2010

Dear {future} Elizabeth,

Hello, love. I hope this note finds you well and happy in 2021. You have a 12 year old, 9 year old and 7 year old now. Wow…as the cliche saying goes, where has the time gone? When I sat down to write this letter to you, it seemed like having children that old was still a lifetime away. But even back then, I knew that you understood how fast it does indeed pass by. I hope, by now, you have a bit of a better handle on the whole work/life balance conundrum. And if you haven’t gotten to a point of perfection in that area yet, my hope is that you do know deep down in your soul that the “life” portion of the balance should be your first and foremost priority.

I don’t know if you remember, but back in 2016 you took a critical look at the commitments you had and intentionally arranged your time to benefit your family. Remember that? Do you remember how wonderful it felt to be present with your family and not constantly feel the pull of other things vying for your attention? If you have lost sight of that, sit back and remember how vital it is to invest in those around you (as well as in yourself).

I, also, hope that over the last 5 years, you have found ways to maintain your love of photography. I hope that your love for this art form has grown in ways that you weren’t expecting. It’s so nice when life takes you by the hand and introduces you to new things. I hope you are still shooting images that make you happy and that sincerely make you feel excited. I hope you have continued to push yourself out of your comfort zone and have embraced new opportunities that have been presented to you.

I hope you take deep breathes daily and still focus on the “kairos” moments that present themselves to you throughout the day. I hope you still know that at the end of the day, I think you are valuable. Sometimes I think you are too hard on yourself and I hope that you have eased up a bit on the expectations you hold for yourself over the past five years. However, I also know that your goal of near perfection for your work is what has lead to your growth. Be gracious towards yourself, though. You have a lot on your plate now and grace towards yourself is needed and appreciated by your soul.

Continue pushing yourself. Do not strive for monotony. Know that you are capable of fulfilling whatever it is that speaks to your soul. You may be older, saggier and less hip (ha!) – but you also have the knowledge that comes with maturity to know that, at the end of the day, your own soul is filled when you live a life filled with kindness, patience and grace…not only towards others around you, but towards yourself, as well.

Keep moving forward, dear self. Slow and steady wins the race. You’ve got this.

Love,
Your Younger, Perkier self😉

About the photographer:

Elizabeth Blank is a newborn, child and family photographer who resides just outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and three kids. Over the course of the last five years, her love of photography has evolved from a small hobby to a flourishing business. In addition to her portrait business, Elizabeth has also been able to utilize her background in education by teaching others how to get the results they desire from their DSLRs. Today, she thrives on being a spirited multi-tasker who is so thankful she is able to capture fleeting, treasured moments in a clean, authentic way not only for herself, but for other families, as well!

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