I just got back from a crazy whirlwind known as Field Trip. I won’t go into the details (those will come later) but as I fell asleep on the plane ride home (before we even took off, if I’m being entirely honest) I knew that I wanted to come home and explore the “why.” Why do we do what we do? Why do we believe in things? Why do we love and live and struggle and strive? Why do we chase certain things and not others? And why are we doing all of this day in and day out? It’s easy to get caught up: caught up in the action, caught up in the industry, caught up in the hustle, caught up in the numbers, caught up in the dreams but at the end of the day, knowing and owning your why is crucial. My thoughts are still jumbled, my brain is still spinning, I am drained and overflowing at the same exact time but stepping back for a few days to think of the why is something I am encompassed in at the moment. You see, we are constantly reaching, grasping for something more. We think that certain things will validate us, we believe that we will “make” it when we hit certain milestones, we reach with open hands to try and get “there” and in the thick of it we lose the why.
One of my biggest take aways from my time away is really evaluating my why and how to allow all of that drive my business, fuel my spirit, and direct my life. Why do I do all of these crazy things? Let me tell you. I do all of this because I believe in change. I believing in focusing on moments over mason jars, in celebrating raw emotions, in supporting true love, and rejoicing in vows that are promises that last a lifetime. My why is surrounded by my belief in spawning an evolution: one that celebrates real love, true emotion, genuine interaction, real talk, and authentic lives. I want to celebrate the highs and trudge through the lows and never feel the need to put on any sort of face. My why thinks that macaroni and cheese should be eaten every Monday, that life is comfier in yoga pants, that puppy kisses can cure any ailment, and that the space between each finger should be filled with someone else’s. Someone in need, someone you love, someone who is adventuring along side of you, their hand is there for the holding.
My why is less about me and more about you and it isn’t just about pretty pictures, it’s far more beyond that. It’s about elevating an industry, it’s about reliving the real moments of life, it’s about being present beyond the camera, and taking care of each other. It doesn’t matter how many features I get or accolades, in fact, none of that matters if I am living my why every day. The thing we forget is that we are living our story right now, right in this moment we are writing a page. Our story doesn’t start when we hit a milestone jotted down in our journal, our tale doesn’t begin when we have accomplished a feat, we are writing it day in and day out and understanding the why behind it will only make your novel more brilliant. Live with intention, stop reaching, start striving, and today I double dare you to think of what you can do for someone else without expecting anything in return. Tell me your why, think about where you are going but more so where you are right in this moment. What is your why? What is the legacy you hope to leave behind? What is the story you are writing day in and day out? I am so thankful you are along for the ride. My friend, you have already arrived in so many ways. You are here, in this life, aren’t you?
