YOU SHOULD TAKE IT AS A COMPLIMENT | MONDAY MEMOS | MARYLAND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

YOU SHOULD TAKE IT AS A COMPLIMENT | MONDAY MEMOS | MARYLAND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Do you remember when you were in high school? You probably had a ton of educational responsibilities. Don’t miss practice, turn in your homework, and be sure to study for the big test. Yeah, remember exams? How about studying tirelessly for them?

When I was in school, I was a notorious note writer. I have always been a paper and pen kind of gal, but in school-this was the Batmobile to my super student hero. I had tons of notebooks filled with lessons (and let’s be honest… some doodles!). The great thing for me was that taking such notes always helped me retain the information. It was my best tool when preparing for examinations.

When test day came, I was rarely nervous. While I may have been an above average student, I still had to put a lot of effort into things. I was a year younger than my classmates (Florida allowed me to start school earlier, but I transferred to a school in WV in 2nd grade). This has become a theme in my life. Hustle to stay alongside your peers. Fit in. Stand out. Be enough.

High school is hard. It’s a time in life where the stakes seem so high, problems seem so big, and we are itching to prove ourselves to the world. That’s why on test day, it comes as no surprise that for each person who prepared… there is someone who did not. There will always be someone who cares less. There will always be someone who chooses copying your paper over studying. Whether they had a bad night at home or they chose laziness, they don’t mind swooping in and taking advantage of your hard work.

WHY IS ALL THIS RELEVANT?

Unfortunately, after high school… that doesn’t change much. You may not have to prepare for a test in school, but life will present you will all types of challenges. I still get up and write notes, my ideas, DOODLES, and more. I’ll still prepare myself for what’s next, always hoping to create something new or expand on something old. More so, I still get a little nervous before I present my knowledge to the world. After all, we are still graded in how others accept our ideas or support us.

While I continue to nurture those habits, there are others in the world who will nurture theirs. They are taking note from the movers and shakers, they are replicating success, and they are copying the notes of life without ever saying thank you. They are receiving the same praise as we are, for the things we carefully brought into existence. When once we could tell a teacher, what do we do with this frustration in the real world?

First and foremost, remember… “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”

TIPS FOR DEALING WITH “CHEATED” FEELS:

1. Realize that it’s not personal. Most people don’t realize the impact of what they are doing, so if you are struggling with how pointed it feels, take a step back and realize that most people are thinking of themselves when they take action. Above all, take comfort in that most people are thinking so much of themselves that they rarely have time to think (or talk) about you!
2. Create some space. You can snooze someone for 30 days on social media, put them out of sight, and stay in your own lane. The best thing you can do when you feel threatened by someone else is to focus on YOURSELF. Carry on with life and turn your heart toward what you can control, and put anyone that makes you feel competitive on a little break. Out of sight, out of mind can help relieve some of the things that offset those negative feelings.
3. Keep moving forward. If you notice someone on your coattails, don’t get tangled and stop what you’re doing. Remember that YOU MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. If everyone wants to be invited to the party you’ve started, consider yourself Miss Popular!
4. Work out! Releasing some tension and energy will leave you feeling refreshed. Burn off that frustration and get the endorphins moving. Choose a work out over wasting time in frustration.
5. Read a book. Instead of binging a dramatic tv series on Netflix or listening to that heavy metal album that fuels your anger, why not choose an audiobook? Listen to something like YOU ARE A BADASS while working. Put your phone on airplane mode, and listen to the words. Let them motivate you, or keep you motivated. Activities like this can help you disconnect from social media and focus on staying in a great head space for your clients.

Hard work won’t stop in high school. Nether will the replication of hard work. Community over competition is a wonderful idea, but it’s only as true as the person who believes in it. We have to stop tearing down the idea of a beautiful community by cheating off of our neighbors. In this creative field, we have the chance to reach people in so many innovative ways. Let’s start striving to set ourselves apart, support other artists when we are impressed by them, and give credit and thanks when creatives inspire us to do the same. Tearing down confidence out of jealousy or copying from our neighbor just simply isn’t cutting it. Meanwhile, don’t let someone who’s willing to take a shortcut dull your sparkle. <3

-Ash

PHOTOS | JESSICA HUNT PHOTOGRAPHY