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While trying to remain as humble as possible, I have to admit something.
I’m one of those people who hear comments all the time like “I’m so jealous that you’ve done ____!” “I wish I had your talent!” “You’re so lucky you have the time to do ____!”
And it makes me uncomfortable. Grateful and so very thankful for the support, but still uncomfortable.
Because here’s the thing: I’m not ultra-talented, or lucky, or extraordinary in any sort of way.
I’m just motivated. And optimistic. And an idealist.
I’m the person who has a million hobbies: I knit, I sew, I embroider. I’ve learned to surf, snowboard, calligraph, and paint. I’ve participated in ballet, tap, and field hockey. I tinker around with learning French or playing the ukulele for about a month, and then forget everything I’ve learned until I try it again the next time. Some things stick, others don’t. But all the while I’ve had fun pursuing activities that make me happy, even if that means waking up at 5am to get some sewing time in before putting in a 10 hour workday at my desk.
Naturally talented? Hardly. I am, however, naturally creative. As an INFP, creativity is a part of my very being. It’s only fitting that I have found a way to make a living off of being creative, which allows me to be a pretty happy person. I try many different things, but the ones that I am passionate about are the ones I put my all into. Like photography. And as my early photos would prove, talent doesn’t come without practice. Lots and lots of practice.
Lucky? Maybe the stars aligned in such a way that led my brother and I to pick up photography on our own, as we went through our college years in Philadelphia and Vermont, respectively. And again when I left my job as a meteorologist in Massachusetts because my husband got a job in Virginia, and spent six months working at a running store while searching for something else to do, my brother’s ‘side gig’ of real estate photography had taken off so much that he needed to hire me to edit for him (which I still do to this day). But I personally believe that luck has had little to do with where I am now. I don’t believe that my life has been laid out for me and that I’m just going through the motions. I believe that my life is a blank canvas, and it’s up to me to create it. My life may look different than someone else’s, but it’s no better or worse. Just unique. I really, truly believe this.
So whatever may have led me to this place, here I am. It may have taken several years to believe in myself (despite the tremendous support of my spouse, family, and closest friends), but I’m finally getting there.
From the INFP profile: While others focusing on the challenges of the moment may give up when the going gets tough, INFPs (especially Assertive ones) have the benefit of their far-reaching vision to help them through. Knowing that what they are doing is meaningful gives people with this personality type a sense of purpose and even courage when it comes to accomplishing something they believe in. … INFPs often wish that they could just be, doing what they love without the stress and rigor of professional life.
Indeed, I do have lofty goals, big dreams, and some far-reaching visions. Though as I’ve mentioned a few paragraphs above, I’m not one to simply dream a dream and let it be. I take the ‘Life is short; why not?’ attitude and work toward it. Perhaps this stems from being held back through years of anxiety (which I still struggle with) and feeling like a caged bird with dreams of flying. For example, it may have taken 11 years of planning and waiting and saving (literally eleven years), but I will finally be going on a backpacking trip in Europe this fall. To those whose first instinct is to say “you’re so lucky!” (the same thing I always say to traveling friends too, by the way) my advice to you is that it’s 0% luck, and 100% planning and doing and overcoming fear.
Along similar lines, my BFF is going for her Master’s in education after being out of school for the better part of a decade. I couldn’t be more proud of her for going after this goal, and I know that as hard-working and dedicated that she is, she will make it through amazingly. I think it’s incredible, and I’m envious of anyone who has gone on to get their masters and beyond. As much as I wonder if I should have/could have done that, I know that it wasn’t my journey, and that I had to follow my heart. Her journey may be different than mine, but we are both supportive of one another’s goals.
What has been your biggest dream lately? Maybe it’ll take you 11 years, or maybe it’ll take you 2. But if you have a goal and truly want to make it happen, I encourage you to take one step today to making it happen. Even if it means just writing it down.
Which brings me to the point of this post. Every December, I go into the new year with a list of goals. Things that I want to make happen, whether I’ll achieve it this year, or simply work on the steps to make it happen in the future. One of my dreams has been to rent a studio space for Love Knot Photo. Sure, it would increase my overhead unnecessarily, but I had this vision that five years from now, maybe I’d be shooting enough weddings that I could justify it.
Or you know, I could just jump in now and see what happens.
Because fate is a funny thing. By simply speaking this dream out loud one day over coffee with Beryl, she revealed that opening a studio space was also a long-time dream of hers. Together we dreamed about how we could make it happen. We each posted to Instagram a photo of a commercial building for rent in downtown Leesburg. Neither of us could take on the rent of an entire building yet, even with our ultimate plan of collaborating with several other local creatives to form a studio collective, but it was fun to dream out loud. The feedback we received was so tremendous and supportive, that we knew this had to become reality, and started our own five-year-plan for creating this studio. And then one day, I get a text from Nicole of Finch Sewing Studio telling me that her third floor is still unused, and it could be worth a discussion about renting it to us. I didn’t mention it to Beryl at first because it seemed like it was too soon. Sure, the loft of Finch was small and rent would be reasonable, but we just put our plan out into the universe. It’s not like we need it right away, or anything.
But as unlikely a source as it is, the stripper angel from Can’t Hardly Wait said it best: “Fate. There IS fate, but it only takes you so far because once you’re there, it’s up to you to make it happen.“
So here it was. The chance to get the ball rolling on our future studio far sooner than anticipated. A few days later I did mention it to Beryl and she loved the idea. Immediately we went to Finch to chat with Nicole.
“Leap and the net will appear.” -John Burroughs
Now I am proud to announce (after much thought, discussion, and even a pro/con list on my part) that Beryl and I are officially going to be renting the third floor space of Finch to house our own workspace. This is a temporary space for us as we use it to work outside of our homes (instead of setting up camp at coffee shops), and work together to plan the actual collective studio (which is still a five year plan. Or maybe three. Two? We’ll see.) Additionally, we’ll be hosting workshops and meeting clients in this space as well. We will even be opening up registration for the fall session of Blogtographie soon!
Am I scared? You betcha. But if I didn’t take this risk for my business now, who knows when the next opportunity would present itself. Maybe this could be what it takes to get Love Knot Photo off the ground, so to speak. Coming up with dreams is easy; it’s going after them that’s hard. To quote one of my favorite actors in one of my favorite movies, “It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.” Today, I prompt you to take the first step in going after your dream. Whether it’s starting a business, moving to a new city, attending grad school, or getting in shape, you don’t need anyone’s permission to make it happen. Consider this your sign, your fate, your launching point.
So here we go. Making it happen.
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I make whimsical art for color-lovers and California dreamers. I'm based in Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. where there are most decidedly no palm trees in sight.