LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE – DOCUMENT THE JOURNEY
Jul 23, 2019
LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE – DOCUMENT THE JOURNEY
Does anyone else here follow Rachel Hollis? Read her books? Listen to her Podcasts? This amazing women says everything I am thinking and feeling. If you haven’t read her books or heard her speak, don’t waste another day without her. If you enjoy what she has to say, know that you’ll get some of that same passion, humor, and honesty here. Mrs. Hollis is my inner voice encouraging me when I think I can’t do something. One of my goals in this blog is to encourage, uplift, and empower those who read it. I think we all have something to share and learn from each other.
Does the title to this weeks post resonate with anyone else? It sure does with me. This is the motto I have adopted over the last couple of years. After going through a lot of trials in the past, I have felt an urgency to really embrace the good that life has to offer. Not only by grabbing it and holding on when it comes my way, but also by actively seeking it out. What does it mean to you to “Live your best live”? It looks different for everyone. What brings you joy? What warms your soul? What does success or gratification look like to you?
I spent some time over the New Year contemplating these questions. I know I want to take advantage of the amazing things that life has to offer, but what does that look like to me? It only took seconds for a flood of answers to come, and none of those things were aligned with what my life looked like now. I decided in that moment to cast out fear and doubt and anything else that was holding me back from living the life I wanted to live.
I am at the very beginning of this journey, but I am so excited for the footsteps along the way. It started with some quiet soul searching, then a passion for change, and then a plan for change. I am executing that plan as we speak. Writing this blog was one of the action items on my list. I’m not going to lie, putting myself out there for the world to see does not sound appealing to me. It makes me want to hide under the very soft, comforting covers of my bed. But on the flip side, I feel that I have so much to share with my fellow sisters of this world, and we can all benefit from the lessons taught by each of our voices. I love that we are all different and yet all the same.
So I want to ask you, my dear sisters, this question… What does it mean to you, to live your BEST life? What does that look like to you? What habits do you want to change? What relationships do you want to work on? What memories do you want to make? How do you want to spend your free time? What sets your soul on fire?
As you know, I am a photographer. There are many types of photographers, and even more photography styles. If you haven’t noticed, my style is deeply rooted in families. In the interaction and tender moments that happen when you think no one is looking. Sometimes those moments are hard to catch on camera, you have to be ever vigilant. But those fleeting moments are the culmination of so much hard work and sacrifice. That tender kiss that you share with your spouse, the child that lovingly plays with his mom’s hair. These moments are life. They fill your soul with everything that is good, so why should these moments pass without being cherished? Without being immortalized? With out being shown proper gratitude? I don’t know about you, but those moments are the hope and foundation that get me through every day.
I cannot tell you how many times I have sat down to do something on my phone or my computer and get lost in the moments of photos and videos that are accumulating there. They are rejuvenating to your spirit, and personally my favorite time suck on my electronics. I will literally do it for hours. But then if I sit down to write in a journal, and I feel like I have nothing to say. I am a visual learner 100%, and that’s the way I document as well. Some people scrapbook, some people can’t put down their selfie stick. However you document this journey that you are on, do it. The only way to remember special moments or to see progress in a goal that you are working towards, is to document it. You will never regret a documented moment. You will only regret not documenting it.
So don’t feel stupid for taking a picture of what you ate today, or for taking that selfie with your kids even though you don’t think you look your best. This is your journey to be remembered. And trust me, those loved ones around you will be forever grateful for it.
So here we are, my friends. Going about our everyday, getting tangled up in the “to do’s” of life. If you will do anything for yourself today, mull over the questions I asked. Find an answer. Make a plan. Commit to the plan. And execute it with passion. Because life is too short not too. You know it. And I know it. Let’s support each other in living our best lives. And don’t forget to document your journey.
Love to you.
Alisa
I have had so many amazing friends and clients ask me over the years to teach them photography. It was always something I wanted to do, because when you love something so much, you want to share it with everyone. But trying to work in photo education while still shooting consistently proved to be a lot harder than I first imagined. As the world keeps changing drastically and without notice, I thought it would be the perfect time to not only take a break from shooting and create the course, but also a perfect time for people to take the time to really learn photography. Not only because we are finding ourselves home more, but because we are getting crash course on what is really important in life. We have learned to prioritize our time with our loved ones a lot more. Because you don't know when your time together will end. Relationships are so important and there are not enough photographers in the world to capture every moment of everyone's life. But the amazing thing is that a majority of people now carry a camera with them wherever they go. Although most of the photos we take with that camera are not for framing or display, I think we all have an opportunity to really capture great moments if only we knew how. I created my education store so for the people who just want to learn specific things and for people that want to learn it all and are just beginning. There is so much to learn about in the photography world, and my way isn't the only way. I do encourage you to continue to research, practice, apply, and dive deeper into what it is you don't know. It is the only way to get better. So if you are like me and appreciate the emotion a great photo carries, if only for the subject in the photo, then let's learn some photography together. If there is something you would like to learn but don't see it on the site, please let me know. I will make sure you get the help you need. AND to kick off the launch of my new education store, I am giving away my Camera Gear Guide for free until October 16, 2021. So download it before then to take advantage of free information! See ya'll in there. Alisa Thayne
We've moved! We are no longer Northern California residents. We are residents of the beautiful state of Tennessee!
THE REBRANDING OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE FAMILY PHOTOGRAPH.
FIRST BLOG POST AND INTRODUCTION TO ALISA THAYNE
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