(LtoR: Jane Love, Me, Chelsea Goers, Mary Poll and Dale Ralph)
When was the last time you tried something new?
In life I've found most comparisons we hear on podcasts, teachings,
preaching, video blogs, live feeds and more....we hear life is like a
mountain range. We have peaks and valleys. Have you ever considered
that in between those two points and ON those two points you may have to try something new?
There are a lot of emotions and challenges that come with pursuing our
passions. In that time of trying, questioning, doing and doubting we
may find simply that we need to TRY something new. The word try to me
doesn't say "succeed or fail", it simply says TRY. The action word.
REAL LIFE
In this behind-the-scenes main image (above) I was starting to have a
miscarriage. I didn't let it stop my creativity while I was in the
moment with my awesome creative cohorts. I tried something very bizarre
and new in the space and time I had been given as a photographer with a
model. I took the time to TRY something that seemed like it would lead
to nowhere. In the end, it led to LAUGHTER and many new weird ideas
forming. You can tell we are ALL engaged in the moment and trying to figure it all out together.
What is a new thing for you?
Is it a new class to learn something? A new area around your city to
explore? A new recipe to cook? Maybe a new fitness style class?
BURN OUT
I find myself burned out as a photographer only when it comes to
education in my industry. I value the instructors and their time and
talent, but I get so burned out easily when it is something that doesn't
inspire me to grow or be challenged. I step away and find something
ELSE creative to learn that enchances my OVERALL skill-set and I find a
happy place. That happy place my friends is trying something new.
Recently I just completed one of my favorite "Punches of Pink" episode 15.
It has one of my favorite people on the planet in it. Because of her,
I've learned more about storytelling than photography. There is just
something about passions at the core and what we try to communicate as
artists. I tried something new taking her courses on just that.
In that token as well, starting the new webseries "Punches of Pink" has been the most enlightening and rewarding experiences of my life. Mostly because its not all about ME.
I like bringing in the community of people I'm surrounded by to hear
and share their stories of inspiration or encouragement. This is
something I jumped out and TRIED this year, 2016.
Have you tried something new that has NOTHING to do with yourself?
What strengths do you possess that you have not ACCESSED because you haven't tried something new?
NEW THINGS = NEW COMMUNITY
I found a new avenue of creativity and community when I stopped thinking
of only myself and what I know. We should ALL be sharing things we
know with each other! We can all be celebrated in this moment that our
life story should be shared with each other. Our hurts, our deepest
desires, fears, joys, strengths and weaknesses. The moment we start to
worship someone that seems so perfect and has their life together - is
the moment we forget we have our own life to live and make GREAT. :)
Today, get out there and try something NEW.
It can be anything that has been hounding your heart/mind...
I'm betting you know exactly what it is!
Get out there, and find your greatness!
Love Jen
NEWS:
You can now listen to my podcast with NERD OUT LOUD episode 127 to hear how being a Blue Man Fan for the past 20 years has been a part of my story & art.
I’m so excited to share this episode with you today!I’ve had a blast ever since I met Brooke to
be challenged in storytelling, fine art and just overall being a normal “weird”
person.My art has shifted and changed
since meeting her and I have loved every minute!I bring you an inspirational video today and
wanted to be sure you know about her convention coming up this year September
27-29th.I went to the
Promoting Passion convention last year and it was pretty awesome.To be around like-minded people is very
empowering!I hope you have an AMAZING
weekend and walk away inspired, encouraged and hopeful to ASPIRE to be all you
can be!Love Jen.
in case you missed this yesterday...i'm sorry it was SO LATE!!!!
"Punches of Pink" episode 14 - Angie - real talk about writing and comfort zones!
This is a dear long-time friend of mine whom I just adore! She is sharing a tad about some writing exercises she walked through as well assome insight on staying in your comfort zone. Hope you enjoy! I just love her giggles and smile!
In these moments leading up to what the calendar says is
Mother’s day I felt it only fitting to share where we are now and the journey
of healing since our 2nd miscarriage.
I find it hard to be in any sort of spotlight about this
personal experience…but I also know that so many people have dealt with, are
dealing with or WILL deal with this type of thing.Not everyone can say they were in the same
city, same time of year and around some of the same people when they had their
miscarriage.For whatever reason, I
was.
Both times I was surrounded by many creatives and we all had
various purposes for being there but one unified theme… to CONNECT.
Now that I’ve come through the worst part which was so
physically hard…I have come to the
emotional stage of healing.I started
the process at the last
video I shared online.We already
had received the news and begun grieving the day of the news.It hadn’t meant I gave up, it simply meant
emotions came POURING out of me.I
updated you on the actual week of the miscarriage and now I’m going to talk
about where I am now.
Over the last few weeks I’ve had plenty to keep me
busy!Being a full-time photographer and
artist I am always accessing this gift in any token at any given time.April was my busiest business month.I had
much to think about while preparing to serve my clients.The grief and doubts were overtaken by my
love of photography and servanthood to my couples.If I did have a moment?It was a private one in the comfort of my own
home or driving to the bridal show.I
broke down in tears when I was driving because I was jealous that God got to
meet my children and I didn’t.I don’t
even have a face of them…only their spirit.
My biggest challenge will always be to walk through the
vices of comparison.We know it
well.Our good friend *comparison* that tells us we are “less than” because we
didn’t get that THING whatever that THING might be.I am watching all of my baby buddies have no
issues and all the other new babies being born.AGAIN.Déjà vu?Didn’t I go through this last year????… YEA.
At first, I couldn’t look at ANYONE’s pictures.The online world makes everything looks SO
perfect.I had to stop and shake myself
up a bit realizing again that my story is MINE and theirs is theirs.I’ve had to have MANY conversations with
others that want to lay things on me that aren’t mine.I have already had so many fears and doubts
about being a mom anyways – I don’t need any more heaped on me than I already
heaped onto myself.I’m doing better at
this – I can look at pictures with less triggering of deep emotional pains.
At this point, I could have gotten LOST in that negative
pattern of self-doubt and critical thinking.By lost I mean, LOST in thought…in emotion and completely de-railing myself
from my original purpose anyways.My
purpose will always be to submit to God’s will for my life and the journey I
will take as his friend and daughter.I
had to take a moment to realize that it is THIS journey that will speak volumes
to those hurting and lost in their own worlds of emotion, despair and
pain.Purpose is so much more than you
can ever put on paper.Purpose keeps me
alive and going.
How to not get LOST?
Shift your FOCUS:
I have found that walking through this has left me finding focus
into my many missions and purposes here.I don’t have just the “one”.I
didn’t dream of being a mom a gazillion years ago.We just decided it was time to walk that
path!I didn’t worship that desire nor
did I completely shut it down.I think
there is a healthy focus when you remember that you have purpose and get
focused on walking that purpose.Find
that great in between place where you don’t obsess about it but don’t
necessarily shelf it either.
Walk THROUGH it not around it.
My biggest revelations to my own self while walking this has
been to NOT avoid emotions and the feelings involved with this.(or avoid this blog & video) You have to
walk through the challenge and not around it.Strength comes as your work these “muscles” in spirit, emotion, body and
mind.Not once in this space will I say
“oh this is sooooo easy”.NO NO NO
NO.It is the hardest thing I’ve done so
far.Working through dealing with people
AND my own emotions have been soooo BRUTAL.
Give yourself time.
I’m the kind of person that really really does want to move
on.Whatever it takes?I like moving on and forward.I like sitting still sometimes and really
being IN that moment, but ultimately I want to move forward and not fall into a
pit of despair and stay there.I am just
at a month out from my actual physical miscarriage and I can say I feel like it
has been 3 months.My mind, body, spirit
have been steadily filled and growing as I move actively in my healing process.I even took myself to a movie to have a big
huge cry!Yep, I took myself to My Big
Fat Greek Wedding 2 and cried almost the whole movie.
Look for the LIGHT:
When I’m in creation mode I am consistently using light as a
focus point just as much as shadow.I
like diving into dark things, but I don’t want to live there.The light in my life has been God’s love
every step of the way.In that light, I
know I have the freedom to do all of the above and MORE.Healing is not a one-person job…it takes help
and it takes asking for help to heal.I’ve been so blessed to have amazing angels around me that help me sort
things out and LET me process the way I know I can.The artist in me knows that creating ART
through pain heals.I get out my best
emotions and ideas in places of strain, struggle and hopelessness.Find that light in your life…and shine bright
like the star you are! The light will
also help guide you through the dark forests and mountains.
Make LOTS of artwork:
Even if you are not an artist…using art as a medium to heal
is super powerful.I have dived into
paper mache, photography, writing and movie watching as many tools that help me
process things.Your inspiration and
story can come through various mediums so don’t limit yourself to just
ONE.Even a silly little jewelry making event
can be so liberating to your creative soul.Feed that creativity, don’t starve it.Do something using your hands!Create through the deepest fibers and watch how your heart soars.
Where are we now?
Healing.I am healing
in all the ways I can heal.I am
processing one thing at a time.I am
moving forward.I am talking to my
midwife/doctor.I am continuing to live
with purpose.I am making artwork and I
am RESTING.I got a tattoo for my 2nd
baby over a week ago.I am healing from
that too.
Take the time to reach out to someone today if you know they
are struggling with loss – tell them you care and are thinking of them.
On Mother’s day, think just a tad bigger than having the
physical children.Some of us “mother”
many other people in this world and that too, should be celebrated.
