I knew that I wanted to write something encouraging to inspire someone today, and when I opened my quotes keeper folder this quote stood out to me and I immediately knew why.

How will you inspire someone today?

Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

For the first 21 years of my life I didn’t have a relationship with my dad.  We lived in the same city, and I hardly knew anything about him. It wasn’t until I got married that a relationship with my dad was born.

On my wedding ceremony day, he drove nonstop from Alabama to North Carolina to see his only daughter walk down the aisle. As I sat outside in the car waiting to go inside the church, I still remember him calling with a few more turns to navigate before arriving.

From that day on we’ve stayed in contact with phone calls at birthdays, holidays, and some times just random calls to say hello.

I now know things like his birthday, that he loves to cook, has a sense of humor, and he runs a business.

We have so much in common!

In December 2011, a fire was lit inside me to pursue becoming a professional photographer.  I knew my why, and I knew that I could learn and grow and get better with some hard work, but fear and self-doubt existed and made me unsure about stepping out of my comfort zone and pursuing this desire.

During one of our random phone calls, I decided to share with him this desire that I had.  For over 20 years, I had never sought my dad for advice, but this time I did.  When I told him that I wanted to be a professional photographer, his response was…

Never let anyone tell you who you are.  If I believed that I was a professional photographer, then say it, do it, and become it.

The next day, I went out and did everything that I needed to do legally to start my business as a professional photographer.

There are so many things that have happened in between since that day, but his words continue to inspire me to say it, do it, be the best photographer and run an exceptional business.

I am so thankful for his words, and I am so glad that he is a part of my life.

Thanks for reading, and I hope that you are inspired in some way!

Happy Thursday!

-xo, Shawon