Identify your strengths, embrace them and share them.

I am the second born out of 7 children. My older sister and best friend, has always been incredibly smart especially when it comes to intellectual things like school. She used to have competitions with her friends about who could read the most books over the summer. Yep, that’s my sis! That may not allude to it, but she’s a blast to be around. No, I’m not joking.

If you rated me on the scale they used in school, I was never considered “smart”. Tests were always difficult for me and performing the way my teachers wanted was not easy. I always had A’s and B’s with the infrequent C, but it didn’t come easy. I had to put in a lot of effort for anything I wanted in school and somehow I started to feel as though I wasn’t good enough because things weren’t as easy for me, as they seemed to be for everyone else.

If you put a paintbrush, camera, or pencil in my hand though…oh man could I wow you. Or at least I like to think I can, come on now, don’t burst my bubble.

Fast forward 20 years and guess what has been easy for me? Not a whole lot. Guess what that taught me? Everything.

I’m not a soap box kind of girl, so I will spare you. I have learned, however, that you can find your fuel anywhere, in any situation. I found my fuel through challenges.

Have you ever felt down on your luck and then have seen someone else who seems to have it all and wonder why? I have, and what a mistake that is. It did not happen often, but there were those times in which that negative thought creeped in my mind.

You’re comparing yourself to someone else, why?

Why would someone else’s happiness bring you anything but joy?

How would someone else’s success threaten yours?

A lot of this stems from competition and a mindset that there isn’t enough happiness or success to go around. It’s a limited and jealous type of mindset, and it is not healthy.

I was aware of my sister’s strengths and was well aware that I was not living up to what my teachers or parents expected in regards to school. Like all loving adults, they wanted the best for me and they wanted me to do well in school because they believed that by being educated I was guaranteed a future. I also believe education is important, but there are so many things in life that are just as, if not more important.

I was not a straight A student, but I treated people well.

I had people skills. Not everyone has that. My parents always told me that no matter where they went, they would inevitably run into someone that knew and loved me. I felt so lucky, because I loved people and loved that they would remember me.

I sat in on my sister’s senior photos and watched what Lisa, the photographer did and as she was taking her photos I said “I am looking for a job, do you need an assistant?” My mom was shocked at how bold I was at 16 years old, but just reacted with her typical shocked wide eyes and then Lisa responded “I haven’t thought about it, but I’m sure I could use some help!”

6 months later I was photographing weddings of her clients on my own.

I started to learn that I may not have the strengths that others have or the strengths others believed I should have, but I had my strengths. They were mine, and they didn’t look like anyone else’s because they weren’t supposed to.

I was challenged in a lot of areas but certain things came easy, like conversations with people.

It is difficult to express how much I love people, but it’s just who I am. I see the best in everyone, even when those qualities may be hard to find, it seems to be a natural thing for me and I’m not sure why. It makes life easier, happier and more peaceful and I’ve always been drawn to that. Naive…maybe…but hey, I’m happy.

School was a lot of work and it took persistence. Unemployment taught me persistence. Running was and is not easy but it taught me persistence. Owning my own business for 7 years now is close to the definition of persistence.

That learned persistence got me through some of the hardest times in my life. It taught me perspective, because, you see, it is tough to have persistence without changing your perspective.

If you have a negative perspective how will it be possible to persist through a difficult situation? It may be possible, but the road will not be enjoyable nor will you end up where you could potentially go.

Persistence pays off. You may know by now how much I love fitness, especially yoga. I have run many 10ks, 5ks and one half marathon. However, I have always struggled with energy due to a disease that I was diagnosed with at 15. I have PCOS (polycystic ovarian disease) and Hashimotos Disease so it has never been easy to maintain a healthy weight, but I fight hard for it. Those “diagnosis” are fuel for me. They just reaffirm my commitment to eating healthy, working out and taking care of myself.

It’s not ideal to have a disease, but it is all how you look at it. My kids will never see me as someone who “struggles with a disease”. No, I live with a disease. Nova, my beautiful 3 year old, is allergic to peanuts. She, like me, has nothing to be ashamed of and we will always teach her that. We will always teach her to be aware of it and to be confident. Her confidence already impresses me when she asks the waitress “I have a peanut allergy. Is that food safe?” She is so strong.

We all have different strengths. We all have different weaknesses. We all have different challenges. We all have different hills to climb and roller coasters to ride.

The best part is, we are all imperfect humans. We are all in this together and if just one more person can share their journey and help another, then who are we to stay quiet?