For those that don't know I recently set up a date with a very good friend of mine...for well over 13 years now...wow...can't believe it's been that long!
Anyway.... I posted a "pre" image of me getting ready for the big photoshoot.
In the caption I wrote, "Headed out to do a photoshoot today! I feel my roots so deep with this.
#shieldmaiden in my #pastlife"
And to be honest, this was WAY out of my comfort zone. But, when it was all said and done, I felt confident, powerful, and strong. I felt an energy about it. I REALLY felt 'connected' to this vibe. I loved it!
And then it happened... not one...not two...but 3 different random internet people decided to hate on me...and of course, I know in my heart that they have their own issues and felt trying to break me down would lift them up...and then there is the head part. The head told me, "Laurie you are being stupid doing this, just call Chella and cancel."
And then as I picked up my phone to call her, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror...and I literally said, "F*ck it...I AM doing this." I didn't DO this for them. I didn't do this for anyone except myself. I felt GOOD about the look I came up with. I was not going to let those people break me.
Although, as I thought about them, my first thoughts went to anger towards them. Like, what right do they have to do that to someone? What kind of miserable person does that to someone else? And that's the part that hit me..."what kind of miserable person" -- that's the point, they are miserable. Imagine living life with so much energy focused on hate and misery. Imagine living life with so much misery that you feel you need to break someone else to try to make yourself feel better. I feel sad for them. I sent them each a single reply...
"I know that this is a hard time for you and I know you must be hurting to carry such misery...if you ever feel the need to chat, I am here."
Again, that response was WAY out of my comfort zone, I am a person that normally reacts and then thinks calmly. But that is one of the things I discovered about myself during my shadow work challenge and I am trying to work on achieving being less reactive and more proactive.
The responses from the three:
Person 1: "F*ck off bitch"
Person 2: Account doesn't exist anymore .
Person 3 : I am sorry... :( Thank you...it is hard right now and wow...you are the first person to ever actually talk to me like that...even my mom isn't that nice.
So, 1 person felt the power of my kindness. One person, on this planet, felt a little better today because I decided to change the way I reacted. Imagine if each and every one of us could do that? Imagine the trickle effect it would have on the world.
Lesson learned: A moment of calm thinking, and a shift in my own energy and reaction, changed at least one person today. -I hope it changes them long term or at least planted a seed!
So, Laurie what was your reason for actually doing this photoshoot?
Sometimes we get in these creative funks.
My friend, Chella and I talk every day over messenger, she being a photographer and I being a social media creator, we both felt like we were in a creative funk and sometimes you just need to do something outside your comfort zone to shake stuff up. So we decided it would be a great idea to dress up, hike through the woods and do a photoshoot.
So that is exactly what we did, and it was just what the doctor ordered. Not only did it get us out of our funk, but it was good for our souls as well...and it provided me with a lesson learned about being less reactive and more proactive.
The outcome was that we laughed so hard we cried, we almost pee'd ourselves several times (if you have had babies - you will relate!) and we both fell, again, several times trying to get into some of these positions.
It was such a fun day and the weather was perfect. I hope you enjoy the photos below - we certainly had a fun day full of laughing and bonding.
The moral of the story is: “I am going to keep having fun every day I have left, because there is no other way of life. You just have to decide whether you are a Tigger or an Eeyore.” – Randy Pausch