sunday(ish) sentiments: purpose brings ease and ease brings results
God gives you the strength to endure the seemingly hard ... ask me how I know
It’s currently 12:10 am and I am seated in front of my screen writing to y’all while reviewing the first iteration of a docu-series I am helping to bring to life. Idk if y’all peeped, but my Sunday Sentiments newsletter done switched to Sunday(ish) Sentiments because I am finding it harder and harder to send these out on Sundays. But I am committed to getting these out … irregardless of the date.
Completion > Perfection.
I’ve said this several times over the past few weeks but my life is picking up rather rapidly. It’s a lot of amazing things happening in my little world and honestly, I am just trying to keep up. Trying to keep up AND be a good steward of these opportunities.
If I were to list all of my responsibilities in this current season:
Mom
Wife
Sr. Manager of Socials for a big brand
Content Strategist (for my mentor)
Story Producer for a docu-series
Director of my own documentary
Overseeing the HillmanTok: Intro to Documentary Filmmaking Course
I am sure there are some things that I am missing but … my brain is literally split into pieces all day, everyday.
But God has been graceful.
I’m typically not one to stay up late for days on end to finish work, but lately, this has been my norm. When I stay up late, I wake up groggy and drowsy and I am not a good person to be around. But lately, I feel my energy shifting. God has granted me the strength to endure the late nights and the energy to get up in the morning and send my girls off to school/daycare on a good note. I know that aint nobody but God because this aint by my doing at all.
In fact, I submitted a proposal for another contract last week that took a lot of time and mental energy. My prayer to God was, “Lord, if this is for me, give me the strength to endure and complete this proposal with quality and integrity.” And I did just that. Now, I am not sure if I secured the opportunity, but the win for me was sitting down and completing this proposal in ONE sitting.
I told God at the end of last year that I wanted to create and tell stories for a living and get paid well to do it. Not only that, but I want to be down with the back and forth of submitting applications and going through rounds of interviews, but that moving forward, opportunities will come to me through recommendation and referral.
God has been TRUE on his word.
- The producer of the Black Media Mixer here in Dallas saw a clip from my podcast and invited us to be the host of their Content Corner at the mixer this Saturday. Not me and Key securing our first hosting gig and our podcast only a month old. Purr.
- My mentor shared an IG story from someone who worked at Pattern Beauty looking for a photographer/videographer for a pop up they were doing in Dallas. I sent my portfolio via email THAT NIGHT and signed a contract the next day. Y’all, my husband and I got to create for Pattern Beauty. WHAT!! (the recap reel is on their IG here)
-I sent my proposal to another company that wants to bring us on for an event in April and is also inquiring about my social media services
- Even the opportunity I have currently to be a Sr. Manager of Socials (I may share one day) came through referral.
Literally, from my mouth to God’s ears.
Things are happening and I am eternally grateful.
I don’t know what all you got going on or what passions you are envisioning right now - and maybe everything seemingly feels like it’s too far away or its to hard. Especially while trying to balance the everyday tasks of parenting, work, etc. Ask God to give you the strength to endure. Every season won’t feel this intense and it’ll set you up for success down the line.
There will come a time where I won’t have to stay up late to get things done. Where I can truly look at opportunities from a value standpoint and not look at how this project can pay down looming debt. That day is getting closer and closer. I can feel it.
With God’s strength, enduring doesn’t feel so bad.
What I am Creating
Ok, can we get into the material! I took these shots for Pattern with a new lens (s/o to Apeturent) and I love them. I felt so free and confident. And the team had no feedback for revisions. The best compliment!
Also, can you believe we’ve already published 7 episodes of The Halfway Grown Podcast?! Whew! This has been a lot of work but oh so rewarding. If you haven’t subscribed to our Youtube channel, we’d greatly appreciate it!
What I am Reading
Chiiiile with all this work going on over here, I aint been doing much reading. BUT Devin and I have been doing a daily marriage devotional each morning.
What I am Watching
Unrivaled Gang over here! Been loving the WNBA gwirls on the court in this off season. Y’all know how I feel about women’s sports.
Scripture I am Clinging to
“Be still and know that I am God.” - Psalm 46:10