01/01/2026
A friend of mine encouraged me not not just be real and raw in my personal life, but also my business life...so here goes.
Let me preface this by saying I am all about positivity (people should post their wins) and am so incredibly grateful for everything God has blessed me with. I have Jesus in my heart, an incredible husband by my side, 3 amazing kids, a home that we have made together, and friends that I can count on every step of the way.
Social media can be so deceiving. We tend to post only the good, because we don't want people to see the bad. We feel embarrassed or ashamed to share the hard parts. Well let me tell you, 2025 was a dumpster fire.
I recently reached out to a friend I hadn't talked to in a while who said she thought I hadn't been around because I was living my best life and was too busy for her. The reality was that 42 years of unmanaged (undiagnosed) ADHD collided with perimenopaus, and I completely fell apart. I sunk into a state of overwhelm and my brain broke. I had said "yes" to too many things in fear of disappointing someone, and I couldn't stay afloat. A friend once said we are like ducks on a pond, paddling for our lives under the water and cool and calm on the surface. This was me, but the waves were starting to get intense.
Managing a household with 3 active kids and running a business that needs constant attention became too much, and things started to fall through the cracks. I started to miss appointments, forget when I needed to be places, and miss important details. I had to let go of networking events, and in-person meetings.
The weight of the economy and paying studio rent became heavy. Steve took a 2nd job overnight at Amazon while running his own business. He was getting 2-3 hours of sleep if he was lucky. I was single parenting and trying to do all the things. There were lots of tears, lots of loneliness, and so much exhaustion.
In October Steve found a new space to expand his business. It took months to get everything squared away and moved it. It felt like every time he was close, there was a setback or delay. He is all moved in now. I am so incredibly proud of him and excited to help him grow. He deserves all the success!
In November, I decided to close the studio. This was an incredibly heartbreaking decision that I am finding peace with. I am a photographer and always will be. I don't need a building to prove that to anyone.
Along with all kinds financial hits (that's life right), we lost our dog of 14 years (like she literally vanished into thin air). It has left a hole in our hearts and home. I received a rejection sticker for my tires, our new (just out of warranty) cooktop shorted out, and an opposum has been eating all of our eggs.
I'm not one to dwell on the bad. I'm not writing this post to cry boohoo. While this year has been so incredibly hard, it hasn't been all bad. There has been so much good. We have received so much support from friends and neighbors.
I transformed my women's networking group into a group of women who truly love and care for each other. We don't just share about our businesses, we share a piece of ourselves and learn from each other.
I got to own the most beautiful studio space I ever could have dreamed up. I built relationships through my photography and came away with clients who weren't just business transactions, but true friends.
Everyday I get to see my children thrive at school and in the sports they love. They are thoughtful, caring human beings who love Jesus, and I really couldn't ask for more.
Most importantly I learned so much about me. Through my daughter's ADHD diagnosis followed by my own, I am learning what we can and can't handle. I am learning that we need to do things a little differently. I never knew that everyone else didn't have 37 browser tabs open on the computers (and in their brains). It has been so incredibly eye opening.
Wow that was a novel! If you read this entire rant, God bless you. Sometimes God puts us through it to remind us that we are not in control. HE IS. Remember that everyone's lives aren't always the sunshine and rainbows you see on social media. (Stop comparing yourself). If they disappear for a while, it might be because they're drowning. It's not because they don't want to see you. Give grace and reach out.
2025 was a dumpster fire, and I welcome 2026 with open arms.
