I've posted on this before, although not in detail. A while back I went to a workshop. It feels silly to even call it that since it turned out to be so much more than that to me. But for lack of a better term, it was a workshop. It was actually called the Breathe Intensive. A brief background. I started following Natalie's blog several years ago. She's a photographer. She's a great writer. She's funny. And best of all, she's genuine and she's honest. While following her blog, Carter was born. 3 weeks after he was born, Natalie's 8 week old son died from Pertussis. (Quick plug--please get your pertussis vaccine. It expires from the one you got as a kid and you have to get it again. Save a baby. Get the shot). I remember reading her blog when he died. And I cried. Cried as I held my own 3 week baby in my arms. My 3 week baby who happened to be crying.
It sounds dramatic, but Natalie's blog played a HUGE role in my survival of the first several months of Carter's life. Because he cried. All. The. Time. And he didn't sleep. And I held him. And rocked him. And loved him. And I read Natalie's blog (often in the middle of the night). Gavin's death. Her pain. Her grief. And then, inspiringly, her strength to go on. And Carter cried. And cried. And cried. And I thought of Natalie. And her blog post where she wore her babies blanket around as a scarf one day. And how she was trying to lose baby weight but had no baby. And though my baby cried, at least he was still in my arms. And one day the crying would stop. And he'd still be here. And Gavin wouldn't. She saved my sanity. And may have saved Carter's life. :)
And then she introduced Breathe. And when I read it, I knew I had to be there. Had to be there. But I still wasn't doing much photography business since Carter's birth and there was no way I could afford it. And then she announced the Breathe scholarship. One person would get to come for free. I decided to enter not thinking in a million years I would get chosen. But I told her how her blog had helped me survive Carter's troubles. And how I felt with every fiber of my soul I needed to be there. Over 100 people applied. And yet, I won. And I don't think it was a fluke. God knew I needed to be there. And thankfully he told Natalie that (who is closer to God than anyone I know).
So I went. And this is the part I hate, because I can't adequately describe what it did to me. It changed me. Literally changed me. It may have been one of the most important decisions of my life. I am not one for dramatics. I honestly mean that.
The focus is on balancing business while still being a good wife and mother. But the part that had the biggest impact on my life was the focus on thriving at home. Being a better wife. Being a better mother. Being who I want to be and who I am meant to be.
Natalie is real. She's genuine. She's honest. She loves with all her heart. She stood tall after the death of her son and decided to turn it into something that could help people instead of something that destroyed her. I admire her more than I can express. Because she has every right to be bitter and angry and sad. But she's not. She made a choice to change people's lives. And she is. And I love her and her baby Gavin for that.
Natalie is doing another Breathe Intensive in Las Vegas on February 18th. Do yourself a favor and GO. Seriously. You won't regret it. Even if you don't own a business, it will make a huge impact on your life. She'll share her experience. She'll teach you. She'll make you think. She'll hold you accountable. And then she will continue to support you. I have contact with her almost weekly as she is completely invested in my life and my success as are the other women who were there. We communicate frequently and have our own little network of moms who want to raise amazing kids and run amazing business's. It's incredible. And life saving.
And she's cut the price in half. It's worth every penny. Actually worth a LOT more than she's charging.
So do what you have to do to find the money and the time. And sign up.
And just for fun here's some pictures of the latest beauty in our family. He's amazing. And time consuming. :)
