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Looking Back on 2019

The year “busy” became my label.

I was told I never slow down. I work too much. I’m never around. I never rest. You name it, I’ve heard it. On and on.

People see busy… I see intentional. 

Did you have a “word” for the year? Intentional was my word for 2019. (I got it engraved on a bracelet and everything– clearly I was 110% committed to that word!) And looking back, I’m SO proud of the intentions I had in every aspect of my life. So many beautiful friendships bloomed in 2019. I grew as a person, and got to know myself and how to better love and take care of myself–or so I thought LOL. Then I took the Enneagram test, and ya girl is a Type 2! So now I understand WHY I’ve aimed to be more intentional and why I feel as if I run around like a chicken with it’s head cut off half the time.

In a nutshell, type 2s are “friendly, generous, and self-sacrificing, but can also be sentimental, flattering, and people-pleasing. They are well-meaning and driven to be close to others, but can slip into doing things for others in order to be needed. They typically have problems with acknowledging their own needs. They believe they must always put others first.” (enneagraminstitute.com)

I’m recognizing now the unhealthy parts of 2019… the people-pleasing, self-sacrificing, not acknowledging my own needs parts of 2019. Photography, unfortunately, is not my main full-time job that pays my bills. So essentially I am working two full-time jobs. I also co-teach my young adult class at church, I aim to invest in the lives of the people in that class, I have a boyfriend, my family does stuff all the time, plus trying to workout and do all the normal stuff! The list could go on. No one saw what was going on behind the scenes– they just saw my lack of presence.

BUT now I’m finding the healthy balance of my two-ness. Balance. Rest. But never backing off the coffee… 🙂 Investing in others takes time, but it is so rewarding. I love being around people. I’ve loved every coffee meeting or Panera date I’ve had with each of my clients. If this industry wasn’t people-centered, I wouldn’t be in it. I do photography because I LOVE spending time with you. I love being able to capture memories for you.

I love this picture because I remember vividly how I felt in this moment. I LOVED this session!!! Katelyn & Dave rocked their beautiful fall engagement session!

Yes this year was was busy. I was tired. But I was happy. Guys, I can’t stay still and I like it that way!! HAHA

2019 was the best year I could have asked for! Ups and downs come and go, but it’s all about how you handle those situations. I’m a 2. I love going on coffee dates, traveling across the country to visit my friend in Utah, spending time with family and meeting new couples and families through photography. I try to have a good work & play balance… I mean, look at the fun stuff I do when I’m not working 😉

To answer your question, that is aerial dancing 😉

Hospice granted a wish for my great-grandma to go to an Orioles game. Unfortunately due to her health leading up to the game, she couldn’t go. But we all went in honor of her.

Countless sessions with so many wonderful couples and families. I can’t help it, I’m always smiling around you guys! 🙂

Travels with some of my favorite people! p.s. the west has my heart

Now the Question is….

What is my word for 2020?

Present.

Last year I was intentional to create relationships. This year I’m going to be IN them. Be present with those around me. Separate work and play. Be present with my clients and provide more for them because you’re all awesome and you deserve it (especially if you’ve made it this far in my blog post!).

So now I’ll ask you, what’s your word? What can you improve on? What in your life needs a change? As cliche as it is, make a change in the New Year, and every day, month and year after that. Never stop improving yourself. You’ll thank yourself at the end of the next decade 😉

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