On this Past Year…

As I sit here at 3 in the morning, I can’t believe that we are are hours into the last day of 2014 already. I’ve read a lot of insights lately from various inspirational people I follow, and many have commented that the older we get, the faster time seems to fly by. And in all honesty, I couldn’t agree more.

This past year has been such a challenge on a personal level, where some months just felt like I was life’s punching bag. The struggles were often just draining and upon getting home from the 9 to 5 job, I’d just crash from the exhaustion of it all. My house was a mess, with tumble weeds of dog hair floating by most days when I’d walk through the door. Late nights where I slept only 3-4 hours on average were the norm and spending time with friends and family was something that did not happen quite often. Not going to lie, there were times that even though I was booked solid, I felt like I was failing on so many levels! However, one of the biggest things I learned this year was to give myself GRACE…I am one woman and I need to set limits for myself, because no matter who I think I am ha ha ha, I really truly can NOT do it all.

Last year in December, I chose FOCUS as my word for the year.  I plastered sticky notes on the wall by my bedside, so when I’d sit up in the morning, those quotes about FOCUS were the first thing I’d see. Most days, I felt like I had little focus at all…feeling scattered…despite having an awesome Side Kick in Stephanie, the business aspects of Slice of Lime are a one woman show and I felt like I NEVER HAD ENOUGH TIME. Running a business ain’t easy…especially while still holding another full time job. However, not once did my resolve to nurture and grow Slice of Lime this year waver.

In reflecting on the past year, while I could’ve showed more focus in many areas, I feel that focusing all my energies on making connections and on Slice Seniors, was where my “word of the year” really did come to fruition. I couldn’t be more grateful and thankful for the connections I made with other local small businesses that truly allowed for Slice Seniors to grow into something more awesome than I could’ve imagined this year.

Making photographer friends and getting to spend time connecting with other creatives this year was just soul food for me this year. I attended a fabulous workshop hosted by Char & Co last May (which will eventually make it to this blog, I promise) and being in a cocoon of creativity like that for an entire day was more amazing for the soul than I can even begin to put into words. Until that blog post comes around, here’s a little glimpse into the awesome that was that workshop…

This year was great. So many wonderful things happened (which I have probably talked to death on Facebook, Instagram, and this blog too) but what was more awesome than anything else were the connections I made with all our Slice of Lime clients this year. I really feel blessed beyond measure to be chosen and trusted by people to create not only pretty pictures for them, but to take the time to get to know them, and do my best to give them a one of a kind experience where they feel taken care of and where they can be themselves and have a good time.

I learned so much this past year..about business, about myself, about people…and while I’m so so so tired…I am ecstatic about all the new things coming to Slice of Lime this year and can’t wait for all those things to begin to come to fruition. There’s a new website in the works, a new Slice Seniors Model program in the works, and a new guest blogger gig with Senior Lovin’ just to name a few.  There’s so much to look forward to in this coming year and I couldn’t be more grateful for the experiences, growth, and lessons that have been a part of 2014.

A million times thank you to each of you that have encouraged me along this journey. I’m eternally grateful. This video below is all about each of you!

Happy New Year, Friends! Keep Shining!

~Emil