Thursday, November 3, 2011

Photostory Friday: Thirty-Nine

I turned thirty-nine a month ago.

And all of my dreams have not come true.

The day after my thirty-ninth birthday, Steve Jobs died. I've spent the last month thinking about this man, who revolutionized the world, in a few short years -- and then passed away at the age of fifty-six.  What makes him different from me? What took him to the height of success, and would he define success differently than I do? I suspect that answer might be yes.

I've always been comfortable with my age, but thirty-nine feels like a wake up call. Barring anything catastrophic, I figure I'm about half way there. Or almost half...but not quite.

So, I ask myself, have I ever come close to being the person I am supposed to be? The person I can be? I'm not sure, but I know I've spent a lot of life preparing to live my life and, truthfully, you're never quite ready.

I know I want change -- I want TO change -- but I ask myself what...

See...I don't want to be a better father or a better husband or a better son or a better friend or a better employee or a better neighbor or a better writer or a better photographer...

I want to be a better father AND a better husband AND a better son AND a better friend AND a better employee AND a better neighbor AND a better writer AND a better photographer...

It's time to learn to live. I think it's time to do a few things differently.




It's time to walk the beautiful paths, beyond where the roads bend, and to see where they lead.  




It's time to find the source of life. 




It's time for perspective. When you have perspective you can find beauty in the highest peaks AND the lowest valleys. 




It's time to learn to put reflection to good use.







It's time to look at things from a different angle...




...and maybe find the light, hidden in the darkness...




It's time to let the colors of life run together.




It's time to see what lies across these bridges that I've been standing at, for most of my life.  




Give me your best shot at Better in BulkPhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

8 comments:

Lindsay said...

Did u take all those BC they belong in a national geographic. Stunning.

Jen Hansen said...

I sure have missed reading your blog every week and seeing your amazing photos. I can't wait to see what is on the other side of your bridges..... :)

Tracie Nall said...

I have been doing a lot of thinking this past month about life and living fully and the impact that I could have.

Beautiful pictures!!

Mom24 said...

Beautiful pictures, beautiful sentiment. Good luck. Life's definitely not easy, is it?

Sheri said...

Very nice writing around fabulous photos! They look even more stunning on your blog than on Facebook :)
Sheri

kayerj said...

I love your new perspective--your header photo is stunning.

Anonymous said...

wonderful thoughts and stunning photos!

Emmy said...

Happy belated birthday. The pictures truly are amazing and magazine quality! I think if we are not careful we will always feel like we need to do everything better and not notice all of the progress we have made. Yes, we need to ever move forward but we cannot live a life of regret. And I think I am saying these words more for myself than you.
Thank you for sharing. And I have missed your blog too.