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Dear Teenage Me

Dear Teenage Me,

The world is far bigger and far less scary than you think it is. While we’re on the subject, it’s beautiful and it bares exploring. Don’t box yourself in.

Your earth-shattering problems are not that important. Ten years from now, nobody is going to care about what you accomplished, or did not accomplish, in high school. Cut yourself some slack.

You don’t have to go to college. You don’t have to leave your hometown. You don’t have to do what “everyone expects”. Follow your heart! As long as you work hard at whatever it is you have chosen to do, you will be successful. More than that, you will be happy.

It’s okay not to have all the answers, not to know what the next step is, not to be prepared. Take some risks, life is uncertain for everyone. Embrace the uncertainty, don’t run from it.

Learn to communicate. Now.

Stop hiding your feelings. Yesterday.

The people in your life are important. Treasure them, make an effort to continue these relationships, they are not a given. There will come a time when your Grandma isn’t around and you will wish you had made her more of a priority.

Your life is going to be amazing. It’s also going to be difficult, and scary, and uncertain. There will be days when you cannot believe how blessed you are, and days when all you can do is lay on the floor and sob. There is a season for everything and you will not only survive it all, but learn to thrive in the chaos. I promise.

Listen to your intuition. If something doesn’t feel 100% “right”, there is a reason for it.

And the crazy people who say “you will know” when you’ve met the “right” person? They’re correct. It’s cliche but true.

Don’t settle. Just plain don’t settle. You get one life and although it’s okay to make mistakes, don’t let settling become one of those mistakes in any area of your life.

Along those lines, chase your dreams! Pursue your passions! There’s a reason you feel so strongly about some things, and that feeling is not to be ignored.

But more than anything, please don’t be afraid to love. Open your heart to the world, be kind to everyone, it’s okay to be all-in in this thing called life.

Love, Me

P.S.     The little black kitten destined to be in your future? Cherish every minute with her. She’s a once-in-a-lifetime friend.

 

I’M bRIANA

WELCOME TO THE BLOG

Fueled by equal parts horse hair and passion, I spend my days capturing the kinds of images that make you stop, smile and ask time to please slow down. Your story, your love, is beautiful and I can’t wait to capture it in images you will treasure for years to come. I believe in real moments and heartfelt conversations on the front porch. In the kinds of images that remind you of the joy that can be found in the simplest of moments together. 

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