I remember sitting at Subway with my twin sister, Beth, on an August evening in 2011. We were on a road trip home to see my parents, having just spent our last summer within the gates of a Christian sports camp that had been a huge part of our lives. I’d been working full-time for them and she had been working for a sister ministry, allowing her to work in the summers. As I sat across from her, I began to speak once again about my passion for photography and how I dreamt of doing it full-time. Those statements, however, were shortly followed by words of fear and apprehension at the thought of doing something so bold. “I just couldn’t do it. What if it failed?” Being the perfectionist that I am, failure sounded like a dreaded end to a dream that I’d had for what seemed like forever. I remember her looking me in the eye and saying, “Mary, if you want to do it, you should just do it. If you fail, you fail. At least you tried and went for what you want.”
It’s funny, but it was in that Subway booth…somewhere between Missouri and Texas…that I officially decided to start my own photography business. Of all places. Sure, the conversation had started long before that in my mind and with other people. I had been mulling it over for years and a series of experiences with photography itself helped bring me to that point. The decision itself though, was made in my mind in a booth at a sandwich shop in the middle of nowhere. All because someone wouldn’t let me live in fear but reminded me that you don’t get anything if you don’t try. Ever since I was a little girl, my parents have been teaching me the importance of ‘broadening my horizons’ and learning the power of taking risks. I am thankful that has been woven in to me from the beginning. While I’m sure I will take many more risks, and possibly larger ones, in the future, I am so thankful that I took this one. It is has been a wild ride thus far and though it hasn’t been perfectly smooth, it has been worth every minute. I’m so thankful for people who push me to take risks and go for the things that I want…even in the face of failure.
To all of you out there that are considering making a big change or taking a serious risk, I can’t tell you to do it because I don’t know that circumstances. However, I can tell you not to let fear of failure be the thing that keeps you from going after your what you want.
So, In the Name of Subway sandwiches, twin sisters who push you and going after what you want,
I Say, Take Me Back!
(This picture was what inspired today’s post. I was editing last weekend’s wedding and came across this. It may seem silly, but I love the commitment in this photo and it reminded me to passionately pursue what you want!)
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