This was a tremendous year of growth or me and I can’t help but feel like, even on this second-to-last day of the year, I am still learning lessons that 2016 wanted to teach me. For example, I started my morning before the sun rose climbing a mountain with my love, remembering the importance of connection, vulnerability and bliss.

Here is a look at my highlights from the year:

PERSONAL

• You can never know your impact on someone else, not fully. I was reminded of that during some personal hardships that I will not detail, but taught me how to grieve, how to be stronger, and how to more closely embody empathy.
• I realized that I have too much, and that I would rather downsize, sell my house, live a more minimalist life and be debt-free completely. 2017 should be interesting in that sense!
• I lessened my “victim” response. I started to react to situations from a stronger, more decisive place that allowed me to feel less like a victim and more in control.
• I traveled to: California, India, Wisconsin, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, New York, Pennsylvania, England, Florida, Illinios, Peru, Colorado, and Washington, several of them several times!
• I started doing yoga and hiking 3-5 times a week (though still thought I might die climbing Machu Picchu in 90 minutes flat!).
• I finished writing my novel!
• I got to meet the Doctor Who cast IN PERSON. Enough said. I can die happy now. My husband is the greatest!

  • For those inquiring minds: Matt Smith, Alex Kingston, Arthur Darvill (and watched John Barrowman speak…phenomenally inspiring!)

ART

• At the end of 2015 I had a brutal portfolio review, the gist of it being that I’ll likely never be a serious artist, my images lack depth and meaning, and that a solo show in NYC would be unlikely. I wallowed for 2 hours and then conceived of a new series, complete with many layers and meanings, that I began working on in December 2015. By September 2016 I finished the series, booked a solo show in NYC to debut that series, won a grand prize award for it, printed it, and the show opens in early January. I do not, in any way, say this to brag. I say this to prove that someone’s opinions of you should never define your future. Take control of what you do and you will control your life. I see myself as the kind of person who doesn’t win things, who doesn’t come out on top – very much an underdog mentality. But I am starting to change my narrative.
• I partook in a December self-portrait challenge that I allowed to consume me. It brought me out of a slump (personally and professionally) and added half a dozen new images to my portfolio when I thought the year was finished. Challenge yourself to create. It can never hurt. Never.
• I know I put finishing my novel in the personal category, because it was a massive personal triumph, but I put it here, too. I learned this year so much about commitment through the 30 day self-portrait challenge, finishing my novel, and finishing my series. I can say, without much doubt, that I lack natural talent in many ways – but what I have is commitment in abundance, and that makes all the difference. I learned how to outline plot and characters, how to structure a novel, and how to let go of something so personal. My husband will be proofing my novel in January and then it’s off to my darling Editor.

BUSINESS

• Big changes happened this year, as I will continue into the new year with a drastic lessening of help in my business. At first I was nervous until I started doing everything on my own. I realized that I had grown up a lot since I felt I needed help. This year I learned how to set guidelines, goals, and a great routine to allow me to achieve my objectives. My routine: emails, creative time, daily business goals, writing, yoga, cooking, and snuggles. Always snuggles.
• I finished 100 weeks of Promoting Passion videos and started a 10-video series called White Wall Wednesday (most likely TBC in 2017!). They are all on my YouTube where you can subscribe to get new content!
• I started two “pay-what-you-can” challenges that have allowed me to create content from home and share it with others for whatever they want to pay for it. This allows those who can’t participate in other events to have a chance. The 20 Day Portfolio Renovation Challenge is still open for registration until tomorrow evening! Begins Jan 1!
• I auditioned for a TED talk and didn’t get it. This was the biggest blow of the year for me in business. It is my greatest dream. But I’m not done. I will work harder for it than ever before, hopefully finding a conference theme that is more in line with what I do.
• I designed a portfolio case to produce and met with several prototype companies, but as of yet cannot afford to personally fund the project. I will continue to pursue this in 2017.
• I hosted my 2nd annual Promoting Passion Convention! This year saw an increase of participants, incredibly inspiring speakers and educators, as well as the most authentic, genuine connections. It was a glorious sight, that is to be certain. I can’t wait to share the video with you!
• I directed two music videos! They were mostly for fun, but taught me a lot about film and I can’t wait to do more!
• I photographed this kick-butt opera singer in London and then got to see the pictures on a bus. Super awesome moment!
• I finally embraced Instagram!
• <Insert exciting thing that I can’t share until the new year>

CHARITY

• The Light Space had it’s first successful year running!!! TLS is a practical photography training program for survivors of human trafficking in India.
• I raised over $13,000 for The Light Space through the pay-what-you-can challenges as well as the Promoting Passion Convention!
• I raised over $2,000 for Blossomy, my partner organization for TLS.
• I donated to over 25 charities this year for causes I believe in greatly.
• I started the process of turning Promoting Passion into a nonprofit! More on that in the new year!
• I began teaching self-expression workshops to underprivileged communities here in the United States.
• Thanks to new equipment donations, I’ve got a whole suitcase of new equipment to take to India in just 5 DAYS!!

I am beginning 2017 with a flight to NYC to attend my show opening, and then I’m off to India and Thailand to teach 4 workshops for survivors of human trafficking about photography and self-expression. I’ll be gone for 3 1/2 weeks, and when I return, I’ll be diving into so many exciting projects!

Thank you endlessly for a year I will treasure and continue to learn from. It is thanks to you that I have a business that I love, a community that I cherish, and notably, together we are changing the world by helping charitable efforts.

2017 is going to be a year of power. That is my dedication. However I choose to grow, help others, change, or shed light, I will do so with as much power as I can. In doing so, I can only hope I will find others who are radically dedicated to living in their power.

HUGS and LOVE,
Brooke

Feeling trapped in our own creativity is the ultimate in psychological backwardness. Growing up we see artists who appear free in every sense of the word. They seem to never be tied down to commitment or obligation. They are wild and “out there”. And as we grow up watching these figures we assume that being an artist means freedom. Yet how many of us feel trapped in our creativity?

I believe this feeling of entrapment comes from two sources. One is being pigeonholed into a certain category of artist, and the other is feeling an obligation to be better than before. Social pressure as well as self-inflicted pressure. These are the cornerstones on which our insecurity as artists is built.

I started to recognize these two attributes in myself. I felt obligated to create a certain type of art because that was suddenly what I was known for. I also began fearing to share my artwork, thinking that if it wasn’t drastically better than it was before people would think I was an imposter. This is a crippling way of thinking. To always be better than the last time means that we are never failing, and that means we are never growing. To stay one type of artist your whole life means the same, that stagnation has been chosen over growth. In theory I want neither of those things. In reality, they are more comforting.

I have started to break free of those constraints by telling myself the exact opposite of them. Instead of thinking I have to do what I’ve always done, I tell myself: I will surprise myself. Instead of wanting to be better than before I tell myself: I will fail.

There are two great ways of achieving discomfort and growth, and they are failure and surprise. I want to shock myself. I want to look back at the person I was and be forced to look twice.

When I started photography I received emails from people telling me that I’m not a photographer. It didn’t bother me so much as it just wasn’t true. I create with a camera and know comparatively little in Photoshop. Nothing that I do results from digital art, but simple images sewn together in simple ways. But the title never bothered me as much as it did and does other people. Some people would email me angrily to tell me I am a disgrace to the name of photography. To that I simply smiled, knowing that creativity and art forms are always evolving. Our perception of photography will continue to evolve.

Those emails made me aware of just how much other people want to define artists. And in turn, many artists want to be defined. It is comforting to fit in somewhere. I remember the first time I gave a lecture and was introduced as a “fine art photographer”, it felt thrilling! Someone was recognizing me for a job title that I wanted to have. It felt validating. But the more my business grew, the more I realized I’m not just a photographer. I wrote a book, so doesn’t that make me an author? I teach workshops, so doesn’t that make me an educator? I get hired to give speeches, so doesn’t that make me a speaker? I run a charity, so doesn’t that make me a philanthropist?

At the end of the day, how could these titles possibly matter? What makes the difference is what we spend our time doing and with how much heart.

At an event last week I introduced myself to three different people three different ways in thirty minutes. I was talking to a fellow photographer and when she asked what I did, I answered “I am a fine art photographer”. Next I spoke to a fellow speaker and when I was asked what I do, I answered “motivational speaker”. And finally I was talking to a fellow writer and when she asked what I do, I answered “I am a young adult fantasy writer.”

Isn’t it interesting how these labels come to define us so much that we feel we cannot break from them? But why should we not? Why not keep collecting them like little trophies that may eventually get dusty in a box we never open, but still we keep them knowing that they show a time when we tried and succeeded at our dreams?

Photographer. Writer. Novelist. Educator. Motivational Speaker. Philanthropist.

May the list grow ever longer in the pursuit of my greatest fantasies. May our lives never be stunted by the labels others would put on us. And may we shine through the cloud that tells us we have to be better. May we fail until we feel broken so that we can put ourselves back together even better than before.

How have you felt held back, and how will you move forward?

When I was visiting a vegan restaurant in Phoenix we saw them promoting the idea of a cruelty-free holiday, and have fallen in love with the idea. I have been vegan for 2 1/2 years, and far more than it being a diet, it is a way of life. It is infused in every single decision I make, from how I treat animals to how I treat other people, to how the choices I make impact the world.

Given that this holiday is so much about compassion for me, I wanted to talk about ways that we can incorporate compassion, kindness and generosity into our lives this week.

1. Write a letter to someone you care about.

Gratitude. It reigns as king in a world where happiness is priority and everyone can benefit from a little loving. Send your thanks to someone with the written word. Let them keep those words close. Share your love.

Here is a video all about GRATITUDE and how important it is for HAPPINESS.

2. Sum up the 3 events in your life that are most meaningful to you.

Be grateful for the experiences you’ve had. Something wonderful can fuel more amazing experiences. Something terrible can change your way of viewing the world. Whatever your experience, focus on them and why they were so meaningful to you. Finding meaning in the past promotes a more meaningful future.

3. Name something you have done for yourself that has been a positive force in your life.

You are the life-force behind the decisions made in your life. Give yourself some credit for making choices and allowing your life to move forward. What is one thing you have done for yourself that was a change for the better?

4. Figure out one way to help a stranger.

Give someone a card. Give someone a hug. Hold a door for someone. Buy the person in front of you in line a drink. There are countless ways to help people, and whether they need it or not is not the question here. The fact is, you never know what a person is going through no matter how well-off they look, so show kindness to someone today.

5. With some extra money you have, buy someone a meal who needs it.

Especially around the holidays it is easy to see a separation between those who have and those who have not. Buy a meal for someone in need, or donate to your local food bank. It can make a huge difference in someone’s life.

6. Find an artist online and show them you appreciate their work.

Find a way to support an artist you love by giving them some kindness online. Heck, find anyone you think might need a few words of encouragement – someone who you think is doing something great – and share your kindness.

7. Buy a card for someone you love and mail it.

What is better than getting a card from someone and being reminded that someone is thinking of you? I love getting cards in the mail, though it happens very infrequently. Spend the $5 and mail a card, or make a card and send it out…it can cheer someone right up who just might need it.

8. Next time you find something frivolous that you want for yourself, use the exact amount it costs to buy something for someone else.

See a lamp you want, or a dress, or a sweater, or a hat…look at the amount, write it down, and use that amount you felt you could spare for yourself on someone else. It feels amazing.

9. Find someone you’ve lost touch with and let them know you’re thinking of them.

We all have friends we’ve lost track of over the years. Take a moment to contact one of them and let them know that you still think of them and wish them well.

10. Adopt a Turkey, Eat a Field Roast.

I am a passionate vegan, and I do my best not to talk too much about it on my blog. Why? Fear of people getting annoyed, I suppose. But what is so much more important to me is that we try our best to promote gentle and kind actions toward all living creatures and our environment. So this year, when you’re thinking about a big Thanksgiving dinner, I sincerely hope you’ll consider adopting a turkey instead of eating one. They are amazing creatures who deserve our love and compassion.

At Farm Sanctuary, you can adopt a turkey by spending $30 – the average amount a family would pay for a turkey for their meal. That money goes to the farm to continue the welfare of these animals. Instead of having turkey, which I know is a beloved family tradition, try out a field roast or an alternate form of meat. It will be entertaining, if nothing else. Or try a new centerpiece from whole foods – it could surprise you!

11. Check out the “Giving Back” page of my blog for ideas of how to donate your time to charities in need.

Did you know that the number one thing that can effect happiness is how grateful you are?

Gratitude, kindness, generosity, compassion…these are the things that give us a sense of fulfillment. These are the acts of service that truly make a difference in how we feel inside as well as how others feel as a result. The more we promote our passion, the more we can promote the passion of others. The more we love ourselves, the more we can love other people.

Everything begins within. The most radiant form of kindness starts inside and expands outward. Find your empathy today. Find your compassion. Be kind. Love wholly. Be present.

Happy ThanksLIVING, everyone. Thank you for being part of my passion and for sharing yours with the world.

Will you be putting any of these suggestions into action? Or do you have another idea of something kind to do?

Share how you plan on spreading the kindness in the comments, and I will randomly select one person to receive a costume from my collection.