Grow where you're planted.

I'm a huge believer in fate/destiny/no coincidences/signs. So when I got this little gem in my inbox:

I found it very fitting that the very next day I got to see this page:

Notice the big, beautiful "PAID"? Best thing birthday money ever bought. 

I used to be a REALTOR, once upon a time ago. Needless to say I never went very far with it. I sold two houses, both to people I already knew. I put as much, if not more, money into it than I got out of it. I met a lot of successful people (and many people who were struggling... like me). But really, I attribute most of my shortcomings to the fact that I don't play golf. 

But not all was lost. I learned very valuable lessons from talking to people on the phone, how to wiz through contracts, lots of legal terms, great investment ideas, the beauty of tax write-offs, the value of being nice to people, how to put up with people you despise, and most important of all: that I was in the wrong damn profession. My first clue should've been that I spent more time and effort into designing my beautiful business cards than I ever did learning about sales.

I could go on and on about every soul-crushing moment I endured while putting on my slacks, fake smile, and dancing around all the other people who live to put on slacks, a fake smile, and do the dance. But maybe I'll save the soul-crushingness for when I write about being a waitress. In truth, I hadn't been an actively licensed agent for over a year and had mostly forgot all about it until I received the aforementioned email. The very next day I ordered Sue Bryce's 28 Day Workshop and I felt a subtle, yet profound, turning page in my life. Life has led me here and now I will "blossom where I am planted," as my REALTOR buddy Greg would say.

I am a photographer.

Hi, my name is Shealyn.

This whole crazy journey that I'm on now started almost a year ago. Late one night I was roaming the internet like I always do and I stumbled upon Aperture Academy's website. As I started clicking around, my heart rate quickened. I'm sure my eyes dilated. I may not have remembered to breathe. After the initial shock was over I could feel an overwhelming rush of excitement, hope, and uncertainty. Was I daring to dream that I could actually do what I truly wanted to do but had always denied it in my heart because of everyone's voices telling me "photography doesn't make money" or "it's too competitive"? Could it be possible that my two greatest passions in the entire world (travel and photography) were attainable?

Of course it was. It was staring at me in the form of a black website, white words, and gorgeous pictures.

It had finally sparked something in me. I was no longer floating. I beamed at the idea of not being an underappreciated waitress for the rest of my life. I had a goal. I had something I finally, truly wanted. In fact, recalling that evening right now, still makes me feel giddy inside. Ever since that fateful night in April 2012 I have transformed into a sponge. I have absorbed every bit of knowledge I could get my eyes on. I've gravitated towards the "Photography" section of every bookstore I've entered. I've bought some of the most compelling books. I've YouTubed the hell out of photography tutorials. I've discovered my idols: Sue Bryce, Marcus Bell, Bambi Cantrell, among many others. My default smartphone activity became browsing new photographers and techniques. I've shadowed photographers in my area. I've watched, perhaps a little too intently, other professional photographers at weddings and other outings. I've bought into workshops and courses. I've driven two hours, exhausted after a long night of work, to be part of free workshops the next morning. I've researched new pieces of camera equipment like it was a life and death decision. I've recruited friends and family to be my guinea pi-- I mean models. I've seen thousands upon thousands of photographs. I've numbed my brain and my hand with marketing ideas. And now I'm finally sticking my neck out of there and yelling to the world:

I am a photographer.  I believe in the beauty and healing power of capturing precious slices of time into something tangible; something real. This is my passion. This is where my entire life has led me to be. I am no longer listening to the "no" inside my head.