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Being it all may mean failure

I’m sorry if you already read this and posted a comment. A post published that wasn’t suppose to and in trying to fix it all I deleted both so here it is… again. I didn’t get to read your comments yet so please repost them! Thanks!

If the old adage is true, โ€˜what you see isnโ€™t what you always getโ€™ then it should reason that this is true not only with things but also with people. Most of us donโ€™t go around mentioning that the laundry pile resembles Mt. Vesuvius, that you snapped at your husband when you should have given him a kiss and your childโ€™s reading assignment was forged because you got too busy and forgot to read with her. You feel ashamed. You feel inadequate. You feel alone. You feelโ€ฆ but you donโ€™t share because “she” seems to have it together โ€“ and dang it all โ€“ that means you should too.

Iโ€™m feeling this need to give you straight and honest talkโ€ฆ I need to tell you how it really is and hope that I can save you from this notion that everyone else is somehow able to do it all and further more that youโ€™re inadequacy mean that you’re a failure because no matter how hard you keep trying, you.just.canโ€™t.

When I started this blog, I had time. My husband was in undergrad and he worked nights on campus. My kiddos went right to bed at 8pm and I would sit up on the internet and search. One day not long into my journey as a photographer, I decided it could be really fun to start a blog of my own and document my process as I tried to go{4}pro. And it was fun. In fact it was more than fun, photography was my passion. Learning and absorbing it all was my addiction, and sharing was my purpose! I simply couldnโ€™t get enough.

But along the way something changed. You see, this absolutely crazy thing happened since that very first post I wrote while sitting in our tiny little apartment on the North Shore of Hawaii. People started reading it. Now remember, I started this blog because I was going for pro. Thatโ€™s not where I was, itโ€™s where I wanted to be and I was just sharing what I learned. A lot of things changed; we moved from Hawaii to Oregon and my husband began grad school, my kids got bigger, my posts got more frequent and as my photography improved I became busier. All the while I wanted (so desperately) to be everything and do everything … and not just mediocre, but with sparkle. I wanted to be it all and why the heck not? Martha can do it. So I set out toโ€ฆ

Be a great mommy. Be a good wife. Make dinners (preferably complete with a pan sauce and garnish), do laundry, have clean bathrooms, put makeup on and look together before noon. Volunteer. Take great pictures, have incredible clients, make great sales. Write 5 posts a week for Go{4}Pro, catch peopleโ€™s interest enough to comment on said posts(and never admit that I equate comments to my go4pro self-esteem). And be a good Christian, heavily involved in my church and always ready to offer a helping hand.

Now let me break the reality of it down for youโ€ฆ

You have heard me say it before. Iโ€™m a broken record and I know it, but there โ€” just โ€” wasnโ€™t โ€“enough โ€“hours in the day. So โ€” I manufactured more hours in the day, because Iโ€™m someone who does not handle failure very well and I was determined to be it all and for me “some” is not all and was not going to suffice for my personal expectations. I stopped sleeping, hired someone to clean house and decided I needed an assistant.ย When I first hired Kathy, one of my honest feelings was concern. Concern that Kathy would see real parts of me, ugly parts of me and anything she once admired would be ruined.

Even with all of thisโ€ฆ Going to bed on average at about 5am because literally my head hit the key board and waking up at 7:30am, having someone once a week clean the house and hiring Kathy to do 80% of the post processing among other work I still couldnโ€™t seem to catch my breath. I still couldnโ€™t find time to sleep and I had to schedule in time with my incredible man. I hated where I was at but I didnโ€™t know how to change it.

Because. I wanted. it. all. I wanted to be everything for everyoneโ€ฆ And yet despite such seemingly noble aspirations all I could honestly say I felt like was a failure. In.every.aspect. of my life. I know. Itโ€™s an ugly truth. And I hope I didnโ€™t just ruin all the nice things you may have thought of me five minutes ago but the honest truth is that Iโ€™m a mess on almost a daily basis. When you try to be everything you begin to fail at anything. There I stood, a girl who really wanted to be somethingโ€ฆ A driven girl and I worked as hard as I knew how and yet I couldnโ€™t figure out how to keep it in balance so that I could enjoy what I actually was accomplishing.

Every day I work at changing it. Every single day I have to think about it. I know Iโ€™m not alone. I have girl friends in the industry who have lots of late nights and call to say they pulled โ€˜a Leahโ€™. I have to believe (and so am willing to share all of this) that Iโ€™m not alone. That you just might be like me and youโ€™re trying to be it all and feeling like a failure in the process.

So how does one get out of such a mess? How do you find the focus in your life and create the balance that you so desperately crave? Iโ€™ll share some of my thoughts and what Iโ€™ve been doing in Part II but for today Iโ€™d love to know how youโ€™re feeling, what youโ€™re thinking?

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  1. Alison says:

    Leah, I certainly don’t think less of you, I am always greatful to hear from a photographer that they are NOT superwoman. It makes me feel that much less alone as I try to answer a client’s email while eating breakfast and running to clean up spills before I have to run out the door to the job that pays our bills. I stand here facing huge changes in my personal life and I struggle every single day to balance being mom, paralegal, photographer and wife. And I too value every single comment on my blog, because I am like you- for some reason it is some statement of value of my work. Worse is seeing the amount of traffic I have and only having one or two comments there. It leads to a never ending cycle of self doubt. I don’t know how to fix it. I am working on bit and pieces at a time. Starting wtih getting organized. Then we will see what comes next. Probably some help from you with branding through the winter, then pick off the next thing. Thank you for taking the risks that you do and sharing what you do. It doesn’t go unnoticed and it is so deeply appreciated. Looking forward to part II

  2. chesley says:

    i’m so in this cycle right now & it’s ugly. i know it & don’t know how to stop it & still keep up! i’m quitting my “real” job in December, and hope that will help, but know they’re still won’t be enough hours in the day to do all i think i need to & want to!

  3. Stephanie says:

    Balance is that one thing I’m really trying to find on a daily basis. That balance between work and home. Since I work from my house, it makes it so incredibly easy to blur the lines between when I should work and when I need to give myself a break. I’m also an all-or-nothing kind of gal. So I can’t just half-way do anything, and I have a horrible problem relinquishing control. I dream of one day having someone else do my post-processing for me….but I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to give up enough of the control to let someone else do it. About the only thing I’m not doing myself is my taxes. I do the marketing, I designed and programmed my website, I write my blog posts, I take the pictures, I do post-processing and uploading to the web, and on and on and on. On top of that I’m a wife and my husband and I are really trying to start a family. But it becomes so easy to get distracted and overwhelmed. So yes Leah, I can totally relate.

  4. Stephanie says:

    P.S. I never get a single comment on my blog but I do hear several of my clients mention that the read it every day. So I quite worrying about the comments and let the blog be something I do for me and another means of marketing myself and my business.

    • Leah Remillet says:

      Stephanie.. I totally know what you’re saying. I see the google analytics I know how many people read this every day but what can I say… Without the comments I don’t know what they are thinking? I don’t know if it’s good or bad – I’ve tried to not care, not worry about it, not pay any attention but it won’t change. Go4Pro is personal… It’s my heart on my sleeve for my fellow peers and who can offer that with out needing or fearing that no validation will come? You know?

      • Stephanie says:

        Oh Leah – how could you possibly think anyone thinks anything but good thoughts about this blog? You are providing an awesome service to all of us. I mean, you provide oodles of information and insights, and you’re just plain open and honest with us. You have created a wonderful little community here of people who love you and what you have to say. And everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts too. I totally understand your concerns…I think we all have those. But I want you to know that regardless of whether or not people leave comments…we are coming to your blog because we love you. You are awesome Leah! Don’t you ever doubt that! ๐Ÿ™‚

        • Leah Remillet says:

          Wow!! Thank you so much Stephanie! You just put a smile on my face from ear to ear! I actually feel a little giggly you made me feel so good!

  5. jamie says:

    I tried to be Supermom this past yearโ€ฆ hereโ€™s my story, I work full time at a Power company, but my contract ends in March 2011. In preparing for next year, I decided that I should start my photography business this year so I can get my name out. I decided to purchase a Canon 5D mark ii, 24-70mm 2.8, 50mm 1.4, 580exii, 430 exii, pocket wizards, light stand, camera bag and a bunch of memory cards, photoshop CS4 and a bunch of actions to start. I only learned to shoot on Manual in April! In May, I started the business, and little did I know that my business wouldnโ€™t need much time to get around (tks Facebook), so I kept taking appointments and weddings and before long, I was overbooked, overworked and underpaid!!!!! Since May I have photographed over 10 weddings, 80+ sessions, plus my regular 40hrs a week at my regular job, plus 2 kids under 6. My husband still doesnโ€™t understand why he has to do the laundry!!!! I have learned a lot from this year, and made a few changes to keep my sanity, I started the year charging my clients 140.00 for a disk, itโ€™s now up to 200.00 (I know itโ€™s still not enough.. but working my way up ๐Ÿ™‚ ) I more then doubled the price of my weddings too. As for post processing, I now select my favs and edit them artistically, and the rest I just clean up, and for weddings, I send them to be color corrected by Fotofafaโ€ฆ
    This year I wasnโ€™t able to give my clients what I wanted, since I just didnโ€™t have enough time, and next year goal is to take more time for my clients, create an experience with them, to do this, Iโ€™ll have to charge more and take lessโ€ฆ. I need to learn to say NO more often, Iโ€™ve started to use it now and it feels great!
    I keep my sanity by playing sports 2-3 times a week (HOCKEY VOLLEYBALL in winter and SOFTBALL in summer) that truly makes me happy, and I try to get away with the kids and hubby once in a while to get in that important family time. I got through this by thinking to myself; itโ€™s only for this year. (Since next year, Iโ€™ll be a full time photographer!) I get you Leah, keep up the great work and hopefully you wonโ€™t quit GO4PRO, I love this blog!!!!

  6. Leah- First of all, this doesn’t change my opinion of you at all. To me, you are still amazing and I often wonder how you get it all done. You are a lot more busy than I am and I feel like I have a lot going on. You will always be my Mary. For more reasons than one.
    But here’s how I’m feeling right now. You asked…..I have 2 beautiful daughters- 1 and almost 3- that keep me crazy busy all the time. I’m not the best housekeeper, and it takes me longer than normal to get things clean. I have a church calling that takes 1-2 nights per week as well. My hubby doesn’t like it when I edit when he is home, so I try to do anything like that during nap time. Which means when I have stuff to edit, the house gets dirtier than he or I likes it. Or I clean while the kids are awake and ignore them. I never wanted to be the mom who pops in a movie and does who knows what else, but as I’m typing right now, the girls are watching Lady and the Tramp. For the second time today. (I hate having admitted that) I have 2 shoots to edit, 3 loads of laundry, dishes, and lots of other chores to do right now. I try to get a normal amount of sleep so I’m not monster mom, and that is my only saving grace. I can’t function without sleep. And lots of coke zero.
    I try to schedule my days for “work” days, “family” days, “cleaning” days and it usually works, but it’s still a work in progress. I hate having to schedule time with my family and hubby, but we don’t get the time we need together if I don’t.

    So there you go Leah, another example of a non-super-mom trying to make it in this crazy world of ours. I can’t wait to hear your tips.

  7. Lori says:

    I know exactly how you feel! I have no idea how to fix it, but I know exactly how you feel. I anxiously await the replys and Part II.

  8. Krystal says:

    Hmmm… a few of my thoughts. Yep, I often feel like a failure. Just the other day I was sewing something and screwed it up. Before I could knew what was happening I hear/thought “You are a failure”. For a second I was like where did that come from and then as I pondered my internal dialog I realized that it described just how I felt. Not just about some stupid sewing/prop project but about how I was doing as a mom, teacher, wife, friend and the list could go on and on. But when I have days like that I have to find a rope to hold onto and pull myself up. For me that rope is the truth and the best truth is that found in the Word of God. { Now this might make some folks feel a quirmy but this is how I feel and what I believe to be true. } When I read God’s Word every day it keeps me grounded in my priorities and keeps me tipping back and forth to seek that balance. The truth is that I am a complete failure without the power of Christ in me to do all He wants me to do. But the trick is doing what He wants me to do and not what I want to do. And so often those things are one and the same but sometimes I have to give things up and choose what is best. I once heard someone say in reference to feminism and woman today that you really can’t have it all. You have one life to live and you can’t have it all, you have to pick and choose. I know this gets complex on the practical side of things but all of what I have just said helps to guide my everyday. I could say a lot more about the practical side of it but I think I’v already written a book.=)

  9. Krystal says:

    Failure! Isn’t it grand? Balance is one of the things I see as my task in life. I can’t wait until my body is perfect (in the next life) and I won’t have to sleep!! Think of all the things we could get done? But, until then I’ve come to understand that if I don’t sleep I can’t keep up with anything. I may think I’m getting more done but in reality everything is taking me longer and I’m grumpier while doing it. I still enjoy what I’m doing when I’m tired but I take anything that doesn’t go perfectly out on my loved ones around me. (I was a rough teenage, my poor mom). Once I had children I realized that I couldn’t complain and snap at them just because I didn’t get enough sleep. Some people can run on less and they are just tired. I get tired, depressed, mean, and angry. It’s not worth it. That being said I have to remind myself of this EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. It’s been a journey and will continue to be so. But for now I am loving the balance and rechecking everyday. If it’s not done and it’s bed time, then it has to wait until tomorrow. My house is messy, my papers unorganized but I think my clients are happy and so are my children. If I sleep I don’t mind the mess. If I don’t get enough sleep then I have to clean which means even less sleep. It’s a scary cycle. Thanks for giving us a place to leave our thoughts and for sharing yours with us!

  10. Vanessa says:

    Leah, I’m not there yet…I haven’t even had a chance to start my business. I am still in the dreaming / scheming phase. I’m in Canada where we are given a year of maternity leave with our little ones and I’m nearing the end of that. I lost my job last fall and am now needing to find something to help pay the bills. I’m hoping to be able to get my business going and enough clients to help ease the burden on my husband. I absolutely love photography and I have always dreamed of starting my own business. I suppose you could say now or never! I can see myself starting down the path of uncertainty and down right chaos and I really need to get things in check. I have always been a realist (to a certain extent) and I know every person out there, even the ones who seem like their lives are utterly perfect, will trip, stumble and sometimes fall. You are doing amazing things (remember where you are is MY big dream!) so keep your head up and know we’re all following allong with you. I would say my admeration for you has reached a higher level. It takes strength and certain level of confidence to be able to say, I am not perfect. No body is. It’s the ones who can admit that, pick themselves up and walk taller who go places in this world. Like I said before, you are doing amazing things (we see the photographer side, but the mom / wife side is probably just as awesome!).

  11. Leah, you are awesome and you are not alone. Unfortunately I don’t have enough time to elaborate (the reason I don’t comment most of the time). But I want you to know that I read your blog religiously and I, too, put too much pressure on feedback from others to fuel my validation/motivation. I feel like it is my dirty little secret, but there, now it’s out! Keep up the great work. Please ๐Ÿ™‚ I have faith that we will all find the balance if we keep trying for it…

  12. Maggie says:

    Leah and the rest of you girls, I can totally relate. You’re not alone!!

    In fact, that was part of the reason I scheduled a phone consult with Leah. I just felt so overwhelmed with my business and my life in general. Didn’t know who I was or where I was going. I’m still a work in progress.

    I am another job that I do from home (magazine publishing, writing, designing) in addition to my portrait photography business. Plus, I help my family with our family business, raising registered cattle. We have three small children, 7, 4 and 21 months. Life is busy! I stay up until 1 and 2 in the morning most nights in order to finish what I didn’t get done during the day. My husband recently said he was starting to resent my photography business. Not the support I needed, but it made me realize something has to change.

    I want to be superwoman too, be there for my husband adn kids, volunteer at school and in my church, have time for family and friends, keep a nice home, and on, and on….

    One thing that has helped is finding flylady.net. Another photographer pointed me there. It’s a great resource and it’s helping me get routines in place for the house, etc. I’m still working on it. It’s very encouraging and the premise is we have to stop thinking about being or making everything perfect. I also am trying to go to bed on time. I know my husband has noticed some changes, and he is also stepping up to help where needed. I have to remind myself every day of what’s important and to keep trying to create balance.

    Besides my home and personal duties, I have two newsletters, four sessions to edit and three albums to design. One child is in school, one is sleeping, but our middle is clamouring for attention at this very moment! I feel guilty when I’m working and not spending time with family, but also feel guilty when I’m not working. Ugh!

    I know I have to find balance for me and my family. Hopefully, we’ll find some sort of support among other photographers on here.

    God bless you Leah and the rest of you! I hate to see others going through this chaos too; let’s help each other if we can!

    • Leah Remillet says:

      “I feel guilty when Iโ€™m working and not spending time with family, but also feel guilty when Iโ€™m not working. Ugh!” Way to many of us know this all to well! I had such a great time chatting with you and have been working hard at all we talked about so that we can keep each other accountable! Thanks Maggie!

      • Maggie says:

        Thanks Leah! I hope to chat again soon. I loved post no. 2. Sounds like you have started some great
        habits to help. We need to catch up with each other. I definitely need that accountability!

  13. You took the words straight out of my mouth! I’ve been the same way, going to bed at 4am, my kids waking me just a few hours later. My laundry piled up in my living room, the dishes high in the sink, on top of all that we just moved in 2 weeks ago and there are boxes everywhere. I started to set myself a “bed time” of midnight, but the earliest I could ever do was 2 am. My brain just does not function with such a little amount of sleep. Finally when we moved, I didn’t have access to the internet and so my constant late nights of researching photography stopped. I felt a temporary relief. Now it’s back on and I’m already starting to creep back up. Although I have no material things together, I have my kids, and a great husband, so if that’s all I have to complain about, then I’m pretty well off! I’m so glad I found your blog, I started reading maybe 2 or 3 months ago and when I don’t have much time, it’s one I always make sure to read. Thank you for being honest! As women we just. can’t. do. it. all. As much as we’d like to think so! ๐Ÿ™‚ BTW I live 4.5 hours away in Medford, yay Oregon! ๐Ÿ™‚

  14. Morgan says:

    Leah, you are amazing. I think that most people are going through this. I know that I am. Last week was one of those weeks that ended up with me in my office chair, 3 am, and sobbing. Just because I had hit the realization that I couldn’t do it all, be all, and want all. I really have had to make a list of all the things that are important to me and focus on a few at a time. I am excited to hear your thoughts. Once again you are talking about something that I need to hear!

    • Leah Remillet says:

      Morgan… I’m telling you, you just need to email me a list of what you’re going through and thinking about so I’ll have topics to discuss! ๐Ÿ™‚

  15. Angela says:

    I am so glad you posted this. I woke up teary this morning wondering how I would make it through this month!! Before photography my house was clean and organized and I made weekly meal menus and the laundry was always got up. Sigh. I LOVE this job but I do hate how it can become all consuming. I’m trying to have better balance by taking fewer sessions (I’ve actually been saying ‘no’ to new inquiries for this month) and trying to schedule my time better but it’s hard to get things done when you have a almost-terrible-two-year-old who you can’t let leave your sight. I have only two hours during the day to work (while she is napping) and what do you do with that precious two hours? Clean house? wash clothes? answer emails? Edit? Phone calls? packaging? Orders? Practice my music for worship rehearsal at church? AHHHHHH!!
    So, after reading all the comments above it is nice to know that we are not all alone….that there are others struggling to have it all together and find the proper balance as well. Hugs to all of you!!!!
    Love you Leah!!

    • Leah Remillet says:

      Thanks Angela! You always make me feel good and I love hearing you’re on the same page as me… Tears for tonight and smiles for a happier tomorrow!
      Love you too! <3

  16. Angela says:

    Oh and as far as people commenting on blogs…I don’t get very many comments (I am super thankful for the support of those that do!!!!) but I have thousands of hits. I am running a contest right now on my blog to up the action. Let’s see if it works! : )

    • Leah Remillet says:

      Oh I know you have quite a following… If not from all the Go{4}Pro stalkers! We all need to go leave Angela a comment!
      xoxox

  17. Rachel says:

    Thank you for this post. It was exactly what I needed to hear tonight. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

  18. Megan says:

    You mean I’m not the only one that feels like I don’t have it all together? whew! Sometimes in the midst of my late night editing I think “I should send Leah a message to know she’s not alone” or “I bet Leah’s awake right now. I could use some of her double-stuffed oreos.” ๐Ÿ™‚ But seriously, I am right there with you! There are so many times (especially when I start to compare myself to others) that I start to doubt – Is this all worth it? Am I good enough? But in the end, I know those are all lies. My heart says otherwise. and so I go with my heart. But its definitely not easy. Just today another photog friend asked how I was holding up. My answer: “Busy!! Stressed but Grateful”

    I think we will always be searching for the balance…and just like you stated earlier when you went from Hawaii to Oregon – the balance changed. It always will. Some seasons will be busier than others. Sometimes I’ll hit my goals. Sometimes I won’t. Our kids grow and change causing our schedules to change with it. Right now I’m able to get in 1.5-2 hours of work while my little one sleeps…someday he won’t be taking that nap! And noticed I said little ONE – what happens when there’s more kids!!

    And then there are the photos of my own child! Here I am, my main reason for being a photographer – to capture moments in life. and yet I’ve noticed the busier I get the less photos I catch of him! I could go on forever – the laundry, the dishes, the grocery shopping…there will always be a list of “todo’s”. always. I just take one day at a time. And I fail. a lot. In fact, I’m going on day 3 of no grocery shopping – my fridge hasn’t been this empty since college! ๐Ÿ™‚ oops.

    …and I’m pretty sure not even Martha could keep up with everything you do (and do it well!) She doesn’t have kids to entertain and hires a staff for everything else ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Leah Remillet says:

      I did the fridge so empty since college last month… It took 6 days!

      And thanks for your Martha comment! ๐Ÿ™‚ You are such a sweet heart… Oh and I love the update self pic! ๐Ÿ™‚ Made my heart happy!

  19. Kelli France says:

    Leah,

    LOVE this post. Could’ve written it word. for. word. Can’t wait for our phone chat!

    • Leah Remillet says:

      Kelli!!?! I am tickled pink to see your comment! Me too, I’m so excited! What kind of hot chocolate are you gonna make?

  20. kristi says:

    Just stopping by, early this morning while I have a minute, to thank you for this post. I can totally relate on so many levels and in so many of your faithful reader’s comments. I told a friend just last week that I am doing so many wonderful things and wearing so many hats that I’m not sure I’m doing any of them well. God blessed me with my brand new photography business this summer, we launced Kiki’s Corner Photography together on August 1st. What a wonderful blessing it has been and continues to be. I love my new adventure with Him. I am also a wife of 20 years and a mom to two incredible daughters, Rachel is a senior in high school this year {sob!} and Hannah is in 8th grade, and I am a high school teacher as well, active in our church teaching in chidlren’s ministry, etc. LIfe is busy, but God is good. I’m thankful that in our weakness He is strong and a verse that I claim often, is “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Phil 4:13.

    I was feeling a little exhausted yesterday, after a precious newborn photo shoot (pics on my blog http://www.kristi-kikiscorner.blogspot.com) and a full day of teaching when I received a precious gift in the mail from a new client. She thanked me for being so tenderhearted with her children on their photo shoot and sent one of my favorite Gold Canyon candles and a Starbucks gift card….2 of my favorite things. I was overwhelmed with grattitude to the Lord. What a blessing of encouragement that gift was to me yesterday.

    Thank you for being so transparent and honest. I adore you and your blog and your ministry to all of us. You are a blessings.

    Speaking of blessings, this is totally off-subject, but in only 22 days we will celebrated the day, exactly one year ago on November 24, that our oldest daughter, Rachel, had brain surgery. It was the day the Lord completely healed her. Oh, I will never stop praising Him for His mercy and Grace!!!!

    • Leah Remillet says:

      Thank you Kristi for your encouragement and sharing your trial and faith. Philip 4:13 is the first verse I ever memorized as a small child and my favorite verse for my whole life. And because you shared a trial and blessing with me, I will share a blessing with you. My childhood was hard, very hard and it was physically very painful. As a child, I use to whisper and cry those words when the pain felt more that I could bare and I was curled in a ball trying to protect myself…. But out of adversity comes strength and the ability (if we believe in it) to be better than the world would think our circumstances should allow for. More than anything I believe in being a survivor and never a victim. When you understand that part of me, I think everything else makes more sense about me. It’s in all my trials (and no one could ever even fathom some of what I had to endure) that I was able to become the way I am… Not perfect but very happy to be me!

      Thank you for sharing! ๐Ÿ™‚

  21. Amy says:

    Reading this post and ALL the comments confirms what I have thought for a while โ€œI canโ€™t be alone”. Leah, I dare say that 98% of photographers would NEVER admit to any of this on their own, let alone blog about it. Go{4}Pro provides a space for people to connect with others who are in the same boat. It can be easy to forget that the ones behind blogs, perfect images, and savvy business ideas are PEOPLE. We are all people with priorities, conflicting schedules, flaws, and on top of all that we still need to figure out what to make for supper! Thank you so much for this blog, we all appreciate the heart and soul you pour into it more than you could probably imagine. ๐Ÿ™‚

  22. Jolene says:

    Leah~ YOU~ are not alone!! I have and DO feel this way many a’nights! I started photography because it is a dream/passion and it was an outlet for me when my youngest brother passed away suddenly it was my way of givening back to families but sometimes I get so frustrated and feel like I am that FAILURE as a photographer, wife, mother and to my brother as a sister! I also work a full time job so I am not getting the business I want or do I have the time during the day to market myself (I am at my job now)…

    Leah, you are doing awesome!! This blog is an inspiration to me! Thank you for all of your hard work! My husband tells me I may think I am Super Woman but sometimes I need to sit back and BREATHE… Look at how many of us you have touched, and inspire you are truly an inspiration! ;0)

    • Leah Remillet says:

      Ha! My hubby always says, ‘I know you think you’re invincible… but you’re not’ And my response? “Pahhhh…. Oh yes I am!” I like to keep the mindset of a 7 year old when ever I can, it’s good for the psyche. ๐Ÿ™‚

  23. Amanda says:

    Reading this post I could feel the tears start to well up in my eyes. Knowing I’m not alone with feeling this way: doing something that I love to do (photography), staying home with my beautiful children and still feeling this terrible. Which in turn, means you’re not alone either. Thank you for putting yourself out there and posting about doing it all. Sometimes I feel like saying it myself makes me a failure because I am supposed to just do it all, all of the time. (Even though I am sure I am the only one that expects that.) So, thank you for saying it for me, and for so many others. You make it seem like it will all be okay.

    Loved your steps. There are a few that I think I will be putting into action right away. (List at night, earlier to rise, and the chats with God, I think it has been awhile.)

    THANK YOU, again!

  24. Ileia says:

    I am going to read the second part of this post in a second and will probably comment there as well, but I just wanted to add a big huge THANK YOU for sharing this part of yourself with us. It makes me adore you all the more!!!!

  25. Carrie says:

    Wow! I got to this two part post a bit late…think I’ll really comment on part II, but yes, I ditto, love and take comfort in everything everyone has shared! THANK YOU!!!

  26. Misti says:

    Wow, thank you for opening up your heart on this matter. I find myself perpetually in this “doing it all” mindset. So much so I bought Christine Caine’s book “Can I Have and Do It All, Please?” for a Christian perspective and was a little disappointed to realize that it didn’t have an easy answer.

    I’ve reached the end of the rope and realized that I just have to fall back on Christ & His grace and let some stuff go, but WHAT? Wife, pastor’s wife, mommy, high school English teacher (part time), photographer (part time), I love to work on my home (clean, organize) and cook, excercise…deep breath.

    Your post is a gift to my heart – thank you for being vulnerable to post it ๐Ÿ™‚

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