Since I wrote last I have had a lot of little things happen that have excited me, challenged me and helped me grow. I will discuss a few of them here.
First, I was recently interviewed on a Podcast that I follow. I follow a few but this is one of my favorites. The host reached out via Facebook and asked if anyone was interested in doing a brief interview for the podcast. I messaged him, within minutes I found myself on my computer answering a few questions about what I shoot, what I use, and various other topics regarding photography. It was short and sweet, but I did make the final cut and was on the global podcast. I also was asked to record a payoff (the promotion of their website, IG, etc.) upon which I have done. It is currently done by their kids, but they liked the idea of having different voices and accents to promote their feeds. Mine will be broadcast next month I am told.
I decided to step out of my comfort zone and go do a photoshoot at a location and in a genre I had never done before. The coordinates above are at a local pub that the owner follows me on Instagram. I had reached out and asked if I could come to shoot his place for the practice. I told him any shots I take he can have and use for his advertisement. I decided to take my wingman Mark with me and as usual, the two of us feed off each other, helping the other see and suggest shots that I think individually we may have missed. I feel the shots turned out pretty well, and ultimately the owner will decide if they meet his tastes or not. Regardless I do like how some of them turned out. I have included a few shots on this post.
The next big event this week was not so good. As summer winds down, I started walking, and light stretching to get my body ready for hiking season, which for me runs late September – May. I am self-diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. I found a wonderful stretch to help relieve the pain that I feel (worse in the morning when I wake), and I started slow and easy. After day two of this simple stretch, my body fought back. My back locked up. I tried to stretch it out and luckily had a massage appointment this week. She worked out most of the tightness but it took until Sunday before any sort of normalcy occurred. I will just take things even slower and gentler than I was.
On another sad note (for me), a friend and former boss just received and accepted a job offer and is moving to California. I am extremely happy for him, but I am also a bit sad knowing I may never see him again. We kept in contact sporadically while he lived in town, with intentions of going to lunch or dinner, going on a hike, or just hanging out, but it never really happened. With 2300 miles between us I truly fear I may never see him again. I hope I am wrong. A bit selfish I guess, but I am being honest.
Saturday evening capped my week when I went to dinner with my wife. We were joined by Mark and his wife. Mark and I have been to lunch and dinner, trips, photoshoots, and hikes multiple times together, but our wives have never really joined us (but maybe one other time) for anything together. Marcie is often quiet around people she does not know, and not sure how Lynn would react either. We sat began to eat, make small talk, then there was a sense of release where we shared stories, began to laugh (which always loosen things up), and had a very nice time together. Mark had mentioned the four of us taking a trip somewhere, and I guess in my mind this was a test to see how things might go. I had very little doubt, but this confirms that I think we would all have a good time together if a trip ever happens.
Mark and Lynn are retired and when they saw a friend at the restaurant who also recently retired, the brief conversation they had reminded me that we all control our destiny. The lady said, “I don’t know how retired people say I don’t have anything to do, or know what to do (or what I will do).” I saw this actual thing happen with my dad, my mom is doing this now, and I have seen it with others. It’s like people retire than have no purpose or drive anymore, and slowly (sometimes quickly) die or quit living. This lady said, “the key is to keep moving, going and doing”. Mark looked at me and said “life lesson for you.” I got it.
I will leave you with a quote from one of my favorite movies the Shawshank Redemption. I assume Stephen King gets credit for this quote “I guess it comes down to a simple choice. Get busy living or get busy dying.” Something I will try to work from this point forward.
Until next time,
Tim
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