Please raise your glass for 2017...

Holy shit, I can’t believe this year is already done...

the year just zipped by.

I think I spend too much time on the computer, that’s the problem, :)

Regardless, it’s been a really enlightening and transformative year, one that, I feel, has been an immense game-changer for me.

After swimming around in a nasty, unfiltered pool of doubt, fear and no direction for years, this year has been one of intense focus and effort at putting together a business that I am actually proud to call my own.

I launched my re-branded lifestyle portrait business in January, and it’s been a non-stop educational experience every step since.

It was through these experiences that I learned a lot about business, marketing and all that fun stuff, but more importantly, I also about learned a ton about myself, my purpose, who I serve and why.

For the record, I have never been this clear on my purpose ever in my life.

Up until this past year, I moved with the momentum of life, always on my heels reacting to everything.  This is the first year that I’ve actually been more pro-active on many different levels, and, I have to say, it feels kinda nice taking control of the wheel.

I attribute a lot of this growth to the people who have come into my life this year - colleagues, mentors and friends alike.

I am deeply indebted and forever grateful for these people because they each push me to be a better person than I was yesterday and to chase the dreams that light me up inside.

They also know how to kick me in the ass and motivate me to keep striving to do better, which, is a much needed boost from time to time.

Relationships are the cornerstones of a life worth living.  And, the folks in my life that I learn on for critiques, support, advice and some laughs have proven this fact to me time and again.  

And then, there are my clients, without whom I wouldn’t be able to afford to keep my lights on.

Over these past 12 months, I have worked with some unbelievably, awesome folks who want to be the change agents in their clients lives and it’s been an inspiration for me to be able to contribute to their goals.

I still am humbled and honored every time someone pays me money to pick up a camera to photograph them.  

If you told me a couple years ago that in 2017, I’d be a full-time photographer, I’d tell you that you were full of shit.

For many years, I was under the impression that I could never truly love what I did for a living, that that way of life was for just a “lucky” few, and I resigned myself to the fact that I would have the same routine of work, home, sleep, rinse and repeat for the next 60 years of my life..

But, over this past year, I’ve realized that life can be made into whatever the hell we want it to be and it is up to us and us alone to design it to our liking.

As a result, I want to keep helping those who help others - what better way to spend a day, right?

For years, when people would ask me how I was doing, I would always respond, “oh, just living the dream,” in the most sarcastic and negative way possible.

When I say it now, I actually mean it.

And it makes me emotional just thinking about it.

And, on that note, I wish all of you a happy, healthy, prosperous, and, of course, magical new year where you live life on your terms, develop relationships that bring meaning to your lives, engage in activities that bring you joy, and that you, of course, create immense impact for those that need you most.

::raising glass:: Salute!