HELLO DARLIN.

NICE TO SEE YA.



If you sang this line, we will get along juuuuuust fine. Thanks so much for taking the time to visit! Allow me to introduce myself, and attempt to summarize what it is that I’m doing here in the Blogosphere. (Key word is attempt. Those of you who know me know that I tend to write short novels for e-mails and my voice mails more closely resemble Shakespearian soliloquies than “call me backs.”) Runs in the family. Alas, that is I. Who am I you ask? Kathy… a not so typical Photographer. Greeting card business enthusiast. Multi-passionate entrepreneur. Idea girl. Dreamer. Lover of life. Happy. Most days my brain is racing so fast with ideas and things I want to do, that I feel I’m too passionate for my own good. Who am I not? Perfectly organized. A fantastic housekeeper or gardener. My shoe collection would make Carrie Bradshaw cringe, and I get more excited about a good vintage score at Frenchy’s than I ever would about a Prada purse. Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate a fine set of heels like the next girl, but I just don't believe we have to spend the family fortune to look put together. I’m a pretty simple gal who believes there is a time and a place for everything. Including but not limited to: gummy bears, boxed wine, Zoodles, Mr. Noodles and occasionally (okay... very occasionally) Beefaroni. There, I said it, and frankly it feels quite good to get it off my chest. So it's no secret that I am fairly passionate, and put a lot of heart and soul into the things that inspire me. That means in business and in life because I feel like the two are really intertwined anyway - "How you do anything is how you do everything!" I believe that Confucius was right when he said "Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it". I have realized over time that I can't help but see beauty. It is a problem at times. (Forget texting and driving, one shouldn't be permitted to "see beauty", or potential photo session locations for that matter, while driving.) I digress. When beauty jumps out of the world at you, it is easy to become passionate about photography - for me, it is a way to relay to others the beauty that I see in my minds eye. Life is short, this we all know. We are meant to enjoy it, appreciating and celebrating those who are important to us, in this lifetime. This blog is an immediate outlet for me to express and humour myself (and those who stumble by) attach sneak peeks of the happenings here at Legacy Junction Studios, offer fun contests and specials, and chronicle what’s going on in my crazy world. Feel free to sniff around - just promise not to laugh at my wordiness, okay? I truly can't resist! If you know me, you KNOW that is true! (To thine own self be true, no?) Thanks so much for stopping by. I’m so humbled and flattered that you’ve visited and would love to know! You’re welcome and encouraged to leave comments, and say hello!

Happy New Year, one and all!  Isn't it glorious that with the clean slate of a new year, we all have the opportunity to take stock of various aspects of our businesses and lives?  It's the perfect time to take a good, hard look at where we are, where we've been but most importantly where we are headed!  What is working, what isn't, what do we need to focus or work harder on, is it time to let something go, and on and on and ON it goes.  In my opinion, we should be changing, growing and improving each and every year, so it's not only important but essential to re-evaluate virtually everything as you head into a new year.  Not only does it make good business sense, but there is just something about doing it at the beginning of a year that is therapeutic, energizing and inspiring!  I tend to take as much time as I can with this, as that is what resonates with my soul, and I suggest that you try to take some time too -- you owe it to yourself.  Sometimes we get so caught up in the frenzy of life, racing to whatever is "next" that we neglect to take a step back to decipher what it is that we really, truly desire in the first place. Subsequently, we soon find ourselves at the end of yet another year and we are disappointed.  We aren't where we thought we'd be, where we wanted to be, because frankly we didn't slow down long enough to think about what that even WAS.  It's not rocket science.  If we don't define what it is that we want, how can we possibly achieve it?  Clearly defined goals lead to actualized dreams.  Don't get me wrong, you can't micro manage an entire year in January as there are many twists and turns awaiting that you simply can't predict, but you can certainly devote some time and attention.  While 2013 was a fantastic year with so many great moments, experiences, and opportunities, it was also an unsettled and transitional one.  Moving a few times, shuffling stuff in and out of storage lockers, trying to get situated in an entirely new city - well - if I'm being completely honest, it was a bit overwhelming.  Super exciting, a welcome change, and chock full of awesome, but trying at times. One thing that is sometimes easier said than done, is trusting the ebb and flow of the universe.  Personally I am striving to forever be moving forward, but in a fashion that does not involve putting too much pressure on myself, trusting that everything happens for a reason and in it's due time -- and that when something is for you -- it won't pass you by.  I feel that for me, 2015 screams implementation, follow through, and flourishing.  What about you?

We have barely opened the floodgates to the new year, but I already feel so many abundant blessings, beautiful people, and unlimited opportunities flowing in my direction.  For that, I am so grateful, and I know it's only the beginning of a wild ride.  I'm feeling ready!  So many half or three-quarters complete projects, it's time to get those puppies out there into the world.  Implement.  Follow through.  Flourish.  You may have heard of the concept of choosing a guiding word for the year.  This is something I was introduced to by my Halifax Mastermind group, and I've participated in it for the last few years as it felt worthwhile.  I am certain there are many opinions and instructions out there on how to go about choosing your guiding word, but I keep it really simple for me.  What do I NEED most, or what do I most NEED TO DO in the year ahead.  The hope is that when you are feeling overwhelmed, off track or out of alignment -- your word will act as a lighthouse of sorts, guiding you back to your own intention.  Perhaps it will keep you from veering off course in the first place.  In previous years when I was told about the concept of a "guiding word" my initial instinct was to choose a word like love, faith, truth, kindness, gratitude - the kinds of things I am naturally drawn and attracted to.  Things I wanted my year to be focused and guided by.  But a dear friend pointed out that those were natural for me, I already had them.  I should consider leaning more towards something that was a bit more of a stretch, outside the comfort zone, something that I needed or needed to do.  Not something that I already had or was. 

In 2013, I eventually settled on SHARE.  It was on the heels of a challenging year for me, one that had me essentially hiding from the world - but one that had been filled with growth - and what I felt I most needed to bounce back was to share more.  More of myself, my heart, thoughts, words, ideas, plans... and beyond.  My natural instinct and comfort zone was (is really) to avoid the limelight in every way possible, and I have missed opportunities because of it. It was Max Dupree who said: "We cannot become what we need to be, by remaining what we are."  Being a passionate entrepreneur with big vision (something that bubbled up exponentially in that difficult year) a yearning for authenticity and the desire to make a massive difference -- there was simply no room for hiding and shrinking here. If to share was what I needed, share I would.  2014 was VULNERABLE - to essentially strive to embrace everything that made me feel vulnerable.  I knew it was the right word, as even choosing the word itself made me feel vulnerable, and initially I quite resisted it.  Brene Brown has a brilliant Ted Talk on The Power of Vulnerability which I highly recommend that everyone take the time to watch.  In it, she details a conversation that she had with her therapist about her own personal battle with embracing vulnerability: "... I know that vulnerability is kind of the core of shame and fear and our struggle for worthiness, but it appears that it is also the birthplace of joy, of creativity, of belonging, of love... "  Let's just say that there were many concepts in her talk that resonated, and I knew that had to be my word for 2013.  Truth be told, I could write a short novel on each of these words and why they are important (and perhaps I will dedicate a blog post to this in the future.)  This year, I'm cheating a bit and choosing two words simply because I couldn't narrow it down.  Two things that I didn't do as much as I would have liked in the previous year due to the all-over-the-map nature of it, but two things that set my soul on fire when I do them.  In Brene's vulnerability talk she also states that: "Connection is why we are here.  It's what gives purpose and meaning to our lives, this is what it's all about."  So as I trudge forth into 2015, I plan to carry my previous guiding words with me, and will strive to continue sharing.  To embrace vulnerability.  But this is the year to: CONNECT + CREATE.  That's what I am feeling the need for more than anything, so that's what I'm going to do!  So, what about you.  Do you choose a word of the year?  If so, what is it!?  Why did you choose it?  Happy New Year, dear friends! Make it count.



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