Find Your Passion
I've embarked on a new adventure and wasn't going to share it here but then I realized that it's as much about creativity and crafting as anything else I've talked about here. This past year I've enviously watched a few friends follow their passion. I sat across the lunch table with a friend who told me all about how she's always wanted to go to culinary school and learn to bake. She's an amazing baker but she wanted to really learn. Then I watched as she followed through on her dream. I have no doubt she will be opening that bakery somewhere down the road as now she is already working at a bakery and blissfully happy.
I'm not saying I'm changing careers or anything like that, however, I have many passions I dabble at and am content at doing just that. When I really thought about it, I realized that I've always wanted to do more than just dabble at photography. I've taken a few courses here and there and asked lots of questions in an effort to be self taught, but there was always that small part of me that longed to know more and to see a shot and know exactly how to execute it.
So this Spring I took the leap. I researched my local community colleges and enrolled in a Spring photography course. The first of many and I'm really excited about it. I'm not going to lie, it was hard to take that first step. I had so many really good excuses why it wasn't going to work and was a horrible idea. I'm too busy, it's going to take up too much time, it's going to take too long...blah blah blah. When I finally enrolled I did not have that sense of excitement about starting a new adventure. I felt dread. What did I just do? How am I going to make this all work?
I can honestly say that it's been amazing. Once I got past the initial fear of the unknown and just embraced something new, I was able to get out of my own way. I'm having a blast! I'm even talking my dad (who is already a somewhat accomplished photographer) into taking classes where he lives. It's not that I think I'm going to start a new career as a professional photographer, it's about embracing something I'm passionate about and giving it some validity.
I think it's important to find things that feed your soul. It seems cliche, I know, and that's why I didn't want to write about it. It's been done a million times. I've been attending class a few months now and I walk back to my car after class and realize how happy it's making me. I decided I should add to the million articles and make it a million and one.
Oh, and I've realized I'm a total nerd. I mean, let's face it, I was a little bit of a nerd back in my school days, but I'm a really BIG nerd now. I could write a small novel on what it's like to take class with a bunch of millennials (another time maybe). Sometimes I can feel them looking at me and wondering why I want to see more when they all want to go home. I'm embracing my inner nerd and the secret joy my A+ scores bring me. I added a few of my favorite photos from my class to share with you. Maybe also to say get out there and try something new!! You might surprise yourself.
