I feel like there has been a weird, possibly even awkward, disconnect in the last couple of weeks. Let me take a step back and tell you, it’s been a weird 14+ days.
I’ve had something going on almost every single day for the last 14 days, and by the end of this week, we will be encroaching on 21 days of activities. I feel burnt out, tired, and somewhat uninspired.
My skin feels the same way. I had a pretty bad breakout over a week ago, but I ordered a few new beauty products and so far, my face has been in recovery mode. Stay tuned for my reviews of those products coming soon.
Between helping my friend move, planning my parents’ 25th-anniversary party, shooting for brands, modeling, working, blogging and celebrating holidays and birthdays, I’ve barely had any ‘me’ time. What I needed was a few minutes to take a step back and just gather myself, my thoughts, and find my inspirations again.
On Mother’s Day, I gave my mom a photo shoot; it’s been a while since I’ve taken photos of my mom. Unfortunately, I left my camera in ‘Sports Mode’ after shooting some movement/action shots, and it really messed up a lot of great photos that were taken after. I’m still pretty mad at myself for doing that. Even still, looking at these photos makes me happy. I had a lot of fun shooting with my parents, my sister, and my dogs. Even though some of these pictures are a little blurry, it’s a kind reminder that I was having a lot of fun sitting in the grass and laughing with my family. This was exactly what I needed.
I even managed to snap a photo of our dog Sam who, last year, was recovering from two expensive knee surgeries and could barely walk around on his own. He was running around the yard and during one of my test shots, he bounded into the air right in front of me for his Suzie’s Pet Treats. Just seeing my old buddy bouncing around the yard like an oversized bunny, made my day.
Toby, of course, was playing the cute card. I’m sure you all have seen my endless Snaps and InstaStories of how this little bugger likes to sleep: On his back, teeth exposed, front paws tucked into his chest, snoring. This time around he was roaming around in the grass looking for flowers to eat, so I took advantage of this and snapped a great shot of him.
I’m lucky to have my family. I enjoy spending time with them and I love how supportive they are of me and my goals. They don’t dash my dreams of being a pro blogger; if anything they embrace it. They even tell their friends about it. My mom is looking forward to the day when all four of us fly out to Paris Fashion Week together. My dad always gives me advice on how to maintain a strong online image and my sister is the one who reads every single post and edits them. There are other people behind the scenes who help me in other regards, like Pat and my best friend Susan, but this past weekend gave me the inspiration I was looking for. I’m not perfect, but I strive for perfection. The hope and inspiration we need don’t always come from within but from the joy of being around the people we love and those who inspire us to be great. Happy Belated Mother’s Day, Mom, and Happy Early Father’s Day, Dad! ~And Happy 25th Anniversary to you both!~
Key Takeaways
EMBRACE SERENDIPITY
Take hold of those moments that make you smile and all the little things in life. Life is about all the little things that lead you to the bigger picture.
DON’T FORCE IT
If you are running on fumes, don’t force it. Stop, take a step back and breathe. If you are forcing it, believe me, people can tell. A few of the posts I made that were forced ended up being the posts that performed poorly. People can read it.
LOOK AROUND YOU
While you were sleeping, life happened. While you were elbows deep in research, life happened. Stop letting life just pass you by and embrace it. Whatever it is you are searching for, just stop looking. Reflect on your surroundings; the views, the noises, the smells, and go from there.
STOP TAKING YOURSELF SERIOUSLY
There is more to life than just your goals, dreams and aspirations. Letting go and having some fun is one of the keys to happiness so just relax and enjoy the ride. You just might find inspiration once you get back to your roots.
If you are stuck in a rut, remember, you don’t have to be.
