We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tracey Lyn Gapol. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tracey Lyn below.

Alright, Tracey Lyn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The mission has always been to add value. How can I make a difference in someone’s life?

Now it’s really deep and personal and it became time to be transparent with everyone. I mean, if we’re not here to share my journey with you and be able to help or inspire someone else, then our journey has no worth.
I’ve said it before and l’ll say it again, real life is not always pretty squares of positivity on the gram.
On February 11 I was diagnosed with “invasive ductal carcinoma,” better known as breast cancer. Although it was brutal news, God didn’t leave me there and the very next morning I woke up with an insane enthusiasm for this journey and for the possibility of it being the greatest growing season of my life. My cancer is the most common of breast cancers and I did catch it very early, which meant I was in a very good place.
Everything happened so quickly after that. So many decisions had to be made very fast. On March 29 I had a bilateral mastectomy, the most brutal thing I’ve ever physically been through in my life. But I made it through with the support of all of you. Ihad THE BEST medical team and the best friends and family who did so much to keep me healthy and positive. Again, great news. No cancer in my lymph nodes, however I did receive more troubling news once all labs came back and needed to spend my summer undergoing chemotherapy.

My journey is far from over, but I am running towards the next steps in hopes that I can soon regain some sense of normalcy in my life. I know that I’ll never be the same again, and I am thankful for that.

I shared this, but it’s so worth sharing again..
(We) don’t always welcome adversity, but we need to see it as the ultimate catalyst for growth, as well as the contrast needed to recognize the beauty of life. And DAMN… isn’t life SO BEAUTIFUL!!!
I know that God has a great plan for my life, and I am trusting in that every single step of the way.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am a wedding and portrait photography located on the Big Island of Hawai’i. I love life and all that it entails and hope to capture all of that beauty for anyone that I get to serve.

Most people will say that I am the queen of positivity. But I know it has taken years to overcome a lack of self-worth, imposter syndrome and limiting beliefs to be able to confidently serve others as a photographer, and as a friend.

I am very proud of my ability to find the good, whether it be finding and capturing the beauty in the portraits I take, or it be finding the good in any challenging situation.

My hope is that others would find hope, beauty and strength in their own obstacles. Know that ANYTHING is possible and that they are capable. Beauty even in the pain. And finding strength they never knew they had in them.

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

This was definitely a trying year for my business. Having to undergo major surgeries while battling breast cancer, and then undergoing chemotherapy tested my resilience and my business. I had to come up with plans for weddings that I was committed to and also figure out how to continue providing for my family during that time.

I refused to quit. I refused to let anything, even cancer, take down something I loved so much, being able to capture people with my photography. I created a plan of action, asked some close friends and family for some help and navigated my battle with cancer. Though the year is not over yet, I managed to bring in more income this year than any other year.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Lack of self worth, imposter syndrome, and so many limiting beliefs needed to be overcome. I could remember every negative comment made to me about my work. I was so critical to my own self. The beginning of overcoming that started from the idea that all of this negativity was selfish, and that it wasn’t allowing me to serve others. When I focused on HOW I could serve others, I started to improve my self worth and limiting beliefs fell to the wayside.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.traceylyn.com
• Instagram: @traceylyn
• Facebook: Tracey Lyn Photography
• Twitter: @traceylyn808