business, design, Life

Closeups and Cameras

I don’t feel like I am ready to do a photo shoot.  I feel vulnerable in front of a camera.  Despite my confidence on stage when I speak or when I conduct training with a group my old demons of being a teenager comes out.

CDR_08252017_0467_photo with JM alumni color_logo

The sad story of a girl with a disability never had dates, never went to the prom, didn’t deserve to have straight teeth – “Who would want to marry or even date her?” I was constantly bullied in the shadows or whispers.

When someone in college said I was pretty, I gravitated towards that and was taken advantage of again and again and again. I finally let go of all that stress on the day I was married. No more being judged, no more being criticized but it didn’t stop. The criticisms never end because the voices from the past keep coming back like a ghost.

Now I look at my wrinkles and my fat and thank God for Photoshop. Then again, should I show you what I look like with all my flaws?  I’m already teetering on one leg with crutches in front of you.

Despite all of my flaws, I am content.  I am in a career I love.  I have jewelry and a clothing business that gives back to families and nonprofits. I love my husband, kids, dog, house, church, community (Mililani), networking groups (especially BNI), clients, etc.  I have so much to be grateful for.  That may show up in the photos and that may not.  I know that this contentment is in my heart.

If you have a chance, please check out my jewelry boutique. https://www.chloeandisabel.com/boutique/vince

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I’m only a $1000 away from earning a trip to Paris.  I’ve never been out of the country. You can help me get to Paris.  Share my page and of course purchasing any jewelry pieces.  Think of Valentine’s Day!

The sales of jewelry, clothing, training, or coaching helps to keep this contentment. Thank you so much for your support and purchase!

Next blog: Tie Your Roots

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Thankful vs. Thoughtful

Being grateful and being kind are different processes but can be incorporated with each other.  Gratitude comes in many forms:  a thank you note, recognizing a person for their contribution in a group or tagging them on Facebook, or the reliable goody bag at the end of an event.  Thoughtfulness is similar to thanking by sending a note to say I’m thinking about you, lifting someone up, or giving a person an omiyage (a gift to bring back to family and friends when you have traveled).

I admit it; I am not good at writing in my thankfulness journal.  Honestly, I have written only three things that I am thankful for in that journal.  I have heard that if you write down ten things that you were thankful for that day, you are a much happier person and content with your life. I do pray every day and thank God for three things – the people that I have met, the people I am going to meet, and the people that I will never meet.  He knows the people that He will place in my life are people that will need the gifts that He has given me.

At times I have been thoughtful and thoughtless.  I catch myself and assert what I think people should know, or I’ve been a real jerk and dismissed the person from collaborating with me and missed a golden opportunity.

Sometimes I surprise that person in such a way that I didn’t think my thoughtfulness made a difference.  After 27 years one example has stood out for me. I used to send birthday cards to a lot of people before good old Facebook. I barely knew this person but found out his birthday and his address.  He was amazed and was thankful for that one small act of thoughtfulness.  I didn’t expect anything in return.  I don’t think he knew my birthday or my address.  At that age, everything was freely given, and I wasn’t guarded.

Life happened, and my thankfulness and thoughtfulness have changed.  I think I am more thankful and less thoughtful.  I want to work on having both equal and abundant and not be in competition with one another.

I am thankful for you my readers and joining me on this journey…..

Next blog: Small Business Customers