Since being selected for the #LoveYourself campaign I have become reminded & motivated to look after myself as a priority. I started to make small changes one day at a time which have stimulated a trickle down of positive benefits in my day to day routine & overall wellbeing.
Putting my name forward for this experience was something I did on a spontaneous whim, without truly anticipating that anything would come to life as a result. Imagine my surprise when I came to find out that I would be one of the women selected to take part in this campaign! Upon receiving my invitation I was both excited & quite nervous! However apprehensive, I chose to focus on the unique opportunity I had been presented, took a deep breath, and decided to go for it! I am definitely not a person who lives without worry or anxiety…in fact it’s one of my biggest struggles. On the same note however, I have always been somebody who aspires to get the very most out of what life has to offer. I make a strong and conscious efforts to power through & overcome, not allowing my anxieties to stand in the way of my potential & life’s possibilities. When I stumbled across the #LoveYourself campaign something about it spoke to me. Reading about the wonderful experiences women previous to me have had & seeing their beautiful images inspired me. Most of all I appreciated the heart & soul of the campaign. As women, it can be so easy to loose ourselves
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amongst our many roles & responsibilities. To see the impact behind women encouraging & empowering one another was very moving. A beautiful, yet simple concept we should all apply to the way we live our lives.
I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Annalise, Jeffery, and Dorin for providing me with such a memorable & special day. From the moment I walked through the doors, the STUDIO81 team went out of there way to make sure that I felt comfortable and was getting the very most out of my experience. When it was all said & done I walked away with a fresh outlook & energy, and a beautiful set of images (which will be the perfect wedding gift for my groom-to-be). It was also great practice trialing a make-over & getting comfortable in front of a camera before my upcoming nuptials.
The last few years of my life have been pretty major to say the least! My partner & I made the big decision to seize a considerable opportunity & migrate from Canada to New Zealand! We have also become recently engaged & are moving full steam ahead into life’s next chapter.
For any of you ladies out there on the fence about taking this plunge…I highly recommend it!
The weight of shifting to the opposite side of the globe, establishing new careers, starting over from the ground up, and planning a wedding from overseas (while all great blessings) began to take a toll on my overall health & ability to cope. The work load & sometimes overwhelming pressure that came along with everything we’ve had on our plate resulted in a lack of proper balance, and neglect to focus on maintaining my personal wellbeing. Not an ideal space to be in just before becoming a bride…. a time when you want to look & feel your absolute best.
Shawna Cousineau
With sincerest thanks for reminding me of my worth & ability to conquer my fears!
