Brenda P
Brenda walked into our studio (read - walked into our life) to discuss a portrait session…
I asked her if she knew what boudoir was.
She said she did - but had never considered it before because she thought it was only for ‘beautiful women’ - and that she was ‘too fat’ to do it!
But after talking through it with us - she braved it - and did it…
She committed to a boudoir experience - and now she can see that she is one of those beautiful women.
“You made me feel at home and totally comfortable in my own skin. You made such an impact on me”
What an impact this woman has made on ME!
I just had to share her story with you all - because she is such an inspiration.
And in the words of her Grand-Daughter…
“You’re so stunning, Grandma”
It is so obvious that Brenda is such a happy woman - and so in love. Not just with the man in her life - but her family - and herself.
But it hasn’t always been like that. It’s taken a lot of time, strength and lessons to pull through and become the woman she is today.
To be herself!
For 15 years - Brenda masked her hurt and humiliation of abuse (as a child and in adult relationships) with drugs, alcohol and sex.
She felt so depressed and alone and unloved that she felt suicidal.
But she was a mom - and she was hurting her babies. She was destroying the world she had brought her children into.
She felt like a ‘crappy mom’.
She felt guilty.
She felt ashamed.
And then she hit rock bottom - and the clean up began.
It was tough!
We can’t change the beginning - but we can definitely change how we move forward.
“The pain doesn’t go away - but it does get easier.”
Start with living for today. Brenda did exactly that.
Brenda surrounded herself with the powerful love of her children. It empowered her and helped her to start loving herself.
And she found the self love she needed before she found love for the man in her life…
“I wouldn’t have had the confidence to have that first dance with him - if I hadn’t”
Finding self love was not even about standing in the mirror and loving what she saw. For Brenda - it was a feeling.
She started to feel beautiful on the inside.
“I am finally able to be who I am”
When I asked Brenda about her boudoir experience - she was ecstatic!
“You even buckled my shoes for me - and I will never forget that!”
Not once did she feel judged.
And before the session - she was so nervous - that she brought a bottle of wine with her. But she didn’t drink a drop - because she immediately felt comfortable.
She said that I had seen her for who she is - but also that I had seen something that she had never seen in herself.
She knew she was happy on the inside - but I had brought it to the outside.