Dearest,
(still experimenting with the greeting – I think I like dearest – I looked up the definition – in high esteem, precious in one’s regard)
You know what I love? Airport pick-ups. They are one of my favourite things. I was at the international airport this morning collecting Jack and his girlfriend, who have been in Bali for 15 days. I arrived nearly an hour early and sat in my car with sweat running between my boobs drinking a hot coffee in 30-degree heat with 90 something % humidity, at a servo near the airport, I watched other cars park, and the drivers sit with a coffee and wait– none of us wanting to pay for exorbitant parking. I saw the same cars and people at the pick – up when I arrived after Jack messaged me.
The absolute joy.
People were jumping out of cars, flinging doors open, rushing to their significant person and holding them close. I did the same, I saw the top of Jacks head and was waving both arms in the air and belly laughing at the sight of him – a sigh of relief. Jack and Hayley had been awake for about 24 hours and looked exhausted but received my fierce hugs, rapid fire questions and the I love you’s graciously.
This is the feeling I devoted to in 2019 – doing things that I love, searching for more things that I love.
I walked out of the hospital after my last night shift on Sunday morning and it was with love for the opportunities, friendships, experiences, and money the hospital has provided for 22 years, but also with a sense of I love that I have made the decision to not go back.
And from the position I am in now of taking leave from the hospital and deciding to dedicate to my business it seems like absolute madness.
Madness you say!
As part of my devoting to my business, I have reigned in the boundaries of the women I will be working with.
WOMEN OVER 40.
Women over 40 for photo sessions.
Why would I do this? Well, I believe we have untapped wisdom, knowledge, skills, and life experience we do not use, acknowledge, or appreciate. It is a time for major change health, wealth, relationships, family life, career. BUT ALSO, choice – we are over 40 our tolerance for issues, people, and situations shifts. This is where relationships breakdown, career changes happen, our health if we are not paying attention and even if we are, can slip. Values that have become even more potent for me is honesty and connection.
And with honesty, I tell you my position does look like madness, because although I had a bumper year last year with mentoring sessions all year. I have not got a single session booked at this moment. AND this is going to sound even more wooo wooo. My intuition is telling me to let it go. Let it go, let it go. I also did my tarot cards and again - let it go, let it go.
This is absolute madness to be telling my dearest newsletter reader, most of who are by marketing standards my ideal client – that I have no clients at the moment, and my heart, soul, intuition is saying let it go.
There is stark contrast between my mentoring conversations and the love I have for them, and the zero energy they are alive with this year, like nothing. I feel a huge weight when I go to talk about them, and there is not a single DM or enquiry.
But, the connection my women over 40 project has in the past week is instant life – AND I KNOW! it is free. BUT the energy around it feels buzzy, it feels like something women need and are interested in, I feel a sense of trust when I am talking and connecting with women in my DM’s enquiring about it. I feel trust because this is obviously something I need to be doing at the moment.
ABSOLUTE MADNESS YOU SAY.
AHH yeah, because it is free, and our mortgage just went up, so did our house insurance after the storm, utility bills up and up.
But I know I have so much wisdom, knowledge that I do not know that I have, and the feeling to follow that and trust in the devotion to search for more things I love and the connection that goes with it is strong.
AND everything is always connected; which brings me full circle to trusting that my business will show me what is next, what is needed for me in all ways and the women that connect with me.
I keep saying it over and over and over.
My business, art and life are how I create it.
Am I absolutely mad? Has the summer heat and humidity fried my brain? Maybe?
But if I can’t trust myself and my feelings, who can I trust?
I lost a beautiful friend to cancer two days after Christmas, she fought stomach cancer in 2018 and had been told until November 2023 every 6 months that she was cancer free. Early December she was eating dinner and thought she had food stuck in her throat and went to the hospital. It wasn’t food it was a cancerous mass. She passed 20 days later with cancer through her whole body that was never picked up.
I am going to believe and fiercely trust in the untapped wisdom, knowledge, skills, and life experience that I have and create the business, art and life that I love and feel connected to.
I hope you are healthy and well, I sincerely wish you a beautiful day.
Melinda
Here is the PINTEREST link if you would like to have a look at it for the
WOMEN OVER 40 PHOTO PROJECT.
Here is the CALENDLY link if you would like to sign up for a remote or in person photo session with me for the project - I would LOVE to create with you.
ALSO send me an email in reply to this email to you, I would love to chat. Am I on to something with this whole women over 40’s bee in my bonnet? Are we somewhat invisible? Are there the changes I mentioned above or is it just me?
Love you!