The holidays are approaching and the year is quickly coming to an end. And boy what a year it has been. I can’t remember any time in my life where I have been so busy. I’ve seen some wonderful places from different corners of the globe. I also found joy through photography which in turn motivates me to see and do more.
Snow in Autumn in Salt Lake City
Time For Reflection
The last several weeks I have been recovering from an injury. As I am healing, I haven’t been able to do as many activities as I would like, such as spending time in the mountains. Instead I’ve refocused my attention to taking photos around beautiful Salt Lake as Autumn is still in full swing. The November sunrises and sunsets have also been incredible, as seen in many of my recent photos. Since I haven’t been out and about as much, it has given me some time to get some administrative things done. And more importantly, it’s given me time to reflect and be thankful.
For many of us, showing thanks through acts or good deeds can be a challenge. The hustle and bustle can be overwhelming at times and even photographers can lose focus of balancing all aspects of life. I try to always show my appreciation to people but I think there is always room for improvement.
Sunrise over Downtown Salt Lake
A New Journey
I had always been a hobbyist photographer since I was a kid. But during the last two years and after taking some trips where I spent a lot of time taking photos, I quickly realized how photography was changing my perspective of the world and opening up my mind to new ideas and creativity. I became more active, more motivated, and excited to work hard. It was like a spark I had been waiting for, the catalyst for living a happier and more fulfilling life. It has been a great journey so far.
Autumn Sunrise in Salt Lake City
Besides committing myself to photography I also realized that exploring the world, taking every opportunity I could to travel, and challenging myself to do new things would be my modus operandi. I find myself today looking back at the last year and seeing how my life was transformed and the happiness that came with it. I assure you I deal with disappointment and challenges too. But despite all the challenges, the seemingly endless hours of work, and the hurdles along the way, I wouldn’t change a thing. I enjoy the fruits of my labor.
I have also seen how photography breaks barriers. It is a language people from any country can understand and appreciate. It makes me happy to connect with people who see one of my photos and to listen how it relates to them or has a special meaning. I have been able to meet and correspond with people of many backgrounds and cultures from around the world. While we may have some cultural differences, I have come to find we hold many similar convictions. Learning about other people’s way of life and different cultures is something that has made me feel more at peace with the world, even with all the disheartening things in the news. The vast majority of the earth’s inhabitants are inherently good. Unfortunately the good things often get overlooked or little attention.
November Sunrise in Salt Lake City
I have had incredible support from my family. From the encouragement they give me to the invaluable help of actually getting my website and business up and running, I couldn’t do it without them. All of them contribute. I am very fortunate to have many talented people in my family who have helped me a long the way. My sister Amy, a successful entrepreneur, author, and blogger (Diary of a Quilter), has been a great asset to me. Laura, another sister is also a talented artist, photographer, and entrepreneur (Youdoll Design). She has given me great advice and helped me with developing my own style. My brother-in-law Nathan (blog) is an incredible musician and has donated his time and music for video projects I have worked on over the last year. My family has been my biggest support and I am extremely grateful to have them.
My friends are also a big support. From giving me ideas to hiking the mountains with me to just giving me their feedback means a lot. I’ve been able to meet many new friends through photography. Many of them are photographers themselves, of which I look forward to more collaboration with in the future. To those of you who have share my photography with your friends and family, thank you.
Thank You
In closing, my hope is you will be able to take some time to reflect on the people and things that have given your life meaning. If you are still looking for the thing in life that motivates you or gives you the spark you need to live happier, I hope you find it. My best advice would be to step out of your comfort zone and face challenges head on. At the same time, we all have the capability to make another person’s life a little better.
To all my family, friends, colleagues, and everyone who has shown their support and encourage me in my work, thank you. I couldn’t do this without you. I am looking forward to the year ahead and all the experiences and challenges that come with it. Happy Thanksgiving!
I-80 in Salt Lake City at dusk
P.S. – Thanks, Ashton Kutcher, for the shout-out!
