On Display

I just shared with a photog friend on Twitter that I feel like a second-grader :: so excited and nervous to share this with all of you.

This past Friday I signed the lease on a new beautiful window display at the shopping center near our home. And I’ll be honest – signing my life away (for the next year at least) is a little nerve-wracking. And it brought back some of the feelings I had before meeting with my business coaches for the first time. What will people think? Am I worthy of doing this?

Because I feel like, in a little way, I’m putting myself, my work, and my pride out there, visible for everyone to see. Every one of those images that is in that window reflects on me and my art. And a piece of the moment in which they were created. It’s like I may as well be standing there naked. (But thank goodness I’m not. Whew…)

Which brings me back to my wise coaches. Through their insight, practices and encouragement, I finally saw for myself what others have seen in me. And within the same timeframe, I discovered this opportunity was before my very eyes, something that I had long been waiting quietly for. The door had opened. The combination of realizing that I want nothing more in this business than to create beautiful art for my clients and that I am totally, absolutely worthy of doing so :: well, it lifts my spirit to a whole new level of defining who I am as a businesswoman, artist, and photographer. And with it, a renewed confidence in the ability to be seen and heard.

I digress. (a little.) Which brings me all the way back to this big, beautiful window display. It’s positioned among some of the most-traveled stores in the mall. Here’s a little peek (and I apologize, the glare and lighting aren’t perfect. But you get the idea.) ::