Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

I love sharing my client’s stories through portraits and interviews.

Susan underwent a kidney transplant a few years ago.  We are so glad she took part in our #40over40 project so we could share part of her story.  After undergoing a medical procedure such as this, it really makes you appreciate the little things in life even just sitting on the couch watching the news with your husband.  We hope Susan’s story will help inspire others who are undergoing difficult health diagnosis.  Life does get better once you weather the storm.  Thank you Susan for allowing us to photograph you and share your story.  Here are a few snippets from her interview.

What made you get pictures done?

I did the portraits because it looked fun and I have never done anything like this before.

How do you think the definition of beauty has changed over the years?

Going below the skin, it’s a passion for whatever they’re doing, being comfortable in your own skin.

What would you tell your 20 year old self?

Don’t sweat the small stuff, but make sure you dot all your I’s and cross your T’s

How do you think people describe you?

My friends and family would probably say that I am pretty straight forward, I don’t take a whole lot of mess. I probably over look the bits and pieces to a story but I immediately go to the point and sometimes I have to kind of back track.

When have you felt most confident in your life?

When my kids were small I was still in my 40’s. I had kids when I was in my upper 30’s and young 40’s. Even though I questioned myself a good bit while I was doing it, but probably felt the most confident and job wise too. I was doing something that I really loved.

What advice would you give your kids today?

Dot all the I’s, cross all the T’s. Do what you love so it’s not really a job and be true to yourself. That’s the only person you need to make happy.

Going through your kidney transplant, how did the medical ordeal how did that change your outlook on life?

Well life changing events obviously change you because they change how you live.   Before, I was spending probably half of my day hooked up to a machine and taking lots of pills. Now that I have had the transplant, I still take lots of pills but I’m not hooked up to a machine. At that particular time in my life my kids were still in high school and smaller. So, I could do dance recitals, I could do dance shows, I could do football games, I could do you know all the running around that that encompasses. And it sure is a whole lot of fun to sit down on the couch with your husband at 10 o’clock at night and watch the news.

What is your favorite quote or scripture?

When Chester and I got married, I think it’s in Corinthians where they describe love, love is kind and I can’t remember the exact words and love doesn’t change. I had been through some pretty bad things before that and I don’t to ever want to change him and I don’t want him to change me. I want to be able to walk in the door and cry if I need to and laugh want to. The old adage of you turning into your spouse is so very true. We think the same thing, I’ll say it before he does or he’ll say it before I do. That’s how much 25 years of marriage does.

1 Corinthians 13:4–8a “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.”

Be sure to click on the video and hear Susan in her own words. Hair and makeup by @beautybylizyturria. For more information on the 40 over 40 portraits, please visit www.brandiblake.com