HAPPY

Last night Mike said, "this has been the shortest and longest year," and I couldn't agree more. Short because I still vividly remember my life in Boston a year ago. Long because of how much we have done and what has changed since that time. Though I wouldn't recommend everyone to quit their job, travel, live minimally, and explore everything with an open mind, it has been the biggest blessing for me personally. I now wake up with a full appreciation and hopeful anticipation for the day ahead. As we continue to immerse in our Photography business, we have a lot to achieve ahead of us but we are onto something great here, we just know it. We can already see our eclectic schedule coming together for next year and cannot wait for all the wonderful memories to be made!

While traveling and photographing, Mike and I have learned a number of things. It's been an incredibly eye-opening year so far and we can't wait to see what else is in store.

With Photography, we travel with a purpose

When we worked in our corporate jobs, we anticipated 2 weeks per year where we would travel to escape our lives. And while we have been lucky enough to visit many beautiful places already, we now approach traveling with a different lens. We travel with a purpose to improve our photography, to meet people and listen to their stories, to work and play all at once. We take traveling as a opportunity to not only see beautiful places and say we've been there, but to immerse ourselves in that culture, greet locals, and learn how other people live. These are the true benefits of traveling that we never took advantage of before - we were too focused on ourselves. It has encouraged us to approach people we never would have talked to otherwise and to remove ourselves from our own concerns. Doing this fulfills me more than I could ever put into words.

Don't make decisions out of fear

A few weeks ago while at dinner with two great friends, they asked Mike and me how we changed each other for the better. Truth be told, I'm not sure how I have influenced Mike for the better but I do know he has made a huge impact in my life. He has helped me build my self-esteem, my character, and he sees potential in me that others may overlook, including myself. The biggest change though is my ability to make decisions out of hope in spite of my fears. I used to be extremely risk adverse. Every decision with a potential outcome of failure or pain would be avoided. I made choices based on what I knew I was good at or could handle. The problem with that? It hinders growth. It limits opportunities. It caps self-esteem. I hope the next time you come across a choice, no matter how big or small, you consider all the possibilities of success instead of all the possibilities of failure. This mindset shift has allowed me to conquer mental barriers, open new doors, and experience new things.

We live to be happy, not only to be content

A year ago, I had a lot to complain about. I would focus my attention to buying new clothes or planning the next vacation to remain content. I had a good life though: paycheck coming in on a regular basis and I could afford to live in a Boston high-rise. All these things made me feel very satisfied. But the problem was I felt complacent, unmotivated, and confused where I wanted my life to go. These days, I feel truly happy... pretty much all the time. Even when things don't go the way I planned, I'm able to overcome them with a positive outlook. I don't dwell on things like I used to. Because with Photography, I have direction and confidence. I also have very little to complain about because I get to do what I love every day. The biggest challenge for us is figuring out how to sustain this lifestyle for the long haul. I don't know about you, but I am way more motivated to sustain a happy lifestyle vs. to find genuine happiness in a complacent lifestyle.

Not everyone will understand you, but that's okay

I have learned that everyone values different things in life and that is perfectly okay. It's incredible to reconnect with friends this past year and get caught up on their journeys. Everyone is diverging into their true selves and seeing this level of diversity amongst peers is a realization that we are all unique and amazing in our own way. Some are getting ready to raise a family. Some are pushing hard for the next promotion. Some are unsure and trying to figure out what the next step is. I love that we are all different and I have much respect for our differences. Oftentimes though, I find my happy-go-lucky attitude may be confusing for people. But I am unaffected by those who may not understand why I would leave a comfortable life for an uncertain one, or why I could possibly love San Diego SO MUCH haha. This has helped me reconfirm what I value most in life. With it, I feel free and I know I'm living a life I'm proud of, not one where I seek the acceptance of other people (friends, family, or otherwise).