happy birthday dr. seuss :: greensboro photographer

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Isn't this just the best idea to instill in our children? (I don't currently have children - well, except for my furbaby Monty - but I recite this quote to him everyday) And yet, once we grow up, we seem to forget all about our childhood dreams and ambitions, or at least push them to the back of our mind. We say we don't care what people think, but we all do. We hide our emotions or our ideas because we might be ridiculed.

I have encountered way too many people lately... well, actually, throughout my entire life... who are satisfied with mediocrity. Satisfied with giving up who they are and what they want to be for the "safe" life of a 9-to-5 job and a healthy salary. Now for those of you who have dreamed of sitting at a desk all your life and who are happy to get up and go to that job each morning, my purpose is not to offend you. Not at all. I am talking to the creatives, the thinkers, those of us who have known we were entrepreneurs ALL OUR LIVES, who stifle those ideas for the easier/safer/wayyy-less-scary route.

Since I quit my full-time job as a Marketing Director over a year ago, I've had many friends confide in me their ambitions, and as long as it's not something that's going to harm them or others, I try my best to encourage and help them. To let them know that it is possible to do whatever you dream of - I know because I'm living it. But here's the thing... 100% of the time a friend or family member confides these things to me, it's followed by a "but" or "if-only." If I had more money, if I had the talent, if I had a house, if I lived somewhere else, but what will people say, but what if I fail. (Please note that these are the same people that will try to tell you that you won't be successful at {insert your idea here} because you don't have this or can't do that - IGNORE THE HATERS). That last ones the big one... I believe that most people are afraid of trying because of their fear of failing. And for those of you who don't think you're good enough, you may not be, but there's an old saying, "Fake it 'til you make it." Take it to heart.

Today, I've been listening to world-renowned photographer Sue Bryce's creativeLIVE workshop, and she made a statement that really resonated with me. She said, "Talent will get you far but not as far as ambition."

So if you're reading this, here's my advice for you: If you have the ambition, if you have the dream, if you have the idea, if you still dream of being that ballerina, firefighter or writer that you wrote on your "When I grow up..." poster in the 1st grade, and if you're not over-the-moon happy to wake up every day and do what you do, stop complaining about it. I don't want to hear it. Change it. Quit making excuses. Have faith. The struggles will only make for a great story once you achieve your goal.

If you're single, what are you waiting for?; if you're married, I hope you are lucky enough to have a spouse as supportive as my wonderful husband; and if you have children, make sure they have a home and clothes and food. But remember that you can't tell them that they can be whatever they want to be if you aren't doing it yourself. Lead by example.

And if you need someone to encourage you, holla at me!