It started out as a photo challenge that has now morphed into a personality challenge. That is to say that the various personalities in the group are not in competition with each other; but that someone has suggested that we all answer the question “who am I?”
This challenge, in a public situation, is “high threat” and yet I somehow feel compelled to contribute to a group of people, whom I have never met, but who have been so helpful in moving me forward with a personal challenge – improve my photography – which actually means – give me a reason to alleviate some of the routine in my life and/or to look at this routine in a more interesting way.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind routine. It can be very comforting when things get chaotic; but it can also be very restrictive and mechanical – I needed a new window on my world.
The photo challenges have given me a reason to look at my world through the lens of my camera and to see the same things, differently.
That’s my personal justification for refocusing; my business justification is that many people in my “camera group” are small business owners like myself. Some are technical writers and need a creative escape, others are computer programmers or run on-line businesses. This particular group is actually part of a larger on-line community of web builders, SEO specialists, social media marketers and more……there is always method in my madness.
So to answer the question – Who am I …… I am an adventurer. I am the person who will always take the “road less travelled.” My parents sent me to a convent school. I promptly joined the group that challenged the rules and regulations of the school. I pushed the envelope – green hair on St Patrick’s Day – make up in uniform – these seem like small things now in the face of sapphire blue mohawks – but to the Loretto sisters, I was not behaving.
I went to university, when all of my high school friends went to work. I opted for the non-denominational college over St. Michaels. I did go into teaching – a rather conservative occupation; but when I had earned enough money to travel, I went to England for several years and spent months, during that time, hitchhiking in Europe.
I left teaching to stay at home with my children, as we adopted them – another adventure. When they were old enough, I went back to work; first for others and then for myself. I took my passion, knitting, and created a business around it – a huge adventure.
My father stopped work at 90 – he is now 97. I wonder if I will do the same. Even now I am planning a shift in business to more involvement with people – more presentations on the creative process, more travel, more designing, more wonderful adventures.
Thank you for reading my rambling. My business observation here would be – try something different, look at things from a different angle, with a different lens, perhaps. Explore the road less travelled – it could make a huge difference.
My youngest and my first portrait – I need to take 4 more portraits as part of this challenge – “promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep!!!”