Yosemite Styled Adventure Session - What brings your soul happiness?
This past weekend I flew out to California to attend an Adventurers Workshop for elopement and adventure photography. It was one of the coolest experiences yet for me in the photography business. I have been wanting to head down the road of doing more Adventurous type of weddings and sessions. I dig the small intimate weddings. I think that because of my own wedding I am drawn to elopement weddings and adventure sessions especially on the west coast. I am definitely not knocking the big traditional weddings because I love a good party too but for me I connect so much to the small intimate type of weddings or elopements. This trip taught me a lot about myself and what sets my soul on fire even though it was just a short little trip it did so much for me.
Y’all, I about backed out of coming to this workshop. Not because I didn’t want to be here but my anxiety is so crippling at times. I had to be up at 3:45 that morning and I think I maybe slept 2 hrs. I love traveling by myself but this time was different, it felt like there was a million things that could go wrong. Traveling 4.5 hrs to a place I had never been to, driving through SF traffic, having to potentially use snow chains & knowing I wasn’t going to have a lick of service if I got lost on my way out to Yosemite. Not knowing a soul here I don't know why but it felt like I was walking into high school all over again.
iPhone snap
Flying out there I did a lot of thinking & I even finished a book. This is what I needed. I’ve been wanting to be a hermit lately. I’m a extroverted hermit more times than not y’all. I’ve needed to get outta my comfort zone & I'm glad I pushed past that stupid voice in my head telling me not to go.
By the way, if you are a book reader this book is fabulous and fit in perfectly with feeling the need to break out of my comfort zone. The book is called “The Untethered Soul.” Im gonna share, this paragraph stuck out to me — “There is no reason to get stressed out. There is no reason for blowing up or shutting down. If you do not let this energy build up inside you, but instead allow each moment as you would be on a stress free vacation. It is not life’s events that is causing problems or stress. It’s is your resistance to to life’s events that is causing this experience. Since the problem is caused by using your will to resist the reality of life passing through you, the solution is quite obvious — stop resisting.”
What I learned about myself during this trip is that traveling and explore is really what bring such happiness to my world. I am definitely one of those people who has a high need for uniqueness. Feeling stagnant in day to day stuff gets me where I am restless and anxious. Traveling and time alone is something that actually brings me a lot of happiness. If it feels uncomfortable or even scary within reason, you probably should explore it.
They're pretty much celebrities in my world considering they are living my dream life each day. Thank you Maddie + The Hearnes for putting on this workshop and making realize how completely possible it is to live this lifestyle. You have challenged me and you probably don't even realize it.
So with all that being said, I’ve started this new thing on Facebook where randomly I’m going to ask a question to Facebook. A question to challenge me to think a little more in depth each day and a question to challenge others to do the same. I’ve had really great feedback from my FB friends. After you browse through this blog I want to hear from you. In your life, what brings you pure happiness? From traveling, new food, family time, to helping a stranger, of even time alone. What brings your soul true genuine happiness? Feel free to comment on this FB post or my Instagram post. I want to hear and challenge you to reach for what might feel like is impossible and bring yourself happiness.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK - THE ADVENTURERS WORKSHOP
THE HEARNES + MADDIE MAE
Models: Hannah + Jason Sib-Lidd
Maddie Mae
The Hearnes
I'm glad I pushed past that little voice in my head telling me not to go. Why? Because I met a lot of really great people while on this trip. A lot of people with my same mindset.
Say hey to Jesse. She one of the many cool people I met on this trip.
And Jessica :) She from Canada.
Hannah + Jason killed it for this adventure vibe session. And yes that is someones hair in the right hand corner. It was a respectable madhouse taking pictures with 20 other photographers at the same time but so worth it.
And this is Abbi -- She is one of the three who put the workshop on. ^^^ She really rocks.
Traveling, learning, storytelling, + creating brings me happiness... So what about you?
INSTAGRAM @SYDNEYDAVIDSON_
