Some places and times in life can be a bit harder than others.  And for me, one of those times is the “middle”. The middle of any goal…any milestone…any progress.  The middle can be though.

The middle can be slow, tedious, and mentally taxing.  Even when it’s the middle of something you love.

My first real lesson in coping with “the middle” was when I was training for my first full marathon; running 42.2 kilometres took me nearly six months of training and I can tell you with utmost certainty that three months into it, I would rather have given myself a root canal than gone running one more time.  Getting up at 6am on a Sunday morning when I could have been buried under my covers; running for hours in the pouring rain or three feet of snow; nursing my sore muscles day in and day out…none of this felt appealing or worthwhile you’re stuck in the middle.   You’re too far from the end to see your goal and too far from the beginning to remember why you started it all in the first place.

The middle requires a certain type of motivation…something that pulls you out of your routine and renews your inspiration.  The middle demands special care for tired souls!

Laura and Andrew’s wedding was my middle for this year; the wedding that marked the very end of the first half of my season.  And what a season’s been so far!  There’s been lots of travelling…dozens of amazing couples…and countless incredible moments.  Already, it’s been more than I could have hoped for.

But it’s also required a fair bit of stamina.  Long hours of shooting and editing can be exhausting at times. Especially when you’re juggling life, parenthood and marriage in the midst of it.  So while there is definite excitement over the weddings to come, it can also feel like rest and renewal is a long way off.

And that’s why Laura and Andrew’s wedding was the absolute perfect dose of awesome for enduring the middle.  A stunning couple…a breathtaking venue that I’ve never photographed before…and – hands down – one of the best parties I’ve ever witnessed.  Their wedding was the renewal that I needed.  It was the inspiration…the breath of fresh air…the shot of adrenaline required to ambitiously tackle the remainder of my blessed season.

So, with that being said…let’s all raise a glass to the infamous middle…and to the wonderful people that get us through it…