A Gypsy Soul | Concept | Fayetteville, N.C. Photographer

This concept shoot I almost missed out on. I had had a long night with my littlest and I was just exhausted. I didn't feel like being around people and I just wasn't feeling like shooting a concept shoot. *GASP* Yes. I just admitted that I just didn't want to photograph.

But! This is why it's nice to have friends who share in your love of art and believe in you. I was laying down on the couch with the baby on my chest half way asleep and I got the text. "You sure you don't want to come? We haven't even started yet." 

I looked at the sleeping baby ... then at my phone ... and sighed. "We'll see."

An hour passes and baby wakes and as if on que, I get a text. "You're missing out. It's pretty bad ass." I laugh to myself and realized, I wasn't going to get anything done at home because baby was up now and really ... I'd be super jealous if I DIDN'T go. So, I packed up the gear, the baby, and hopped in the car — still groggy and in desperate need of coffee.

And boy! Was I glad when I showed up! Our model, Johanna, fit the concept perfectly! I mean, wow! Tysha's concept of a gypsy, Will's wired/stone jewelry ... the outfit, the makeup, the crow... Just wow. I was stoked and immediately I felt happy. I wasn't tired, I wasn't feeling sorry for myself. I was truly where I needed to be at that moment and I can thank my awesome buddies for that (Terra)!

It really is amazing when you surround yourself with people who actually care for you and look out for you. I have been on this self journey as of late, trying to find my happiness. Somehow I lost it in growing up, becoming a wife, becoming a mom, and a business owner. I'm not saying I'm NOT happy, I just felt like something was still missing.

Truth behold, I didn't lose my happiness, I just pushed it aside. I love being a wife. I love being a mommy. And I love being a business owner. But things have to be sacrificed. And I wasn't going to let down the people I love ... and yes, that includes my loyal clients! So naturally, I sacrificed myself. I hung out with people I thought I needed to hang out with. Tried to please people I thought needed to be pleased. Did what I thought would make EVERYONE happy.

And where did it get me? It didn't get me anywhere. It gave me heartache. It gave me unneeded stress. It gave me extra work. It cost me family time. It cost me sleep. And it made me unhappy.

Luckily, I realized this quickly enough that I didn't fall into a deep depression. Everyone from the outside wouldn't have even noticed that I was going through such pain. I don't even think my children noticed. With my husband deployed, of course I wasn't going to bother him with my nonsense. The realization came from the most surprising event ever. A business conference.

The underlining motto in all the successful business owners that spoke was ... get rid of the negativity. Surround yourself with likeminded people. Get rid of the naysayers. Find people who will support you and tell you the truth, even when you don't want to hear it. I just listened in awe. Here I was, in front of these HUGE successful entrepreneurs and they were speaking from the heart. Directly to me. It was the push I needed.

I had always had my supporters right in front of me. I just didn't realize it until I let go of the ones holding me back. My family will always be there to pick me up. Failure is not a bad thing. Failure teaches us how to be better. The people I once called friends, weren't really doing me any good. The people I called acquaintances ... they were actually the ones looking out for me. Pushing me to be better. Encouraging me to push myself. They were there all along. I just failed to see it because I wanted what I THOUGHT I needed. But no.

It's okay to have a messy house every now and then. It's okay to not go to every school meeting. It's okay to tell your child to play in his room while mommy has five quiet minutes to herself. It's okay to have pizza three times in one week ... lol ... You get what I'm saying. You don't have to be perfect. No one is perfect. And get rid of the people who tell you that you need to be. Friends are those who accept you, flaws and all. They're the ones that tell you to get up off your lazy ass and get over to this beautiful concept shoot because it's going to rock your world!

They're the ones that laugh with you. Share a beer with you. And hold you when you're down. Because they're also the ones that are going to lift you back up and enjoy the journey to success with you. They're the ones you need.

*** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. ***