Here is the latest installment of Fame and Shame—a small peek into my life!

• Death & Illness: This year started out with a lot of grief for a lot of close friends, and friends of friends of mine and crept into my life as well. I’m ready for that to be over, please.
• Slow Business: Insanity is described as doing things over and over the same way but expecting different results. For some reason, the last six months have been the lowest of valleys for Ata-Girl in terms of actual business. I guess the first seven-and-a-half years of business went so phenomenally well, it was bound to happen, but even so, the slow down took me by complete surprise. It did teach me an important lesson though. Change gears. Pivot. Do things differently. Just because X, Y and Z have worked well for the last seven-and-a-half years, doesn’t mean they will always work. I did do something differently recently and it yielded great results! Lesson learned.
• Dark Clouds: There have been many dark clouds hanging over many of my friends’ heads lately. I would like nothing more than for these clouds to pass. I know life is filled with sad times and trying times and that for each joyous occasion, there is a challenging one. But it seems recently, there has been less to celebrate about. I want to see more celebration… more triumph… more good over evil.

• Optimism:  No matter what happens in my personal or professional life, I will always have my optimism. And as low and dark as 2017 started out, I knew it was temporary and that it was just a matter of time before things would be on the upswing again. No one can every take away my optimism. 
• Bullet Journaling: What started out as a mere curiosity after one of my brides shared a YouTube® video link on her Facebook® wall six months or so ago, I recently began bullet journaling. Not only does it keep me totally focused and completely task oriented, it is also an excellent excuse for my office supply fetish. I have to say that the few weeks I’ve been bullet journaling, I have been more productive than usual. Thank you, Kinna!!
• My Babies: My babies both have birthdays this month! Sierra just turned 25 yesterday and Kyanna will be 21 in four days! Hardly babies, right? I don’t know that I’ve done a lot of right things in my life, but I know, without a doubt, that I did these two things right. They are two of the most beautiful, caring, genuine, deeply loving, honest people I know. I can’t even believe that they are full-grown, legit ladies now. It seems just yesterday Sierra was asking me to “yip her yipper,” and Kyanna was sucking her forefinger and talking with a speech impediment so badly only a mother could understand. The three of us have been through a lot of different things that have strengthened our bonds and love for each other over the years. I hope we continue to be blessed in ways that allow us to spend many, many more years enjoying each other’s love, friendship and loyalty. We have lots more memories to make! I love these two girls with every fiber in my body, every fleeting thought of my mind and every pulse resulting from my beating heart! I love them more than glazed donuts! I love them honey bunches of oats!

Until next time, be positive, happy, healthy, and don’t forget to be photographed.

The post, Fame & Shame #24, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co.’s website and blog. Please feel free to comment here, or share this post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Please email me if you have any questions about this article or want to share a neat idea for a future blog post with me.