Making Time for Yourself

Thought I would take the time out this month to have a bit of a reset. The last few years have been pretty full on with running a couple different businesses at the same time and wearing a few different hats day to day. I recently sold a massage practice I had been running for about 5 years here in Dunedin, this was a stepping stone for me to jump into full time photography and helped sustain me while I steadily built my client base for photography. This year I got an offer on my practice and also felt ready to make the leap into a full time photography career. It's all happened so fast and in the midst of it all, I've wound up enrolled in a diploma course to become a SCUBA Dive Instructor with a specialty in Underwater Photography. I guess I like to be busy! At the end of the day, I feel like I'm living my best life and really making my dreams a reality. It's hard work, but man it it worth it :)

That said, I needed a break! April is my birthday month and I sort of spontaneously decided to take the majority of this month off and head out on the road. My partner and I road tripped from Auckland all the way down to Dunedin for a couple weeks, spent some down time in Dunedin and did some hikes along the beach and diving over the Easter break in beautiful spots I had never been up in Karitane. Our adventures took us on the road again heading over to Paradise to meet up with our best mates for a wee birthday surprise and a bit of work with me taking a couple on a little adventure engagement shoot :)

It's been an amazing month of exploring New Zealand and having a bit of time to myself and loved ones. A reminder that it's important to take time out for ourselves. Albeit, maybe we can't take a whole month out all the time... But at least a few days to find that balance and appreciate the life you have you before you. Gratitude is everything and I'm very grateful for the beautiful souls in my life and the place I live.... New Zealand you are a gem.

Enjoy the little photo story of April's adventures.