This past week has ignited an abnormally high amount of reflection as it was the week my instal-kids graduated from 5th, 8th, and 12th grade. All of them are facing shifts in life in the pivotal moments of educational cornerstones in their lives.
I spoke to them and wrote to my oldest to congratulate them on making it to this moment with grace and bravery. Life requires so much from them in their young ages. Not only are they living with the idea that they can do anything, they’re following in Gen X and Y mentality that it means they have to be everything to everyone at all moments in life. I can’t imagine the amount of pressure they must feel to succeed.
Little hearts facing pressure in life sounds like a lot to handle for them and truth be known, it’s a lot to handle at any age but when you’re young and inexperienced it can feel overwhelming and frightening.
As adults we have it from all angles in different ways. From work to second jobs, desires of being a good parent and being available to them, volunteering, planning, living, and sometimes making a good home cooked meal all seems overzealous at minimum and beyond the most methodical military maneuvers at maximum.
With the take no prisoners mentality, imagine that the pep talk that I gave my kids.
I reminded them that they were kind, intelligent, and capable. I assured them that they will do big things in life with the understanding that hard work is the only way to attain their goals and aspirations. I’m not an expert and I’m a newbie to instal-mom life but I believe that any additional support I give them that I give them that can add positivity and glitter to their lives is beneficial.
I’m taking the advice that I gave them and pushing it into my day with the hope that you can do the same: Be brave and know that you’ve got more support in the universe than you’ll ever know.
Being brave is being bold. Don’t allow anyone (including yourself) to bring you down with their doubts. Living in fear of your own capabilities because of how they can make others feel means you’re dimming your light to let them shine brighter than you. That’s not healthy. You should be able to shine at your brightest without it bothering anyone and again, not even yourself. You have to get out of your own way sometimes, too.
I laughed at myself as I uploaded the image above because it’s reminiscent of Angelina Jolie on the red carpet at the Oscars in 2012 and I had a falling out about “leg pics” with an old friend. Yeah, you read that correctly. *Shaking my head.*
What makes the image relevant is it’s direction. The leg showing wasn’t the intent of the image but my beautiful photog friend told me to take big steps and make them intentional so that it would highlight the slit in the dress; which further supports the notion that we must live this way as well.
Regardless of age, educational cornerstone, or phase, bold steps with positive intentions will highlight your beautiful attributes and if you’re a mom or instal-mom, it will show your littles what you’re made of with the hopes that your life and bravery will influence them.
*Deep breath!*
Live accordingly.
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Photographs by Anna May Photography
Location courtesy of Bethaney Danné Photography
Dress from Amazon @ ZESICA Women’s Halter Neck Floral Print Backless Split Beach Party Maxi Dress
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If you are here from my Instagram mention of this photo then you may be wondering what the fear was all about … The core is quite deep for strangers to read but the super high level of info so I don’t mind sharing.
I was afraid of judgement on images I’ve posted in the past. There have been pictures I share that have gotten some cheap blows by insecure individuals and their insecurities pushed me into thinking I should have them about myself as well. I’m slowly working past them and doing so by pushing myself to be a little more brave and live for bold moments by seizing their input into my life and my pictures because their negativity isn’t a reflection of me, it’s a reflection of them.
Not absorbing their negativity is hard but I hope my mention of it is a lesson for for myself and possibly for you as well.
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