I have had the most amazing week! You know those days when everything just falls nicely into place? The days where you wake up beaming and spend the day with a little kick in your step? I have had a week of those. It’s been amazing.
Part of me is trying my hardest to remain humble. I am still very new to this freelancing thing, very new. I have had months of silence, no response from editors, days and days where I have lacked any inspiration on how to pick up traction, and then I have a week like this where my email is overflowing with fabulous opportunities (some I miss amid all the excitement) and I can’t help but want to share my news. Not because I want to boast, no, because I am so happy and excited that I want to share my joy with those around me. Such exciting times.
Yesterday I sat down and reflected on how wonderful this week has truly been. Although I knew every time I opened my email to see another offer or request that things were looking particularly good, I didn’t realise how much has actually happened in this past week. I have been offered an ambassadorship with a fabulous Italian food and wine specialist (more on this later), my little blog made ‘Blog in the Spotlight‘ on Village Voices on Kidspot, I have been asked to share recipes on two very inspiring sites, this dish made it to foodgawker‘s ‘most favourited in the last 7 days’ list (OH MY GOSH!), I have had email from potential sponsors and, I have booked three photo shoots for next month. I have well and truly jumped out of my comfort zone and smashed down the boundaries that once kept me in that zone, those boundaries called fear.
If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile you will know how much I craved to live a more creative life. I dreamed about doing this, about spending my days behind my lens fulfilling that creative part of me that just wants to be fed with colour. I am living it. And even amid those months where I wondered what the hell I was doing, I knew in the deep confines of my gut that I was on the right track. Even if I don’t succeed, I need to know I have tried.
Stepping out of that comfort zone and leaping is the first step. I have sat here and spent many hours staring at the screen toying with the idea of entering photography competitions. Am I even slightly good enough? Will I make a fool of myself? Am I aiming too high? That false self loves to confuse the mind by throwing in negative thoughts to keep us on the track it wants us on, the safe path. I bit the bullet and entered not one, but TWO competitions this week. Stuff it, I am not doing it for recognition or praise, I am doing it for me. I am doing it to step out of that comfort zone and throw myself into what I love. I am proud of what I do, even if I lack technical expertise or some days inspiration, I love what I do. It’s so simple, and yet amid our fear and anxiety and drive to make others see us succeed at the things we know we won’t fail at, we make it difficult. We over think things when we could instead be leaping.
A wise soul commented on my Facebook page today in response to a post I made about opportunities. She wrote, “I believe it is time for all of us to think BIG!! To reshape our future, to follow your passion and vision what you want in the biggest way possible!! The synchronicity is flowing so quickly. Move out of fear, and stay in love and watch what happens!”
Move out of fear.
During these very moments where the smell of success is still but a very subtle hint, I will clutch onto any inkling that I can do this with white knuckles and fierce momentum.
I can do this.
Natalie Stewart - Often times the only thing holding us back from our future, is us. And being proud of yourself is not shameful. Congratulations, for stepping out of your comfort zone, for believing in you and for succeeding.
Peggy Saas - Thank you Natalie. You’re so right, the only thing holding us back (from at the very least, trying) is ourselves.
Loving the journey, having the little achievements along the way is very encouraging.
Brent - Congratulations Peggy, and thanks for the inspiring writeup! What a great way to start my week.
Peggy Saas - Thank you Brent. I had all this wonderful stuff that had taken place swirling around in my head and until I wrote it down I didn’t realise how truly amazing it had been! What a week!
Thanks for stopping by.