Chasing Dreams - Life is Good

I just sat down to write this blog post that has been a LONG time coming (in many senses of the word), and I peaked through my (very small) archive of drafts yet to be posted.  One of them was titled, "Making the leap -- FEAR."  Ha.  Fear.  Yeah, you don't scare me much -- go back to from whence you came.

It's funny how life can change so dramatically in such a small period of time.  For those who know me on a personal level, I kind of thought my world was ending just about a year ago.  And here I am today, HAPPIER than I think I've ever been, because I have made the leap, and I'm chasing my dreams and doing what I love and am so excited about the world of possibilities and the path that lays before me.  Over the past year, so many things have happened to bring me to this moment: I had the opportunity to network and learn from some fabulous Twin Cities photographers; I was blessed by inspiration at the awesome Making Things Happen Intensive Tour (see my story here); I was somehow brought together with seven other lovely women to share an amazing studio space right in my neighborhood; I've had the fortune of working with the fabulous Aurora of Red Organic on my new branding (coming very soon!  I can't wait!); I was offered any opportunity to work with First Day Photo, taking photos of wee teeny newborns at local hospitals; finally, perhaps most importantly, I was enlightened to how truly amazing and loving and supportive my friends and family are -- thank you & I love you.  So the stars all seemed to align this past year to bring me here:

I AM A PHOTOGRAPHER.

That feels damn good to say.  Sure, I've been saying it for quite some time, having been in business since 2004... but I always felt like I had this disclaimer -- ".... but to make a living, I do lab research...", I'd have to explain that I only spend part time on my passion, and that it was just too scary to make the big leap into doing it full time.  But now I'm here, DOING IT.  And I'm not gonna lie -- it IS a bit scary, because I don't know what the future will hold for me any more.  But that also makes it kind of exciting, thinking about all of the possibilities that lie before me!  It really all came down to the fact that I've been putting off chasing this dream for so long...but what was I waiting for?  Would there really ever be a perfect time to take the jump?  How much longer was I going to be afraid of taking some risks, and in the mean time, living with regret?  "Feel the fear, and do it anyway."  That's the MTH2010 motto, and it rules.  I urge you all to take that advice: feel the fear, and do it anyway.  And read this blog post by the fantastic Ms. Lara Casey -- do it.

So, as of this week, I'm living the dream and pursuing Joy Lengyel Photography full time.  And it's about damn time.  This means so many awesome things: more time to devote to serving my wonderful clients; more time available for sessions!; faster turnaround times from session to delivery; more time to devote to blogging (sorry for being so horrible at it!), social networking, and my NEW newsletter (you know you want to sign up!); more time to nurture my creative ideas and processes so that I can constantly improve and give my clients better and better images.  All is amazing.

I am so excited to see where this path takes me, and am so grateful for the opportunity and for everyone who has supported me along the way.  Life wouldn't be as sweet without you, and I'm so glad to have ya'll along for the ride with me!

xoxo,
Joy