feuza sad I was not able to attend after winning your awesome giveaway! but God knows best, hoping to make it one day Aug 2, 2012, 2:10pm
Gabrielle I think i'll write that in big letters on the wall above my computer: this is it. fight like hell. Thanks so much. And loving the blazer too! (and accessories! sorry cant help but notice) Jul 27, 2012, 9:29pm
Athena Jennifer-you're amazing. Your kindness is amazing. and Thank you. I came back to this post to retract my prior one. Because dammit, I'm not a quitter. And dammit, it's not a fight if it's easy. I HAVE TO FIGHT LIKE HELL. And Im going to. Because it's worth it. I'm going to get out of my own way, and I'm NOT going to let resistance win. I'm going to do my best and try my hardest and dig myheels in and FIGHT. Because it's worth it. Becuse a dream always is. And because self-doubt, and self-pity are really horrible ways to use energy. So I'm sorry, Justin and Mary, for my woeful diatribe. I'm sorry to all the readers-of-comments who spent time on my drivel. And I'm thankful for tough love,and friends, (and strangers named Jennifer) who know that giving up simply isn't an option. xoxo times infinity, quadrupled by a million. Jul 27, 2012, 5:12pm
Jennifer Bacchiocchi @Athena, I am so sorry you are going through such a tough time right now, but please don't give up. Maybe you have made mistakes, maybe luck just hasn't been on your side, but if this is your dream, don't stop fighting! It has mattered, to every single one of your brides and grooms. Jul 27, 2012, 1:00pm
Athena I'm sitting at my desk, at my cube-farm soul-sucking job, and I'm unexpectedly crying. Because I am afraid all my fight is gone. I've been fighting and I keep fighting and I just keep spinning my wheels. I don't blame the market, or clients not getting me, or it not "falling" in my lap and being "easy." I am blaming myself. Maybe I'm not fighting the right battles? Maybe my hardest and my best is never going to be good enough? Maybe I took the wrong paths and I'll never find my way back? I don't know what to do anymore, Mary. And I'm soooo scared. So goddamn freaking scared that this dream is fading away. That come January, when 2013 is staring me (and my emtpy calendar) in the face, I'll be selling my gear and hanging up my hat and reminding myself that it's better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all. And I can't stop crying. Because I've never stopped fighting. And still, it hasn't mattered. Jul 27, 2012, 11:57am
Fiona McGuire Love it!! Jul 27, 2012, 8:00am
Karen Feder Ohhh, I love it! Really inspired and got my blood bubbling too! I have 3 kids and a husband who works weekends and after 10 years of shooting I completely agree, it is NOT easy, and it never will be! Keep up the fight and thanks for the great inspiration!! Jul 27, 2012, 12:38am
ashley link i LOVE this. all of this was so helpful and encouraging and true! thanks for being so real and honest! :) if we want it, we gotta fight for it! Jul 26, 2012, 6:43pm
Kevin Berg Fight like hell...brilliant words to live by! Jul 26, 2012, 2:28am
cheryl That's one of the most important and sometimes hardest lessons to learn in life! All the fairy tales we read as children talk about "happily ever after" and make it sound like the struggle is over - but in reality that struggle or growth or whatever you want to call it, is your real life, and what you *should be* enjoying the heck out of! It really only ends when you die! Jul 25, 2012, 8:55pm
Rachel McCloud Definitely needed to hear this today. Thank you for being such an encouragement :) Jul 25, 2012, 6:50pm
malika luthra love this -- especially after being there, reading about this moment and experiencing it all over again really makes it stick! so thanks for the reminder :) Jul 25, 2012, 5:09pm
Heather Just in the last week or two I've been losing faith that I'll ever be successful. I've told two people this week that I'll never quit my day job and will just have to do photography here and there on the weekend for fun. Your blog post came just in time! I really do need to just get out of my own way and fight harder. Thanks so much for the daily dose of inspiration and motivation!! Jul 25, 2012, 4:34pm
Sarah THANK YOU for being so honest & the real deal. It's a constant struggle to not have a pity party for yourself when you see all the wonderful status updates, awesome photoshoots & amazing opportunities happening for everyone else... It's a reminder that we don't always see the blood, sweat & tears behind that victory :) Jul 25, 2012, 2:51pm
Liz and Ryan Love this! Great inspiration and lesson for us all! Also, Love the chalk board quotes, especially "Get out of your way." Often we can be our own biggest obstacle, realizing this and continuing to fight is what will help anyone accomplish their dreams!! Jul 25, 2012, 1:47pm
Jen Araya I was there for that question, and at first my reaction was whoa, but you answered it dead one and what we needed to hear! So happy I was there in that moment! I admire you guys xoxo Jul 25, 2012, 1:21pm
kfinn "fight like hell. get out of your way." that's where I am. thank you Mary! Jul 25, 2012, 1:01pm
katie yuen love love love love this. especially because reading your memory of the occasion makes it burn even brighter in my own mind. i could also go for some s'mores right now. Jul 25, 2012, 12:57pm
Lauren Wakefield Amen sister!! Jul 25, 2012, 12:55pm
Emily Klaassen Awesome wisdom (as usual!) Jul 25, 2012, 12:53pm
Emilia Jane Yes to this. Just yes. And thank you. Jul 25, 2012, 12:52pm
Alison I have been feeling like I lost track of my fight and my dream as of late. Thank you for reminding me it didn't wander off, I let it go! Jul 25, 2012, 12:47pm
sharon elizabeth double air hug for always being so vulnerable and raw... it's what i love most about you (and justin)... you both are humble and selfless... and that's what i love second most about ya'll!!! Jul 25, 2012, 12:42pm
Ashley Barnett I like both F-words :) And I like your red blazer!! Fierce! (Hey, another F word!) Jul 25, 2012, 12:38pm
Sandra You heard my heart today. Thank you. xo Jul 25, 2012, 12:37pm
Abby Grace I knew exactly what you were going to talk about as soon as I read the line about overzealous mosquitoes. Mary, I adore your brutal honesty, and I adore the fact that you don't serve things with a side of Superficial. You rock. Jul 25, 2012, 12:33pm
caitlin elizabeth love the f word :) and i've decided that i need to use it and do it most when i'm the most terrified. which would be right about... now. i'm scared. and ready to fight. thank you for this. and for using the f word. Jul 25, 2012, 12:32pm