Comparison is the thief of joy.

Let’s be honest with each other for a moment.

We have all sat somewhere in public or online and compared ourselves or our business or our income or *fill in the blank* to something or someone who we perceive as more illustrious or beautiful or rich or successful. We all have looked at that gorgeous model in the magazine is rocking that an awesome outfit and think, “Man, I will never look like that.” Or perhaps you are reading someone’s Facebook post and they seem to have everything going right for them and you are sitting their struggling.

You do it. I do it. That perceived “rich” person does it.

Let me tell you a little story.

There once was this girl. Let’s call her Amy. Amy was a photographer in a small town called Washburn. Amy constantly spent time on Facebook looking at other photographers near and far. She spent so many hours just clicking, feeling envious, and wasting so much time checking up on them. When Amy would go to a session, she would think, “I only have to be better than *insert photographer name.*” As Amy got better at composing images, getting images exposed properly, and post-processing enhancing, she was still constantly comparing herself to those other photographers. Amy found herself spending the same amount of time, if not more, on social media and the internet to ensure that she was the best photographer. Then one day, after some intense self-evaluation, Amy decided that enough was enough.

So clearly, in case you didn’t pick up on it, the Amy in the situation was actually me about a year ago. I found myself constantly putting myself down, constantly feeling like I wasn’t good enough, constantly wasting my time judging and criticizing others. Comparing myself to others when they were in different areas or different walks of life or had different styles was not fair to me. They never knew my thoughts or my criticisms because I never once told them. My little insults were not bothering them, they were bothering me.

I decided after some intense self-contemplation that I could not keep going like I was. and it was so freeing. Do you know how wonderful it feels to do what I do for myself only? I no longer work to be the best so I can be smug. I work to be the best for myself and for my clients. I run my business the way that is pleasing to me and makes me happy, not how it is “supposed” to be run like everyone else local.

In life, there is so much uniqueness and character. No two people are the same so why in the world is it ok to sit there and compare our lives or bodies or wealth or businesses with someone else?

Learn from my experience and sit down and think about what makes you special! Maybe you are an awesome stylist. or designer. or you are a beast at Jeopardy. Or can knit a mean scarf.

Let’s take a moment to love ourselves first.

Here is to celebrating yourself!

xx,
Sami from Ashburn
AKA Amy from Washburn

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