that's a wrap!
It is so difficult to put 2023 into words. 2023 was not supposed to actually happen with SJC.
In 2021, I had a punch to the gut (metaphorically speaking), that stripped any and all of my professional confidence. I had absolutely no faith in myself or the business I had spent over a decade building, and I didn't know what to do. After riding the struggle bus for 2022, I made a very rash decision in December 2022 and I announced I was closing SJC. Only to go back on my word a couple months later.
I have never been so grateful for hypocrisy. I opened back up, still unsure if I had what it takes to continue, but slowly people started emailing, and texting, and I was putting myself out there and introducing myself to others (professionally) again. With each kind inquiry, and gentle soul that came forward to book me, my confidence started to build up again, pixel by pixel, image by image.
I'm sitting here at my computer, it's 10:00pm, and I just finished emailing my second wedding inquiry that was sent to me this week. You absolute gems. The excitement that I get when I receive a new inquiry, it's like it's my first client all over again. I giggle and smile at my phone. The simple thought that someone else thinks of me, to capture them and their loved ones is overwhelming. Especially since I am terrible at marketing myself. I just want to put funny memes on my Instagram Stories and hope people jive with my humour.
There is still a full 24 hours left in 2023, and I know already it's going to be a great cap to the year, because I already have so much to look forward to in 2024.
Cheers to every single one of you who have liked a post, shared a post, commented, messaged me, recommended me.... You have absolutely no idea how much some of these small, seemingly unimportant things mean so much to me.
And to those of you who I have had the pleasure in working with - all of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I never thought SJC could be what it is now, and I know it's only going to get better.
Cheers to love, humour, and grace on getting us through the mud, and to the big and small victories for keeping us going.
Much love and health to you all in 2024.
Your friend,
Sare
PS - to all my "skating girls" who got engaged in the past year - while my memories of you are mostly from when you were all little, twirling around on the ice (usually being unknowingly hilarious), congrats on growing up to be amazing, wonderful women, and living out your own dreams.