Ardent Photography | by Rick & Stephanie Osborne »

Some of you might remember me mentioning a little thing that rocked my world last year called Making Things Happen. After winning a scholarship Rick and I packed our bags and headed to Watercolor, FL for a week to meet Lara Casey and take part in this amazing workshop. I went to Florida to find myself, improve our business and DO SOMETHING about every thing I have ever wanted but never acted on. I went to find my truth and if I am ok being overly corny and dramatic, I wanted to make things happen, not wish for them to. I wanted to meet Lara, someone whose spirit was so like my own, someone who awakened the eagerness in my heart.

Somewhere between walking barefoot along the Florida beaches, sharing a part of myself at the intensive and this very moment, I learned a few things. I learned that surrounding myself with people who ‘get it,’ who are positive, radiate authenticity and ooze creativity — helps me to be at my best. I learned that no one else can do for you what you HAVE to do for yourself. I learned that even my ‘Rock Stars’ are sometimes broken too. When I fell in love with the Making Things Happen Intensive, I was looking for a solution. The end all be all ‘magical workshop’ that was going to complete me, bringing me to my dreams. What I came away with was completely different than I had originally expected, and even more valuable. This workshop didn’t fix me, it didn’t suddenly give me everything I ever wanted, or tell me how to make my wildest dreams come true. I remember leaving the workshop that night a little bit confused, you mean the world didn’t stand still, open up at it’s core and hand me a nice little package that included everything this girl could ever want for? What it did do is push me, make me take an honest look at myself and empower me with not only the ability to quantify the things I wanted out of life but the skills to be able to write them down, formulate a plan and gain momentum. I have to make things happen for myself every hour of everyday…

So much has changed for the positive in my life and our business. We have shattered goals, surprised ourselves creatively and enjoyed so much success and happiness. I believe that our trip to Florida was the catalyst for this. Something inside of me woke up the day I read Lara’s blog post on pushing through your fear. I cannot wait to return to the Making Things Happen Intensive in 18 days. I feel such a change since I first attended, although I am smart enough now to know that this workshop (like the last one) isn’t the end all be all ’solution’ I was searching for, it is an exciting part of my journey. There are so many things that I don’t know and am eager to learn…

Because everyone can use a little inspiration I thought that I would end this post with a few of my favorite photos, accompanied by a few of my favorite quotes.

“Stepping into & through our fear starts with a very tiny moment. It feels like pain, but it dissipates almost instantly…as quickly as a fleeting breath.” - Lara Casey

“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.” - Buddha

“Technique you can learn, but talent is instinct.” - Stephanie Klein

 ”Color possesses me. I don’t have to pursue it. It will possess me always, I know it. That is the meaning of this happy hour: Color and I are one. I am a painter.” - Paul Klee

 ”The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself.” - Alan Alda

“I held a moment in my hand, brilliant as a star, fragile as a flower, a tiny sliver of one hour. I dripped it carelessly, Ah! I didn’t know, I held opportunity.” - Hazel Lee