Cape May Professional Photographer | Kaitlin Noel Photography

 

Why is it that we only stop and pay attention to whats right before our eyes when we are reminded to? Why do we appreciate things or people a little more only when someone close to us is ripped away? Why is it that when we miss something…we come up with a rationalization that “oh Ill catch it the next time.”

What if there IS no next time? What if we learned to open our hearts and eyes to the HERE an NOW….not the LATER and AFTER?

On Friday of last week….I failed. I failed to get a series blog post of mine up on time for Fab Friday. I have not missed one day of blogging since I started in 2013…but last friday I FAILED to get it up. I STILL haven’t posted it. I actually was UPSET with myself. Truly disappointed….I felt as though I let me down, my clients and fans down, and then my promise to my business down.

My ever so caring husband saw how flustered I was on Friday and being the MAN that he is…couldn’t wrap his head around why I was that upset over not posting a blog…that in my self-doubt…worry no one is reading anyway!!! During the day he would yell from the other room “Kait, come see what the boys are doing….its soo funny.” I would yell back “One sec…I am working on this blog I have to get up.” 25 MINUTES had passed before I actually got up….at that point the boys were down for a nap.

I missed it.

That afternoon it was lunch time and my hubby so graciously got them their lunch made so I could finish up a phone call….He propped open the door and said “Kait….look at Ryan using a ‘big boy fork’ its hilarious.” Again I said…”Im almost done…be right there.” 10 MINUTES has passed before I hung up….at that point the boys were done eating and already on the couch watching their afternoon cartoon.

I missed it.

I WAS FAILING. I COULDN’T GET MY BLOG UP…I COULDN’T FINISH MY EVER GROWING TO-DO LIST, I COULDN’T PAY ATTENTION TO MY OWN BABIES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…EVEN THOUGH IT REALLY WOULD HAVE ONLY TAKEN MAYBE 5 MINUTES OUT OF MY DAY TO GET UP AND SEE THEM. I HAD ZERO BALANCE!

It was after dinner and I sat back down to work….Mike called from the other room once more and said, “Kaitlin…come see your boys in the tub.” I turned around…turned off the office light and left my work UNFINISHED AND FAILED so that I WOULLLLDNT FAIL at the most important part of my life….being a mom to the two best little boys in the world. I gave them their bath…I photographed their bath, we did jammies and story time….we did everything i love the most about each and every day…spending time with them.

 

 

BALANCE IS HARD. Running a full-time business and being the sole care provider for two boys under 3 is VERY HARD. Taking time to be with them, and then taking time to make sure all other elements of life are maintained are hard. But making the decision to STAND UP and OFFER UP some of my precious moments for my 2 precious boys, shouldn’t be a hard decision. But for last Friday…it really was.

I thought long and hard about why on that particular day I could not achieve a balance. Usually I am a do it all Sally or ‘wonder mama’ as my friends call me…but I was failing on Friday because my heart wasn’t in it…and neither was my head. IF YOU WANT TO SUCCEED IN ACHIEVING BALANCE AND BEING PART OF EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR DAY…YOU HAVE TO BE ALL IN.

Friday I had only 3 hours of sleep the night before. I over committed myself to return calls, emails, edit, and prepare a shoot….LEAVING ZERO time for anything else.

WE , PHOTOGRAPHERS WITH CHILDREN, ARE NOT SUPER HEREOS. We can NOT do it all…all of the time. WE ARE HUMAN. We are allowed to put “work” on a backburner for a moment to pay attention to WHATTT we are working FOR! Failing can be SO WORTH IT sometimes. I took that hour that evening for my boys, myself, my breather! After they were sound asleep, I revisited everything I needed to finish…MINUS THE DANG BLOG, and I had a clear and refreshed head because I allowed balance to enter my life and workflow.

TAKE THE TIME TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS…Shoot your personal life more often. Make a reasonable TO-DO list…NOT A SUPER HERO one. STOP, REGROUP, REGAIN, RESTART!

Balance will determine if you make it in this industry or not. TRUST ME! Without the love and inspiration my children/hubby provide me with everyday…I am not sure I would be where I am today.

Wishing you serious balance and lots of success!

xoxo,

Kaitlin Noel