I may ramble on a bit but if I don’t just sit down and start writing this time, another post may never happen.. so here goes…..
I find it so easy to get out of balance especial in this past year. I get excited about too many opportunities and before I know it I am drowning in deadlines, crazy busy and I have become ineffective. I think as artist and photographers this is so easy to do because we are so passionate about what we are doing. However, it has been almost two months since my last post and that is just off the charts out of balance. It is like one of those big giant snowballs you would see when watching cartoons as a child. It starts out small and hand made, then is starts rolling down the mountain getting bigger and bigger, going faster and faster, you try running as fast as you can but take a second to look behind you and then it rolls you over and flattens you like a MAC truck :).
In the past 6 weeks my exhibit opened at the G2 Gallery, I went to the amazing google+ for photographers conference in San Francisco, finished my first ebook and sent it off to the editor, wrote several blog post for other people such as NIK software, Naturescapes, and DPS (Digital photography school), finished a few other articles and sent them off, and finalized most of my tours for 2013 even though they are not all listed on my site yet. I am also getting two groups ready for back to back trips to Africa, and had I had an unexpected short trip to Asia. With all that was going on I just seem to run out of steam in keeping up with my own blog and social media lately.
This craziness has forced me to take a step back, take a breath, and make some tough and I mean tough decisions. I had to pull out my 9+1 plan (here is my post on 9+1) and get refocused on my goals for this year and that meant cutting back on trying to fulfill every request that came my way. It is hard to decide what to let go of and what will keep me in the direction I set out for. It has been one of the toughest challenges of this journey. I become focused on the big picture and then a million distractions come my way creating clutter and soon I am running in circles rather than towards the original goal.
It is too easy to get side tracked and then you have to take a step back and perhaps even make another sacrifice to be able to ultimately do what you love.
I find being out of balance is a struggle for many people and can be one of the biggest reasons someone gives up when what they are working towards becomes too difficult. I know this because I have been close so many times. You become overwhelmed and lose perspective. If you don’t stop and reshape your plan you may find you have built a life different than the one you had dreamed about. One of the hardest questions a person has trouble with is “What is it that I really want to do?” And doing just that.
Sometimes the father you get towards your dream it actually changes with the new experiences, wisdom and knowledge you gain along the way. But for me, I mostly find myself having to go back to the question “What do I really want to do?” and realize I have gotten slightly off track or so far off track it requires some real downtime and the painful realization that I am going to have to make a another big sacrifice or compromise and redefine my plan. This is when I have been most tested and yet something always sparks that passion that runs so deep in my soul inspiring me to move forward no matter what the challenge. This week a facebook friend sent me a link to an amazing women photographer in Africa and her successful project on kickstarter to raise money for her documentary film, The Last Safari. This greatly impacted and inspired me and you will know why it if you take the time to watch the video. View it here.
Since it probably seemed as though I fell of the planet and several of you have moved on, I want to say a big thanks to those of you who have stuck around to support me on this crazy journey and push me forward when I stumble backwards.
I still have some catching up and changes to deal with but this post is the first big step in getting back on track.
Photograph what you love and what you are passionate about. Let the camera be a tool to create more than power images but use it as a tool to never lose sight of what made you pick it up in the first place…….
love your photos………those in motion, the elephants and others……….thanks so much for sharing
Piper, adjusting your sails is always a good thing. Keeps you in the present. You are a bright spot out there!
Well, i was wondering where you had gone of too girl!!! glad you are safe, and sound, yes life can get away from us, however a passion can sometimes cloud our thoughts, don’t ask me how i know!! fantastic blog, and well written with expereince, and consideration for the daily happenings in the busy world ; they we self create!! You’ll be fine, and yes, it’s so hard to say no, especially when you are on a roll, and building a business… sometimes, actually; a lot of the time, .less is better!!
Nice to hear from ya, and i look forward to meeting ya, if you make it south… Finally, your post, rings such a strong bell with me, that i’m going to get off my butt, and skip a few shoot outings, and get my website going on smugmug, and a blog for my up coming alaska coastal bear trip in a month!! Thks for the the kick in the buitt Piper!!!
Don
Piper – The New York Times this weekend had an excellent article about how many of us are just too busy and too busy by our own choices. For me photography is the contemplative part of my life, one where spiritual renewal takes place every day and one with which I too struggle. Keeping the balance is not easy but very very worth while working at. Jerry
You are welcome Don, and I hope to make it south next year but no exact dates yet.
Piper, your work is awe inspiring and has lifted the African continent to the top of my bucket list and, after watching The Last Safari short vid, I want to be there even more. It’s sometimes necessary and valuable to step back, refocus and adjust; that you are doing that is a good thing. Spend as long as it takes to regain a clear perspective, trim your sails as needed, and then charge ahead. You are a wonderful person, a skilled photographer and story teller, and a blessing to all who know you. Know, too, that you can call on me at any time for any help I might be able to offer (though landlocked for the time being lol).
Hi Doug
Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement…… This journey has been one of the hardest but most rewarding. It has been filled with big decisions and big risk and hoping you have made the wisest choice to keep you moving in the directions of your dream. Landlocked is ok as long as you unlock it on occasion 🙂 Thanks for your offer and may just take you up on it. The amazing support I have had on this journey is what has kept me going, moving forward, and getting back up when I feel like I have been ran over by a MAC truck… Thank you…..
Thanks for your great article, Piper, you open my eyes to your passion and I give you
my love and blessings in all that you do. Love, Mom and Dad
Ah Piper, as a fellow artist who often finds herself spinning out of balance, thank you for this post! All the best to you, as always. Warm regards, Janine
I’m glad you are out there doing your thing, even if a bit more balance is needed. 🙂 When your ebook comes out, please post a link for purchase!
Such an honest observation about the human race all caught up in our busyness. Finding balance, learning to sat no, following your passion. Thanks for the reminder.