I've been working hard the last few months at overcoming my fears and following my dreams. So I'm running a series of interview with inspiring people to see what part fear has played in their life and how they've overcome it to live life their way...
*Hi Angie , tell us a little about yourself.
Hi, Polly! Well, I'm 41 (*breathe* it's just a number, just a number), I married Mark, a wonderfully geeky, musical man on 9.9.99.
We live (just the two of us) in Southampton; a curious little city on south coast of England and my #1 passion is photography!
I have the city, the sea and a forest on my doorstep and I utilise them all in my photography whenever I can. I am SO lucky as I have an amazing digital SLR and fantastic lenses at my disposal. Not only that but a big family of film cameras, ranging from a huge soviet 'Hasselblad-ski', lomo cameras, antique Brownies, my precious, precious Polaroids and even one I found in a skip (dumpster)!
All my camera gear has been paid for through me selling my photographs. This is good as it allays much of the guilt I would otherwise feel about adopting all these odd an archaic (honestly, I have LOTS). My work is for sale online and in galleries and it's amazing to think that in homes across the globe people have chosen one of MY photos to adorn their walls. Staggering. I love sharing all my photographic adventures on my blog and on flickr. Oh, I love the internet!
Have you always been self employed? And if not how did you make the change?
I have a day job as well as my lovely photography projects to keep me busy, so my days are jam-packed!
For a while I was rather resentful that I had to do a job that wasn't what I loved doing and that I had to give up all my precious time. Now though I've come to see the benefits of separating out what I love doing from what I need to do to pay the bills. I wonder if I might grow a little resentful of my ideas, projects and photos if they were the means to my income - and that maybe I wouldn't experiment as much and stick to safe and known ideas.
That's not to say I wouldn't relish the opportunity and adventure of self-employment but in these difficult financial times I am grateful for the stability I am lucky enough to have. One day!
Is the life you lead now the life you've always dreamt of?
Ever since I was a child right through to today I have woken each morning with a new idea; a new dream. (I think a person can have too many ideas!) So, in that respect it's probably not the life I dreamt of. Saying that I always knew I wanted to do something artistic so I am pleased that that's a reality. I also dreamt I'd be married to Simon Le Bon and living on a tropical island... these things did not happen.
When you have faced difficulties, what has been your inspiration to keep going?
The consequence of having lots and lots of ideas is that it doesn't leave too much time for sticking to just one of them and seeing it through to the end! This is what I find most difficult and something I really haven't found an answer for yet. I'm like a light-bulb that's switched on, burning bright with ideas and buzzing with exciting plans.
And then off.
I have no dimmer switch, there's nothing in between.
This is an analogy appropriate for lots of things in my life - all or nothing. When the switch is 'off', when it feels too impossible to write, create or even contemplate picking up a camera I allow myself a day or two off from these things and indulge in different creative worlds. Maybe I'll watch a film, go to an art gallery, listen to new music. Baking, knitting, gardening - things I'm not very good at but that use different bits of my brain. Soon enough though the switch is back on again. Thankfully!
Fear affects us all at some point. What part has fear played in your life and how have you overcome it?
Sometimes I think I am literally going crazy because of the whirlwind of thoughts and ideas swirling around my brain and I have to be careful that I don't dwell too closely on the reality of what little time I have to try and fulfil all of them. I have to force myself to focus on one thing at a time and visualise the satisfaction I'll get from completing something - and when I DO complete something this is the best thing of all for conquering fears.
What advice would you offer on following your heart and living your dreams?
Be gentle with yourself, you'll be your own worst critic so start sharing your creative side with friends and/or online because I promise you the nurturing and loving endorsements you'll receive will become a great sounding board and reality check for you and help you on the road to realising how great you really are!
Oh, and don't hang around, give it a go NOW i.e. if you want to be a photographer be one now, use the camera on your phone, it's about you, not the equipment - same applies to anything creative, a journey starts with one small step,
What do you think are the three most important things you need to lead a happy and radiant life?
I think you need... love. Whether of a person, a place, a hobby, these are all good and important but mainly you need love of yourself.
If you're like me you may find this quite a challenge, but striving towards it is at least is a positive and enriching thing. There are great websites and communities online to help you along this path - check out sites like
White Hot Truth (I'm currently working my way through Danielle's wonderful e-book 'The White Hot Truth') and
Susannah Conway (I can heartily recommend Susannah's 'Unravelling' e-course).
Where can we connect with you?
Come and check out my blog, I'd love to have you over for coffee and gossip! x
http://www.lemonlight.org
