social work

9. Trying to Hide my Brokenness

Jan 2, 2020marilynlweav1 Commentloved by the Father, Uncategorizedburnout, Chester county portrait photographer, Christianity, Feelings, Finger lakes NY, Geneva Lake, Hershey portrait photographer, lancaster portrait photographer, Marlo & Co, photography, social work, storytelling, stress

While I was in it, especially in the last year, I knew life was hard but I thought I was dealing with it ok. If you had asked me, “how are you doing?” I would have probably say “ok” or “good” and I truly believed that. The funny thing I thought I was carrying it well and that I was fooling the people around me.

Meet Marilyn

Jul 13, 2019marilynlweavloved by the Father, Uncategorizedaunt, burnout, Christianity, community, entrepreneurship, fun facts, introduction, Marlo & Co, photography, relationships, seniors, social work, storytelling, tacos

I realized that I never did an introduction blog post about me. So here it is; along with an announcement about some changes that are coming to the blog.

My name is Marilyn. I am the creator of this blog and Marlo & Co.

5. Joy and Excitement

Jun 9, 2019marilynlweavUncategorizedChristianity, excitement, Father, Feelings, God, God's plan, joy, Lancaster County PA, loved by the Father, photography, social work, sunset, Trust, truth, uncertainty

My feelings in the last year, I think for the most part have been nonexistent/numb to keep status quo or there has been sadness as I process things that had happened or that were going on inside of me. Don’t get me wrong, I have had moments of joy and when they happen I try to take note of them.

4. “I’m tired.”

Jun 3, 2019marilynlweav2 Commentsloved by the Father, UncategorizedChristian, Christianity, depression, dreams, Feelings, love, peace, relationship, sadness, social work, tired, truth, WORD

My job was to empower them through these moments, show them hope in the hopeless situations and provide resources for them to move forward in life.

While I was doing helping others dream for themselves, inside over time I had quit dreaming. I had allowed life to stifle my creativity. I had allowed my own exhaustion to take over when I had down time.

2. Unshakeable Peace

May 13, 2019marilynlweav2 Commentsloved by the Father, UncategorizedChristian, Christianity, community, Feelings, peace, social work

Over the next fews days, as I thought about my future and what God was asking me to do. I felt this unshakeable peace and I tried to shake it to make sure it is real. But I couldn’t shake it.

1. My wake up call

May 9, 2019marilynlweav2 Commentsloved by the Father, Uncategorizedanxiety, burnout, Christian, Christianity, depression, Feelings, God, relationship, social work

It ended with a day where it seemed like everything fell apart. I cried so much that day that I did not think it was possible for me to have that many tears in my eyes and that there would be tears left in my tear ducts. I remember feeling so broken. I ended up leaving work early that day.

Enough

Mar 23, 2019marilynlweavloved by the Father, UncategorizedChristian, Christianity, dreams, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, Father, fear, Feelings, God, peace, photographer, photography, purpose, social work, storytelling, truth, uncertainty, unknown, visual storytelling, WORD

But through this all I still struggled with myself and the direction that God has called me to. I struggled with myself because I love my career in social work and the community I work in. And I love visual storytelling and photography especially with elderly. There was this tension between the two because I felt that if I leave social work I am leaving a career that I have built and love for over 10 years. And I was letting myself and others around me down by leaving social work. But I knew that if I did not see where my business might go that I was going to regret that and I could not live with that.

A Decade of Lessons

Sep 18, 2018marilynlweavloved by the Father, UncategorizedChristianity, college, God, lessons, social services, social work

I didn’t know exactly what I was getting into when I started working in social services. You see I kinda stumbled on this field. When I was in college, I started out as a business management major. I loved business and still do to this day but it didn’t feel like the right fit. I met with a career advisor at my college and I was asked “Would you rather work with people or numbers?”

The costs of being jaded

Jul 6, 2018marilynlweavloved by the Father, UncategorizedChristian, Christianity, consequences, cost, Feelings, FRIENDSHIP, God, jaded, Jesus, our identity in Christ, relationship, social services, social work, truth, vulnerability, vulnerable

And I almost wore this jaded filter as a badge of honor. I thought it was okay to view my clients that I worked with through this jaded filter. In some ways, I thought I was being wise when I looked at my clients with this jaded filter. I remember telling a coworker that I can tell she is early on in her career because of the hope and optimism that she has in a situation with a client.