I was going to do this, then I’d hold myself accountable and do it. Really, I thought it was attainable. I had a wedding every week, that’s one blog post. Then several weeks included engagements or couples sessions, there’s another post. And then one on my personal life, or my thoughts, or tips and tricks. Easy.

I failed.

Right from the beginning.

The last few years I would try to get in a day off a week during the summer and maybe one little mini vacation. Then just survived through the summer reminding myself it’s only this crazy for a few months and then it slows down. Just get through these months then take your me-time.  This year, I decided that wasn’t what I wanted. Would I be happy with living that way if my life ended next week? NOPE.

It’s been busy, I won’t lie. I love it. Every second of it. I’m a full time wedding photographer, photographing at least one wedding a week for the most amazing couples in the world. I’m also a single mom, and when my daughter was with me I wanted to spend as much of it with her and not behind my computer or camera. And I need quality time for myself, to keep me energized for what’s next. Although I feel like my job isn’t work, because I spend my days with the best people in crazy locations, at the same time when I don’t break from it for myself it starts to feel like a routine. And I don’t ever want this to be a routine. So I’ve got to squeeze some time for myself in there.

I quickly realized that if I was going to take a few days off or a week for myself each month that I was gonna have to figure out how to get time for my daughter and all of my work done in the other weeks. And that’s where I let go of the goal to blog so many times a week. To get all of those personal posts in there. I chose to just keep living in the moment and update you later. And fail my original goal.

But as I look back. That failure was really a success in my book. This is the best summer of my life. In part due to taking time for myself every month. Giving up on the time to blog and use that time for other work I needed to accomplish so that I could take time for myself. I ran off to Vancouver for my birthday in June. Took vacation with my daughter to Seattle in July. Enjoyed quiet time on a secluded island in the Puget Sound in August.

It’s a summer I’ll never forget. I left each getaway better than before I had gone. Each one I had ideas for what I might do, but just left the days available on the calendar, and planned it less than 2 days before going. I was on a plane to Calgary after a wedding and 30 minutes of sleep to hop in the car with Meg and drive through the Canadian Rockies to spend an evening on the lake in BC. Then Vancouver for days with friends celebrating our birthday. Crazy to share the same birthday with a best friend. And back home just in time for another wedding. Then finishing a wedding and picking Cattie (my mini me) up right after and straight to Seattle for days of vacation. Beach time. Walks on the pier. Spontaneous dinners and sleepovers with friends. The conversations you have with a child in the car on a roadtrip are ones you’ll never forget. A last minute getaway to Anderson Island. No internet. No tv. Ferry only running during the day. A small convenience store with candy, drinks and the very basics. And a small 9 hole golf course. Spent the days floating on the lake where no motor vehicles are allowed. Picking fresh blackberries everywherrrrrreeeee. Fishing in the sound and out on the lake. Making lots of fire and smores. The only time I might have actually “slowed down” the whole summer. And each time returning to the best couples and events of all time. Actually excited to return each time. It’s the best summer EVER.

This, to me, is living life. I’m grateful I get to call this my life.

I’ve spent the last few months beating myself up a little bit about not sticking to that goal of blogging more. Being more present on the blog. Sharing life on a regular basis. Keeping up with it. But, as I look back, failing there allowed me to succeed in living. Success is the way I’m choosing to view it overall. It’s all about how you CHOOSE to view things. And as things start to slow a little as it gets cooler, maybe I can be successful in posting more over the fall. I’ll work on that 🙂

Hope you all have had an incredible summer. Pumpkin Spice Lattes are out, so CHEERS to fall!!!!!

 

 

 

Note – All of these photos were taken on iPhones or a GoPro. Sometimes it’s nice to put the camera down and just document moments quickly with what’s easily accessible. Living life.

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