What Are You Feeling Today?

Day 3 was THE single most powerful day of the entire trip. 

We started our morning by writing about how we felt at that moment. I don’t like to show my feelings so this was different. I used to keep a journal and write about my feelings, but abandoned that long ago when life became busier.

Oddly, the feelings were flowing so easily onto the paper and I found myself tearing as I wrote.

MeRa and Brian invited us to share what we wrote. A couple of the ladies shared their feelings and had us tearing because we could see ourselves in their feelings.

I REALLY did not want to share what I wrote so I didn’t volunteer. Then I remembered what my friends, Sharon and Carrie (previous workshop attendees), told me about being open and getting outside of my box and comfort zone.

So with tears streaming down my face…I shared. It was a bit uncomfortable to expose myself to women I hardly knew, but when I looked up to see others crying, it reminded me that I was not alone in my insecurities, my fears, my search for my identity other than someone’s mom and someone’s wife.

When you feel these insecurities and fears, it is hard to believe that others feel that way, too. These women helped me to realize I was not alone and that they had the same insecurities, fears and identity conflicts as I did.

For the first time in awhile, this workshop had given me the opportunity to be “Michelle” for a few days. I don’t remember the last time I had that identity. I love being a stay at home mom, but at the same time, I feel like I lost some of my identity when I stopped working full-time. 

I think this was the turning point for me in the workshop when I felt a sisterhood amongst us.

The rest of the day, although our last day together at the workshop, was AMAZINGLY powerful. We had a confidence in us that you can feel and smell. The writing exercise helped us get in touch with our inner feelings and I could feel the excitement, confidence and hope in everyone.

Thank you, MeRa, Brian and my Seattle Sistas, for helping me to rediscover Michelle, for building a new excitement for my photography business, for helping me gain just that much more confidence in my skills, for listening to my “feelings”.

It has been over a week since the workshop and not a day goes by that I don’t think about that weekend. It was more than just a photography workshop. It was therapy! =)

To make this feeling continue….I’m going to save pictures from Workshop Day 2 for another day….. =)