37 & Still Growing

37 & Still Growing

Well, here we are again, September 6, my birthday. As a kid, I used to love to celebrate my birthday, for like a month. I would start usually on Labor Day weekend with a party, lead into a week of dessert filled dinners, and end with a Sunday meeting at my grandmothers. Gifts were expected at each event. Now, at 37, I know you're expecting me to say I don't care as much, or maybe don't like my birthday BUT that would be incorrect. Some part of me still expects birthday wishes allllll day long, with a side of cake, and yes, gifts. Pamper me, I will not stop you. 

I have had "start a blog" on my to-do-list for about 3 years. Something else was always more important so it just kept getting pushed to the - do it later - column of life until today, my birthday. What better day to wake up and start something new.... at 37. 

I am a huge fan of all these ladies bosses out there who teach girls to DREAM BIG and pursue all the things. Most of the time I listen and think, "I could do that." When they ask the question: What lights you up? I answer (out loud, in my car, alone) "Telling women to go for it." Like when a female, actually any person, talks to me about starting a business, I want to put my Starbucks down, pull up a chair, and talk for hours. I want to encourage them in every way to do just that.

At 27 I had the crazy dream of quitting my full time, very secure, teaching job, with insurance and a date for my paychecks, to pursue my livelong dream of being a photographer. Now listen, you're reading this in 2019 when being a photographer is much more of a "thang" but in 2009, not so much. Olan Mills still had an office at Sears guys, Sears. I cannot imagine life now if I had decided that I was done growing at 27. What if I had the degree, had the husband, had the kids, and said "that's enough. I'm good." UGHHHH, huge sigh over here.

So thankful I'm not built that way.

Maybe you're thinking, but we need to live satisfied. Well, I would agree with you BUT there is a way of balancing your present while reaching HIGH for the extra, for the more. Here I am, 37. I have built a successful business. I have increased my income x3 since I quit teaching, sometimes x4. I have an amazing husband, 4 freaking awesome kids, a huge waitlist for my work, a wedding calendar that requires plane tickets, and yet, I am not done. When you look out and you see all the cute 20 something photographers with the Birkenstocks, trendy hairbands, and wrap bracelets all the way up their perfectly tan wrists and you think they are the future, you're right. But don't count this old lady out yet. 

This year I WILL work on blogging. This year I WILL work on growing my education as well as the education I provide. This year I WILL teach, preach, help, increase my revenue, increase my ability. I will GROW.

And furthermore, maybe you're a 30 something and think it's time to just give up on growing. It's time to just be content. You could be right, but what if there is more for you? What if you've had a dream since you were like 18 and it's NOT too late? What if??????

Happy Birthday to me. I'm so grateful I get another year (though nothing is promised) to grow.