Have you ever woken up and realized that your life is the dream you've been creating all along?
Today is one of those days for me. They happen periodically, sometimes quite often, but today it hit me. My studio, and the business that I run from it, has been in existence for almost 3 years. Actually, 2 years and 10 1/2 months, to be exact. 

What a whirlwind of a ride I've been on since November of 2016! I had no idea what would transpire over time, or how long I would have my studio in Jerome, Arizona. I happened upon it by chance, and what a great leap of faith it was for me to take it, without a concrete business plan or a sense of what would come. All I knew was, once I wandered into that space, I had to be there. I didn't know what for, I just knew I needed to be there.

With just a desk, chair and computer, I got to work doing what I did best - writing, and developing websites, marketing & social media promos for clients. Within weeks, the photographers, whom I've worked with, started to come up the mountain to Jerome, after I sent them photos of the huge wall of windows and natural light - a photographer's paradise. 

The monthly photography workshops started just a few months later. Today, with over a year and a half worth of workshops under our belts (me and the instructor, one of my photographers), an incredible reputation gradually grew, offering unique photographic opportunities with amazing professional models. 

Since that time, a lot has happened. Last October the monthly art shows began. Shortly later, musicians were paired with the artists, creating monthly events that have only grown in attendance and popularity. 

Classes, workshops, events, meetings and services have come and gone, evolved and transformed over time, opening up what's to come in this next year.

I still write, and there are several books in the works. Blogging and short stories (and soon, an online magazine for artists) are my thing, and I love it all. I still model, and have several big shoots coming up before the end of 2018. 

Here's the scoop:  I've partnered with an entertainment company, promoting music events and parties (raves). Our first independent show will be on Saturday, October 20th, just in time for Halloween. I am beyond thrilled to be organizing and arranging something this huge. It calls to my passions, a combination of art, music, visual and technical skills, writing press releases, meeting all the players, arranging the event details, photography and videography, creating marketing material and promoting. I couldn't ask for something better than this. It's like putting together a party on a gigantic scale.

What's coming next? January, 2019 - LOOK OUT! Zushka Transformed.

Watch the video on this Blog, see the cast of characters, the usual suspects (including yours truly), and follow me by subscribing to my blog.

Original Blog on Red Bench Photo Studio:  BLOG

I am truly grateful for everyone's support and encouragement.
Thank you!

Zushka

As many of you know, I take several 30-Day Digital Detoxes each year. (And incase you didn't know, this is something that reenergizes me.) My life gets busy, I have less and less time for jumping on social media, and before I know it my health is failing. Scrolling through newsfeeds on Instagram or Facebook, texting instead of calling, and responding to tons of emails isn't a healthy choice for me. I become desensitized.

Around 4:00 this morning and immediately got to work on my computer, when an idea came to me to separate myself from digital devices, particularly my iPhone. This is something I've been wanting to do for months, and I spent a lot of time preparing for it. Life just feels a whole lot better when I'm disconnected. I'm ready to take the leap off of social media.

For those of you who are already asking me "why", here's the scoop:

1. I am busy. SERIOUSLY busy. Between my photography business, modeling, website design work, writing, my art gallery and event planning, I simply don't have time for social media anymore, and that's totally okay. I'd much rather spend my time creating than scrolling through newsfeeds. 

2. I found myself looking at my phone too much. Even though I disabled notifications months ago, I still found myself looking at my phone throughout the day. It's not only not-good for me physically (my neck - looking down), it drains my energy on a soul-level.

3. Although it's fun to keep in touch with people, I'm pretty much old-school. I like meeting people for coffee or a walk, and talking to them face-to-face. I like meeting up with friends for a movie or a show. I'd much rather have human interaction than digital contact.
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4. I believe that we are what we eat, look at, listen to and practice. I made a conscious decision years ago to change my life, and that included where I lived, what I ate, what I read, what I watched, what I listened to and with whom I chose to spend time with. Social media doesn't nourish me.

5. I'm totally an introvert and an empath. I love being alone, which means lots of time meditating, reading, journaling, detoxing, resting and reenergizing. 

6. For me, social media can be a big distraction. I could spend a lot of time scrolling through my newsfeeds, to the point where it could become addictive. I've spent a lot of wasted hours looking at things that are really none of my business.

7. I'm a pretty private person, and although I've shared a lot on social media, I have found that I feel like I'm exposing too much of myself out into cyber-world. Not a good mix for me.

I think that about covers everything. Of course, nothing is ever written in stone, but my goal is to stay off social media through the end of the year, hopefully longer or indefinitely. 

For me this is a healthy decision. Life is short, and I'm seriously looking at where my time is being spent, what I'm allowing into my life and what my personal boundaries are. 

For those of you who are in the same boat, welcome aboard! Take a 30-Day Digital Detox challenge, see how you feel. I'll warn you, my first one caused serious withdrawals, but the outcome was so worth it.

Thanks for listening.