#13: Finding “My Spark” again
44 Things That Spark Joy a.k.a. Sh*t That Makes Me Happy:
#13: Finding “My Spark” again
I decided in my 44th year and in light of the fact that we are all (still) looking for things to spark joy in our lives to gather 44 things I’ve found along the way this past year and share them.
I 100% believe that everything happens in our lives for a reason and timing is everything. I intended to do a professional photo shoot when I turned 40 four years ago for my self imposed #40for40in40 challenge. It was the only thing on my list that I didn’t fully complete. I thought after I hit 41 I would find the time during that year but I didn’t. Life got in the way as it often does. I was busy with the kids, a remodel on our house, etc, etc, etc. Then the pandemic hit and well you know the story from there. We all had our lives put on hold. We all didn’t look or feel our best for over a year and we were all trapped in isolation. I was getting ready to turn 44 this past spring and I thought well I’m certainly not going to get any better or younger. Can I reverse the signs of the last year? Can I get my spark back?
Four days after my 44th birthday I not only continued using my beloved Beachbody app daily workout routine that I have come to love but I decided to add something new to my fitness regimen. I had heard about the 75 Hard Challenge and decided to incorporate elements of that challenge to what I was already doing. I did not follow it in its original form but made it my own. I mean for Pete’s sake a cold shower every day? Are you kidding me? Some days a hot shower is all I get so I said forget that. Being a parent already challenged my mental and physical toughness so let’s not go overboard. I did however do the two 45 minute workouts a day. The second one being outside. I drank 100oz of water a day. I followed a healthy eating plan. I tried to either read, write, create or do something enriching to feed my soul daily. Did I hit the mark every single day? No! But I tried. And when the 75 days ran out, I added 15 additional days… making up for the days I missed my second workout and finishing it out strong the morning of the photo shoot I had scheduled. I wanted to see it through to the very end… the big day.
Then, I sought out the perfect photographer. It took a lot of research to find the style and setting of the photos I was looking for. I also wanted to find someone that would take a variety of photo types. I wanted to feel glamorous but also like myself. I wanted to feel comfortable but also challenged. I wanted some in high fashion, head shots for social media and career related use but also… dare I admit it… boudoir… eek! I wanted them all to be classy. Tasteful. No pearls in the mouth circa 1980s. No Fredricks of Hollywood. Not naked in a field or on the back of a horse (I mean more power to those of you that want that but it isn’t me.) All photos I would be proud if now and in the future. If I was going to spend 75+ days getting up at the crack of 5:00am to work out, rage walk around the block in the rain, heat and other various wacky weather we have had, eating sensibly, practice portion control and count carbs, and ration my delicious homemade baked goods to myself - then dammit I wanted to feel like Jennifer Aniston, Claudia Schiffer at the height of her modeling career, and a Victoria’s Secret model all rolled into one on the day of my photo shoot.
I found Cate Blanshan. Wife. Mom. Budding photographer. She’s just started doing boudoir photography for other women just two years ago. This is her side hustle as she has a whole other professional career four days a week. I found her website and in the home page it said “xoxo…get it girl.” Her mantra was perfect. That was it. I had found my photographer. That’s exactly what I wanted to do. Get it.
Then I planned. I shopped. I sought out the perfect hair and makeup artist. And I worked, and worked and worked. Hard. I lifted all the weights, I bounced around during cardio, I threw boxing jabs, I contorted into yoga poses, I held the Pilates positions and when that was all done I foam rolled and stretched. I was getting it. Just for me. After 90 days of really hard work the big day arrived.
The day of the shoot went by in a blur and by the end I was tired, hungry, and mentally spent. I joked with a few people immediately after that I was not cut out to be a super model because it truly was harder than it looks. But when I was in it… damn was it magical and so much fun. Mission accomplished.
So here they are…some of my photos…all over my blog. There are many, many others which I won’t share online but I’m proud of all of them. If they ever got the leaked to the internet I wouldn’t be ashamed. Plus I don’t intend to run for office ever. I feel like they captured me but that I also maintained my integrity, my standards, and were steered by my moral compass.
I know that I did everything I could to look and feel my best for this. Even on the days I was stress eating, missing a workout, having too much dessert, or just treating myself… I thought well this is life. Sh*t happens. Pick yourself back up Cara and forge ahead. We are all just managing. That’s all we can do most days.
So get out there and get it. Find your spark again. I did and it feels fantastic.
Photo Credits: @cateblanshanboudoir
Hair and Makeup Credits: @sharellkatelynn