"Don't anticipate life; meet it. When you try to anticipate, you're being an idiot,
because nobody's got the brain to outwit nature.
I'm talking here about patience, about believing in yourself.
I'm talking here about having courage to wait.
​You will get what you deserve.
Rod Steiger

Typical of most Sunday Morning Reflections, I start out thinking about things I've read over the past week and conversations I've had with various photographers. Often the idea behind a Reflections post begins with something that's come up during the past few days.

Maybe it's because it's the start of a new year or the slow season, but I've picked up on so many artists who are waiting for success. They act like any day now the Success Fairy is going to sprinkle magic dust on them and their images and reputation will skyrocket to the top!

So, they sit and wait. They don't do much promoting of their work; they're not practicing very much to raise their skill level and the longer it takes for "success," the more they blame everybody but the face in the mirror.

This is a tough industry to be in. It's incredibly competitive, and trends and styles seem to be constantly changing, and keeping up with technology isn't easy either. But, if you've got the passion, then most of you find ways to pull the reigns in on your frustration. You've already realized how much you love the craft, and know there's nothing else you'd rather be doing.

So, however, you define success, and we all have different goals, there are two common denominators to achievement  - believing in yourself and patience. I guess that's what drew me to today's opening quote. 

Always believe in yourself. No matter who's around you being negative or thrusting negative energy at you,
totally block it off. Because whatever you believe, you become.
Michael Jackson

Patience is not simply the ability to wait. 
It's how we behave while we're waiting.
Joyce Meyer

​There's my point this morning.  If there is a Success Fairy, she's only touching those hearts who believe in themselves and more often or not we think of her as "luck." But luck comes in all shapes and sizes and starts with being thankful for everything and everyone in our lives. The glass really is half full for all of us, as long as we stay focused on the prize, which is all about being happy.

Before technology brought auto-focus to us, we all focused our cameras manually. Looking through the lens we had to decide what we wanted sharpest in every image. And we played with depth of field to capture what was most important. Well, your career path and your life are no different...and there is no auto-focus.

Have fun being patient. Appreciate your growing skill set and everything you need to do to keep raising the bar on the quality of your work, business and relationships. And, all along the way, never give up on believing in yourself. 

Two of the significant lessons in my life I've seen proven over and again are: Everything happens for a reason, and everything always works out for the better.  That doesn't mean you can just kick back and wait - you've got to stay focused on your happiness and take those opportunities to grow whenever you can.  Just don't give up on your dreams!

Never give up on something you really want. 
It's difficult to wait, but more difficult to regret.
Unknown Author

And as always, I wish everybody a terrific day ahead. For those of you caught in the storm zones which seem to be nationwide...stay warm and dry, go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs and most important of all, remind whoever you're hugging how much they mean in your life. Don't forget they believe in you just as much as you believe in yourself.

​Happy Sunday!

I woke up this morning and went through the usual Sunday morning routine of thinking about something to write about. Several times in the last few days I've looked around my office and our home, doing these little inventories of life like we all do, and said to Sheila, "How did we get here?"  Then wandering through Facebook a lot of friends seem to be playing the "Ten Year Game," putting up their first headshot for Facebook with today's.

Well, it suddenly hit me, in one of those OMG-cartoon-character-moments with the imaginary lightbulb going off above my head it's ten years ago this April I resigned from Rangefinder Publishing and WPPI to head out on my own. Why I left is no longer relevant. I look back on that time in my life as one of those "Ah-Ha" moments when I made the right decision. I'm grateful to so many people who helped me realize the dream of my own business; stuck by me through some scary times and all along the way became a part of the fabric of my life - which seems to be a never-ending tapestry that's always changing.

Rather than take a nostalgic look back, I'm more excited about looking forward. After all, through several thousand posts over the last ten years, I've shared just about everything that's happened in my life. It's more fun to look ahead and here are handful of examples:

• If you didn't read the post two months ago, I resigned from my consulting role with Excire Inc effective December 31, 2018. While it came with a lofty title of "president." It was draining trying to get them to understand how different the US photographic market is from Germany.  
• Chamira Young is getting more involved with SCU. She's a remarkable photographer with a level of creativity, enthusiasm, and diversity in her skill set second to none. Stay tuned because we're going to be making some significant changes here in the blog, adding a new podcast and finding new ways to help you build a stronger business.
• I'm back to speaking and teaching more in 2019. The year kicked off this past week joining Scott Kelby on The Grid; I'll be presenting in the Panasonic booth at WPPI; teaching at ShutterFest in April; teaching at ClickCon in August and SCU is working together to bring you more helpful content from educational resources like The SLR Lounge.
• Mirrorless technology and Panasonic's family of LUMIX cameras have entirely revitalized my love for life with a camera in my hands. I'm shooting more than ever before, and every day I'm learning another lesson I missed along the way, too often in "P" mode. And, with Skylum's Luminar 3 I'm doing more in post-processing. I'm reminded with every click of the shutter that growth only happens outside your comfort zone.

In looking ahead, there's one last major point that's changing, which started a year or two ago. As I look back, it has a lot to do with aging and time. I'm at a point in my life where I realize every day how fast the hands on the clock are spinning. It has a lot to do with looking at your life and seeing less time ahead than the decades behind.

I want to waste less time in the new year. I'm tired of not getting quality time with good friends. I'm tired of people I care about being out of touch. A couple of weeks ago I got a call from Claude Jodoin, which he referred to as his "annual catch up to Skip" call. It was great, as we covered what's going on in both of our lives, talked a little about the past, our old buddy Dean Collins always comes up, and just reminded each other we're both still passionate about the craft and our friendship.
 
And there you have it - It's time to make my point. While I love looking in that rearview mirror and the comparisons everybody is doing on Facebook with their headshots - it's more fun to think about what your next ten years are going to be like, starting with 2019. What do you want to do this year to make it different than last year? How are you going to find more time for friends, stay focused on growing your business and bring more quality into your life? What's truly important to you this morning?

Wishing everybody a day ahead filled with optimism and time to appreciate where you're going in the new year more than where you've been. Hug those special people in your life for the full therapeutic eleven-seconds and remember they're a key to your goals for the future. Take the time to appreciate how shallow life would be without them, and then focus on how important they are going forward.

We can't stop time or even slow it down, but we all can create more impact and a life that adds more smiles and laughs than frowns and tears. There's a great line Dr. Phil is credited for, "Would you rather be happy or right?" In this new year, it's more important for me to go bounding out of bed in the morning with a smile on my face than a frown and thinking about the stress of the day ahead. While stress is inevitable as a business owner, you can still work in a stress-free zone as long as you stay focused on things that make you happy.

Anybody want to join me?

Ten years from now you'll laugh about whatever's stressing you out today. So why not laugh now?
Tony Robbins

Wishing everybody a terrific Sunday...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world!

Live your truth. Express your love. Share your enthusiasm.
Take action towards your dreams.
Walk your talk.
Dance and sing to your music. Embrace your blessings.
Make today worth remembering.
Dr. Steve Maraboli

Sitting here I've got my usual challenge of what to share this morning. I was thinking about what a strange first week of the new year this has been. We only had a three day week regarding business, and I finally gave up trying to catch up to anybody I wanted to talk to.

My Fast Food Friday post hit on the challenges this week, and I suggested everyone use the time to "kick back and chill." In a comment in one of the forums a photographer wrote: There is no downtime. Always working on improving process and planning marketing for the coming season for seniors and Sports. It’s the curse of entrepreneurs.

I understand what he meant, and the fact that your business needs to always be on your mind, but I still disagree. Breaking away from that "curse" is the reason I write Sunday Morning Reflections every week. It's that "curse" that's driven so many of us into a crash and burn scenario. While to some it might sound counter-productive, you've got to step away from the business and recharge your battery to develop your creativity to the max.

Here's a perfect example: This week I took my own advice and truly stepped away from most aspects of the business. I took the time to do a lot of soul-searching. I'm still surprised at my age; I don't know what I want to be when I grow up! But that doesn't mean I don't have a long list of dreams, aspirations and even a bucket list of things I want to do and places I want to go, both personally and as a couple with Sheila.

But here's my problem, and I'm anticipating I'm not alone. There's so much I want to do that it becomes overwhelming, and I have a hard time focusing. This is truly ironic since I teach workshops where I've started presentations by saying, "You know how to focus your camera, but how about your career?"

The time I took this week was instrumental in helping me map out the new year. "Map" is the key word here - none of us would leave on a cross-country trip without a roadmap, yet we do it all the time in our business. We tackle each challenge as they come up rarely taking the time to focus on what we truly want to do next.

The best part of the process was sitting down with Sheila yesterday and taking the time to talk about the new year. From trips we want to do to some personal projects, we covered so many different aspects of my business, our life and how we want 2019 to look at the end of the year.

And here's my point this morning - As you get older, you realize from your own experiences and those of friends, that you never know what tomorrow is going to bring. While we all recognize the importance of living for today, we still hold back and too often procrastinate on those things most important. We waste time. We waste energy on things that don't matter. We forget to look out for ourselves and get caught up chasing minutia.

For me, the new year really starts tomorrow. I'm excited about so many different things on the drawing board for 2019, but I'm not going to waste one minute of today thinking about it. My suggestion to all of you is the same - use this last Sunday of New Years week to enjoy the downtime. Cherish having the time to be with family, friends or merely alone to dream. Rest up, recharge your battery, do something you love doing with those people most special in your life.

As always, go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with the people you love and forget about tomorrow for one more day. Then, tomorrow morning, jump in with the energy and the planning you need to follow the path that seems to fit the best. And remember, the best thing about being a small business owner is that you always can change paths as long as you stay focused on what's in your heart!

Happy Sunday!

Sidebar: It only seems fair that I'd finish the year with Sunday Morning Reflections hitting the wrong button last night and posting a half-finished blog post. But since I always like to make a point on Sunday mornings, here's a good one - never work on writing something when you're tired - or at the very least take the time to review what you're doing before shutting down the computer.

We're on a mini-vacation with our son and daughter-in-law. Between Sheila and all of you I'm trained not to miss Sunday mornings and brought my laptop...so, after a great dinner last night, I decided to start laying out my post for this morning early. I knew the fun I wanted to write about and drafted something before bed, never realizing I'd posted it rather than just saved it!  My apologies to those of you who might have had a "what-the-hell?" moment.

Moving right along, here's the memory-maker I wanted to write about...

I always close my Reflections posts wishing you a day of memory-making moments. But, great memories don't always have to be big productions. Sometimes they come out of simple, silly things that just happen in our lives.

The other night our son Brian was telling me about Arby's secret menu. I had heard about it once before, but I thought it was merely an urban myth and something foodies like me dream about. Well, lunchtime rolled around on Friday and even though we had a monster dinner with ribs already cooking "low and slow," off to Arby's he and I went.

We walked into Arby's in search of Meat Mountain. It's a ten dollar extravaganza in an artery clogging, never suggested by your cardiologist sandwich! 

The biggest sandwich Arby’s has ever sold. Stacked ridiculously high with almost all the meats. Two chicken tenders, slices of roast turkey, pit-smoked ham, corned beef, 13-hour smoked brisket, USDA-choice Angus steak, roast beef, and pepper bacon. There’s also cheddar and swiss cheese somewhere in there. (From Arby's website)

Note: Last Sunday, after publishing this post, my buddy Christopher Becker commented on Facebook - "Meat doesn’t clog your arteries. Take the bread off that sucker and it’s a perfectly healthy meal." So whether it's healthy or not, it's fun to order and "fun" is one of those too often lost experiences in our everyday lives!  If you love fast food here's a sandwich to put on your bucket list.

But half the fun of anticipating the culinary delight is the expression on whoever's working the counter when you order it. "Bridget" had never heard of it, but Brian was a pro, as she looked through the menu thinking we were describing other big sandwiches rather than a legitmate item. It was one of those proud Dad moments when he said with authority, "Keep scrolling down - It's on the third page."

And that brings me full circle to a reminder about memory-makers.

While some events in our lives are genuinely life-changing, some of our favorites involve stepping away from life's routines. Before deciding to check out the secret menu we discussed all the practical reasons we shouldn't do it. From the timing that close to dinner to healthy eating - we chose to bypass all logic and like Nike's slogan, "Just do it." Going to Arby's for lunch wasn't earth-shaking - but laughing over a sandwich, and now being a member of a very exclusive club, complete with our own fist-bump handshake is!

Wishing all of you a day of memory-makers and those special moments in life when laughter with somebody important in your life becomes a priority. Remember that memories come in small packages too, and don't miss those moments being practical. Now and then throw logic to the wind. Remember my mantra which I've shared numerous times before:

I do it because I can.
I can because I want to.
I want to because you said I couldn't!
Unknown Author

It's the last Sunday of 2018...go for those eleven-second hugs I always talk about and pack the day full of smiles, so you start out the new year with a stash of chuckles to look back on.

​Happy Sunday and Happy New Year!

Keeping in mind my level of sarcasm this morning, I need to go someplace different and special. Well, there's only one place to go this time of year, and that means I have to warn you I'm about to get sappy.

Whether you celebrated Hanukah earlier in the month or you're looking forward to Christmas Eve tomorrow, I've always been the leader in holiday spirit. It's my favorite time of year, and my appreciation is nonstop. But it all goes well beyond loving this industry and what photographers give the world every day.

This is also a time when Sheila's going to join me in today's post. We've been a couple for eleven years and married for over eight, and we're grateful for all your support, feedback and inspiration. It's been a fantastic year, and it really couldn't have happened without you.  ​ 

December is always a time when all of us focus on the importance of family, friends and the love in our hearts, instead of the craziness of the world around us. And, it's not exclusive to just the United States!  So, in a crazy world of chaos, our wish to all of you is for peace, hope, good health and a time filled with memory-making moments with those people you love most in your life.

I also want to wrap up today's post by keeping it light. I wrote the poem below in 2012 and have modified it almost each December. I'm putting you in an awkward position, dealing with me thinking of myself as an amateur poet laureate.  I bring it out of mothballs every year believing that somebody will recognize my talent and help me launch a reputation right up there with Robert Frost or at the very least a junior Dr. Seuss!

Here it is out of the archives but updated just a little:

Wishing all of you a wonderful holiday season filled with love, compassion and appreciation.  Sheila and I feel so fortunate to know so many of you and have your support.

And as always, go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with those people most special in your life. With each hug think about how lucky we all our to simply have each other. It's a time to appreciate our own little piece of the world around us.  

Happy Holidays!

​Every Sunday I go off track from the business of photography. I write whatever's on my mind and I'm always surprised when what seems like a boring topic that could put a rock to sleep seems to hit home with so many of you. Well, today's one of those mornings, because it's been a pretty fantastic run of just feeling great about life and being happy.

Being "happy" and content with your life isn't something that happens on its own. Happiness runs in waves, but as I've gotten older, I'm finally realizing the timing between waves is up to me. 

Happiness is letting go of what you think your life is supposed to look like.
Unknown Author

​So here I sit this morning pounding away on the computer with this stupid smile on my face, just because I'm happy. That doesn't mean everything is perfect in my life, only that I've learned to appreciate all the good stuff and moved the bad stuff outside! 

Over the years as Sheila and I battled the naysayers in our lives, we started to think of our home as a castle with a moat around it. And, when the sadness and stress from somebody ugly got inside, we'd accuse each other of leaving the drawbridge down for too long. There's a great comment I read once about dealing with challenges in life - "grow through what you go through." Well, that's exactly what we learned to do.

As I write today's post, I hardly have a perfect life. However, I do have a perfect way of appreciating it. The "Negators" can't make it in if I don't let them. The door is always open when they learn to behave with love instead of anger and fear. 
 
I'm just going to start to wrap this up with a terrific quote that covers it all:

Life is too short to wake up with regrets.
So love the people who treat you right.Forget about those who don't.
Believe everything happens for a reason.
If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it.
Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would most likely be worth it.
Paulo Coelho

​The year is rapidly coming to a close, and December is always the perfect time of year to be grateful for the smiles in your life. Just like a squirrel putting acorns away for the winter, cherish the people you care about most and build a stash of memories you can draw from when your happiness is challenged by the baggage people and events leave on your doorstep. Appreciate the now - this very moment in time when, with a smile on your face, you feel like you could take on the world.

I get that it sounds sappy and hokey, but it works. Your life is never going to be perfect, but that doesn't mean it's not a great life and filled with incredible opportunities that can make you smile both inside and out.

Make it a great Sunday. Go for those eleven-second hugs I've written about for years and make it a day filled with memories that will become daily vitamins when times are tough. And, from me this beautiful Sunday morning, thank you for your support, your inspiration and your contribution to the smile on my face right now!

Happy Sunday!

Be Happy!
Not because everything is perfect.
But, because you choose to focus on the perfect moments.
Author Unknown

"Don't let yesterday take up too much of today."
Will Rogers

​As I sat down to write Reflections this morning, I turned to Google for a little help, typing in "quotes about life." That lead me to Will Rogers' quote above, and that got me thinking about a series of events in my life. I found myself letting thoughts of the past take up too much time in the present.  I understood what I was doing, and before the "dark side" consumed me, I chose to write about it this morning.

One of Sheila's favorite expressions is "Don't should on yourself!" All of us do it, with a few people I've met over the years turning it into an art form. Instead of just appreciating the moment, they spend hours analyzing what they should have done instead. It's an analytical defense mechanism as they look at the results from a path they chose, instead of just appreciating what they did, learning from it, and moving on.

Like most people, I have regrets for a few things I've done, but more for things, I didn't do. We all do a little Monday morning quarterbacking from time to time as we look at our decisions. It's okay to look in the rear view mirror as long as you appreciate everything you see is behind you!

"In the end we only regret the chances we didn't take."
Author Unknown

​For years I lacked the confidence to go out on my own. From Polaroid to Hasselblad, PhotoAlley.com and Rangefinder/WPPI I always worked for other companies. I lived vicariously through so many of you, admiring your drive and entrepreneurial spirit.  Had it not been for Sheila, I doubt that I would have ever stepped outside my comfort zone almost ten years ago. 

And that brings me full circle with today's post. At the risk of sounding like a bad rendition of Frank Sinatra's "My Way," we all have regrets. We all have those chances we wish we'd taken and didn't. But here's one of the very best things about life...we've all got today and tomorrow! 

Wishing everybody a day with no regrets, time with the people you love and smile-making moments that help you build a never-ending supply of memories to cherish tomorrow. The year is quickly coming to a close and December is always an amazing month to spread a little cheer and pave the way for a new year.  Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs, but at the same time, don't be afraid to tell the people most important to you how much you appreciate the role they play in your life.

Happy Sunday - and if it's Monday where you are, I'm wishing you the best for the new week ahead.

"Be spontaneous. Be crazy. Leave your comfort zone and live with no regrets."
Author Unknown

​Sheila has a good friend in Naples and headed there to spend time with her this weekend. So, Molly and I headed to Melbourne, Florida to hang out with Vanelli for the day. It's just after 7:00 AM as I write this and I guess I'm about to cross the line into a topic that some of you sadly might find controversial.

Let's start with Vanelli. First, if you don't know Robert Vanelli, he just goes by his last name or "V." He's a three-time Triple Crown Karate Champion, and while it might have been a long time ago, he's still the guy you want on your side in a barroom brawl! But, what many of you don't know about him, is his spiritual soft side; his love for writing poetry and in short being one of the most sensitive and in-tune-with-feelings people I've ever met.

This past weekend, like the last time when he came to this side of the state, we spent a lot of time talking about family and friends we've lost. With each funny story we shared, there always seemed to be a hidden lesson we learned along life's journey. We laughed a lot, but he's one of those people who, if I were telling a story and had a tear in my eye over the memory, I wouldn't feel embarrassed.

Last night over dinner we were exchanging stories, Vanelli about his parents and me about my mine. As he was talking about something his mother said and calling him "Robby," I actually felt like I grew up next door to the Vanellis. I commented, that whether you believe in immortality or not, we've made those special people in our lives, who we've lost, immortal through the love for them that comes out in each story we share. 

I needed to get back to this side of the state and left for the three-hour drive just after dinner. As I drove home I had one wonderful conversation after another with my folks - all brought on thanks to the dinner conversation with Vanelli.

Then, this morning, while reading one of Sheila's Marianne Williamson books, she wrote about healing through the memories of loved ones we've lost. She essentially described the wonderful feelings I enjoyed on the ride home last night.

Finally, this morning I caught a post Vanelli shared on Facebook about a good friend's wife who passed away. He talked about how an old photograph got him talking to her about her husband and their friendship. He closed the post with:

There you have it, my whole point this morning in one stellar sentence from Vanelli. We've all lost loved ones and people who were huge personalities in our lives. They leave big holes in our hearts, but for me, the way to keep them by my side is to have a conversation with them now and then.  Put those conversations together with the memories photographs help capture and I've created a world full of immortality and opportunities to never have them very far away.

The hole in your heart never fills back up, but turning back to a time when life was perfect because of the presence of someone you've lost, does create an unlimited inventory of smiles.  That's one of the things I love so much about the business of photography and at the risk of driving a few of you mad as I quote Jodi Picoult for the tenth time...

​Now, put those photographs and memories together with a conversation now and then with somebody you've lost and miss, and for a few minutes, you'll contribute to their immortality!

Wishing everybody an incredible Sunday, and one filled with great memories and time to appreciate your roots. Everything you are today is a combination of your experiences and things you learned thanks to so many different people, many of whom are no longer with you. Make it a day filled with great memories and take the time to create tomorrow's memories today! Always go for those eleven-second hugs with the people most special in your life.

​Happy Sunday everybody, and to Vanelli, thanks for a great visit buddy!

I'm not sure how Sunday Morning Reflections got started, but it's been a couple of years at this point.  It's ironic that it's become one of my most read posts.

I know I started it because I wanted to write about what I was feeling outside the business of photography. Going off track has become as much for me as it is for you. Often a Reflections post is a blueprint for how I'm about to spend my Sunday.

This morning I had a hard time trying to decide what I wanted to write about when it occurred to me that it's been a long time since I shared Melody Beattie's wisdom. She's an incredibly talented writer, and just like most of you who need that first cup of coffee in the morning, I need something inspirational to get me going. 

A few days ago she shared this short piece of wisdom:

​Sheila and I just came back from our morning walk, and along the way, we decided there was absolutely nothing either of us had on the agenda today. We're just going to kick back, enjoy a day that's wholly stress-free and play. We're going to follow Melody Beattie's lead and take the time to smell the roses!

Wishing all of you a day where you can put the business aside. Make whatever's in your heart a priority and take the time to recharge your battery! As always, go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs, and if you're tuning into this blog late, I read an article in AARP Magazine several years ago that talked about the value of hugs lasting at least eleven-seconds.

And, if you're returning today in traffic wrapping up Thanksgiving weekend...take your time and deal with the traffic from a point of low stress because there's nothing you can do to make the cars in front of you or TSA move any faster! Safe travels!

Happy Sunday everybody!

It's 6:35 am on a Sunday morning, and the house is dark and quiet. It's even too early for Molly to come over wagging her tail for that first scratch of the day behind the ears. Remember, I always go off-track on Sunday mornings. So, I sat down a minute ago with no idea of what I was going to write about, and then it hit me. I want to write about, what I never write about.

Sheila and I have pretty much stopped watching the news. We record World News Tonight and then fast forward through the commercials and the politics. It doesn't matter whether you're a Democrat, Republican or "Waiting," none of us will ever know the truth except the amount of time the politicians waste arguing instead of helping. Yes, I'm a member of the "Waiting" party, like many of you, waiting for Congress to grow up. 

Oops, I'm starting to rant, and that honestly isn't my intention...especially when I want to write about Thanksgiving, but trust me, there's a link to what we hear in the news.

Like so many of you, I'm devastated by the tragedy in the world. At first, I used to think it's always been this bad, but because of social media, we just hear about it faster. But, the world is changing more quickly than we want it to and Mother Nature is especially on a rampage.

Think about the disasters in the news just recently. The fires in California are still raging, but we've never seen entire towns wiped out before with hundreds of people still missing. The hurricane leveled Mexico Beach leaving more people homeless. So many of us have watched the news, but the natural disasters always seemed to take place on the other side of the world. Now they're hitting right here and affecting communities we know and have even been to.

Mother Nature may have the reach to impact more people and create these horrible stories but it's what man is doing that gives me the most nightmares. From the temple shooting in Pittsburgh to the Church shooting months earlier to the security guard who was killed while holding down a suspected shooter and the children who were killed getting off the school bus - the world has run amuck! 

And here we are, safe and sound with Thanksgiving four days away. I know many of you go around the table and share what you're thankful for in your life. Well, how about if this year we're all thankful for our ability to help change the world? How about if we're all grateful, not for what we have, but for what we can do to help slow down the ugliness?

I won't deny I'm thankful for my health, Sheila and my life but Thanksgiving has to go deeper than that. Let's be thankful for our ability to help people who have nothing left to be thankful for, except their health. Let's be grateful for the fact that we can reach out and help somebody else on the planet. Let's put a little pressure on our fellow man to live life differently and just be a bit more helpful to each other.

It's hypocritical that I write about this stuff when in my own family we no longer talk to each other. Thanksgiving was always my favorite holiday and a time for memory-making but the pain and everyone's inability to forgive or even take the first step back to being what we once were, is buried under tons of baggage too complicated to dig through. We're all at fault, and I know we're not unique, but it is sad to see the ugliness in my own family is just a microcosm of the world stage.

So, when you go around the table this year at Thanksgiving, first give thanks that you have a table to sit around, both physically and figuratively. Then give thanks for your ability to help change your little corner of the world. Think about it, if everyone would help make their community a better place, all those small communities add up.

Wishing everyone a beautiful Sunday with plenty of time to think about your corner of the world. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with those people you care the most about. Give "love" top billing today and most important of all, be thankful for all those people in your life who together help make a difference.

And for me, a big thanks to all of you. I appreciate your support far more than a blog post can ever show. Your feedback is so important and together we're all helping to make a difference in an industry near and dear to each of us.

Happy Sunday!

It's one of those Sunday Morning Reflections where as much as I want to go off track and write about something different from what so many other people are going to share, I have to stay true to what's in my heart, and it's Veteran's Day.

So, to our son Brian, who's serving now, Uncle Randy who pretty much sleeps in any one of a dozen Marine baseball hats, my Dad who passed away three years ago this past week and served in the WWII and all my friends and associates who served in Viet Nam or have family in the military now, I'm not only writing the longest run-on sentence I've ever published, but sharing a big heartfelt thank you!

And, to be a little different in my approach I wanted to share a couple of the stories my Dad shared regarding his experience working in the "tower" in the Army Air Corps in WWII. 

Dad played the trumpet all through high school and college until he dropped out to serve after Pearl Harbor. That's Dad in one of the Army Air Corps bands above, second from the right in front of the drummer. 

On a hot, humid day in New Guinea in the 1940's, his CO was looking for musicians. Dad's hand to volunteer couldn't have gone up faster, thinking he was about to score some light duty. All those years playing trumpet were about to pay off! Well, for the next three days he was part of a crew moving pianos for Bob Hope and a USO show!

Dad was part of the "Greatest Generation" and never shared very much about WWII, but a year before he passed away we joined HonorFlight.org and went to Washington. I remember Dad sitting with a group of veterans also on the trip. Dad was based in the Asia Pacific, and they had all been on the European front. Somebody asked Dad if he ever got to meet General MacArthur. I loved his answer, "No, but I brought in his plane a few times!"

So on this Veteran's Day morning, I wish everybody a day of peace - not just inner peace with your life, but the kind our veterans have fought to preserve. Take the time to hug a veteran today, and remind them of the appreciation you have for the sacrifices they made. And, to every parent who joins us with family in the military today - "thank you" is such an understatement.

If you've got a veteran in the family, especially if they're in their 80's or older, check out HonorFlight.org. It's a fantastic group with one goal, to show the appreciation all our veterans deserve and get them to Washington for one more "tour." Just click on the HonorFlight logo below for more information.

"We can't all be heroes, some of us have to stand on the curb and clap as they walk by."
Will Rogers

It's Sunday morning, and as I struggle to find a relevant topic outside of photography, I'm also fighting off a rant. Maybe that's my topic today - we each need to allow ourselves the luxury of a rant now and then. The online definition of "rant" is speak or shout at length in a wild, impassioned way. Synonyms include shout, bluster, yell and bellow. 

Well, it's October, and we're coming up on Election Day. Our mailbox is starting to load up on political postcards; the ads on television with candidates slamming each other have started, and my favorite, the robodialed pre-recorded bullish** from the candidates has begun. They often start out sounding like a public service message reminding us of our civic duty to vote, but they always finish the same way, with a plug for the Democrats or the Republicans.

When it comes to the broadcast world, Sheila and I have become uninformed citizens, pre-recording our favorite shows so we can fast forward through the commercials along with the news. We've got David Muir and World News Tonight down to eleven minutes. We bypass every story having anything to do with Washington - not because we're not interested, but because we have no idea what to believe anymore. 

Millions of dollars every day are spent on the political battles supporting candidates who want to convince us they're here to help make our lives easier. Yet there are hundreds of thousands of kids not getting enough to eat, the homeless crisis is an issue in virtually every community, care for our veterans isn't what it should be, and we don't do enough to support the elderly. And, that's just a start - the list goes on and on.

Think about it for just a second - how many of the challenges that pull at our heartstrings could we change if instead of spending money on phone calls and expensive mailers we put the money into helping people? Just here in Florida alone, how many school lunches could we buy if we fed kids with the money being spent on the obnoxious television battle between Andrew Gillum and Ron DeSantis for governor?

And there it is, the peak of my rant...but picture me screaming a little! How do we stop the madness?

​For Sheila and I, we're involved in our favorite local non-profits we believe in. We can't make the world a better place, only our little piece of it. But, if everybody did something in their little corner of the world - all those pieces together would make one incredible patchwork quilt of community support, enhancing the fabric of America.
 
So, like the monkey in the hear-no-evil trio, I'm shutting down! Right or wrong, I'll do my best to support things I can change and stop wasting time listening to the political banter that hits us in epidemic proportions this time of year. Except, ever notice how these days it goes on ALL year long...but that's another rant!

Wishing all of you a rant-less day and a time of peace with family and friends who you support with your love and compassion. Make it a day to appreciate everything in your life and if you're not involved in a community nonprofit, find a cause you believe in. There's very little more rewarding than working on something you know makes a difference in people's lives.

And, go for those eleven-second hugs I always write about, especially if you're frustrated like we are. You'll find one long hug has an amazing calming quality. It'll help you focus on what's most important in your life, which most often is the "huggee" you're holding on the other side of that long hug!

Happy Sunday!

It's a beautiful Sunday morning in south Florida and one of those days where the humidity has finally dropped, the smell of devastation from the red tide is gone, and there isn't a cloud in the sky. It's one of those days you'd love to be able to bottle and share around the world where storms, fires, and earthquakes have left a painful path of destruction. In other words, for so many of us not affected by all the natural disasters in the news lately, I just feel lucky and appreciate the life Sheila, and I have.

I'm not sure what got me thinking about aging this morning but to survive it truly is an art form. It takes guts to enjoy the process. The truth is, except for my body creaking for ten minutes when I get up each morning I don't feel any older, and according to my wife and friends, there are some pretty funny times when I'm low on the maturity I should have for an "old fart."
 
A few years back, we were out for dinner with a couple who were our age but acted ten years older. Everything they talked about was aging-related - from what they don't eat anymore to their interests. So, I'm sitting here this morning thinking about what's kept us feeling younger...

• Laughter - We laugh a lot, usually over something absurd one of us has said or done. So often it's related to one of us saying something and the other hearing something entirely different. Sheila might ask, "What do you want for lunch?" but I answer, "My hunch about what?" That kicks off a stretch of hysterical laughter and at least one of us proclaiming how funny it's going to be getting old together.
• Exercise - On June 29, 2017, we started walking every morning for half an hour. We take Sunday mornings off, but we've rarely missed a day, and it does make a difference. We often walk before the sun comes up, which gives us a chance to catch some stunning sunrises like the one above. But there's one more aspect to the morning walk that I love - the conversation during the walk. It always starts with one of us asking, "So, what's going on in your world today?"
• Conversations during meals - It might sound simple, but ever notice couples at dinner in restaurants who don't talk to each other? Often they don't even look at each other - they order, eat, pay the bill and leave. We refuse to become one of those couples. 
• Don't take life too seriously - Obviously, there are times when one of us is stressed, but together we help keep things in perspective. There's a lot of predictability in life, but there's also a lot of surprises, both good and bad. We've somehow developed a partnership in working on things we can change and letting things go that we just can't.
• Stop right fighting - Okay, I admit, I've watched Dr. Phil a little, but his line of "Would you rather be happy or right?" is an ongoing mantra. I grew up a right-fighter in a family of pros, and there was a point where happiness finally became a priority. 
• Surround yourself with positive people - I've written a lot about this over the years, and I feel very blessed to have some remarkable friends who have helped me keep the naysayers at bay. We refer to our house as having a moat around it to keep out the negative people who disrupt our lives, challenge our dreams and live to remind us of our imperfections. When they do sneak in, we laugh about who left the drawbridge down!
• Great music - our tastes are as eclectic as our decorating - a mix of rock, folk, Broadway, new age and Jack Johnson, Jim Brickman, Eva Cassidy, Country and Crosby, Stills and Nash. We've got multiple Alexas playing all day every day, and on Sunday mornings, because it goes back to what Sheila enjoyed as a kid, one of the classic gospel stations are usually playing.

"Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude."
Zig Ziglar

And there you have it - the secret starts with your attitude. I can't change the fact that I'm growing older and nothing is going to stop the clock. I love our life, and even with its imperfections and challenges, it's the only one we've got. I remember saying to my Dad once, "You never told me as I got older I'd be waking up twice a night to use the bathroom!" He smiled, winked at me and said, "At least you wake up!"

Wishing everybody a day filled with smiles, time with friends and family and especially time to appreciate the life you've got and the potential to take any path on any journey you want! Go for those eleven-second hugs I always write about. If you're tuning in late as a new reader, I read an article several years ago in AARP Magazine that said hugs lasting eleven-seconds or longer are therapeutic. Try it, and you'll see what they meant!

Most important of all learn to cherish time - it's the one commodity that once spent you can never get back. You don't have to focus on every second, just don't waste it worrying about what's going to happen tomorrow!

Note: The sunrise image was captured with a LUMIX FZ1000 in IA mode, f3.0 @ 1/200 ISO 125 I'm using Luminar2018 a lot and love the results, especially with a couple of their presets. I used the "clarity booster" which brings out a little more detail in the sky without over-saturated the color. I just wanted to share the way it actually looked. #WhereLumixGoes #MadeWithLuminar

It's Sunday morning, and as usual, I have no idea where this post is going. I love staying away from the topic of business, taking the time to write about something outside photography.  This post each Sunday morning is often more for my benefit than you, my readers. It's therapeutic to step away from the business and write about something different. What always surprises me is how much Sunday Morning Reflections hits on things you're all feeling.
 
Sheila and I are having a spectacular weekend but there's absolutely nothing particularly unique; we just wanted to spend time together. In fact, it's an entirely boring weekend by most of your standards. It's the appreciation for our ability to slow the world down and savor our time that makes it unique. If I listed what we've done over the last couple of days it would put a rock to sleep!

And that brings me right to today's point - when was the last time you took time out to enjoy whoever that very best friend in your life is? When did you last shut off the outside world and savor time with that one person who's most special in your life?  

The best kind of people are the ones who come into your life and make you see the sun, where you once saw clouds. The people that believe in you so much, you start to believe in you too.
The people who love you simply for being you.
The once in a lifetime kind of people.
Author Unknown

Time is our most valuable commodity, but as I shared last weekend, it's not wasted time if you enjoy wasting it. So, take the time today and block out everything that pulls you away from that person or people most special in your life. Make today's schedule boring by everybody else's standards but yours.

Clear your head of everything to do with business. It will all be there tomorrow. The same way you can block a troll on Facebook - block all those thoughts that get in the way of your smile.  Celebrate your life, your friends and family. Let's make this a day where we do nothing except smile and cherish somebody special. 

Wishing everybody a perfect day defined by whatever definition is in your heart exclusively - nobody else's. Go for those therapeutic eleven-second hugs, and appreciate the deafening smile and twinkle in your eyes when you take the time to appreciate those people most special in your life.

​Happy Sunday everybody!

Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.
John Lennon

Well, here I am on another Sunday when it seems like I just wrote last Sunday's "Reflections" post yesterday. How fast time flies takes me right to my topic this morning - time.

Now and then Facebook does something thought-provoking. On Thursday I got a congratulations post for ten years on Facebook. I remember getting started and being told by my kids it was creepy seeing their old man on Facebook. Now, we're all on it!

But my thoughts aren't about FB but looking back over the last ten years. The older you get, the faster time seems to fly by, and there are two things I'm thinking about.

First, look back over the last ten years. Think about your life in 2008 versus today and all the things that have changed in your personal life, business and your passion and skill set as an artist. So often we get so involved in chasing our dreams we miss all the progress we've made along the way. 
 
Second, what are you doing to make the most of the time you've got in front of you?

Just about three weeks ago Sheila and I lost a great friend, Tony Ballionis. He and his wife Dana have been in our lives since we moved down here in 2011. He went to sleep the night before and just didn't wake up. It was a complete surprise, and we were crushed, but Tony's passing makes the point that we never know when the clock is going to stop.

And there it is - full circle on my thoughts this morning. What are you going to do to stay focused on whatever journey is in your heart? We all procrastinate and waste time. There are even times when wasting time is the right thing to do because it's part of the decision-making process. 

So, take a little time this morning with a short look in the rear view mirror. Look at how far you've come over the last ten years and then let yourself daydream a little over the path ahead of you for the next decade. In 2028 what do you want to see in your life as you look back?

Chamira Young and I did our "Mind Your Own Business" podcast on Photofocus.com a short time ago with Jen Rozenbaum, who talked about her philosophy to live her life backwards, picturing the end of her life and wanting her trip down Memory Lane to be filled with things she wanted to do and no regrets. It might seem abstract for me to explain here, but listen to Jen's explanation.

Wishing everybody a day filled with the people you love the most who make every minute of every day worth being alive. Take the time for those eleven-second hugs with those friends and family who merely make life beautiful. It's really that simple...stop wasting time on the naysayers, projects that don't make sense, and the energy drainers that leave you exhausted. There's a point in life where you need to stop watering dead plants.

Happy Sunday everybody!

I love Sunday mornings because I never know what I'm going to share. If you're new to SCU, then Sunday Morning Reflections are my way of going off track and stepping away from photography. It's a little ironic that it's become one of my most favorite posts, allowing me to empathize with so many situations we all experience.

Each one of us is unique. We all have different experiences, challenges, passions, dreams, and goals, but this morning I want to write about a common denominator we all share - dealing with people who make assumptions.

This past week I had a couple of truly stupid conversations, one with a photographer and one with an old friend. One discussion was business related, the other personal - but they both involved the individual taking partial information, making an assumption and then acting out in a manner that could have been damaging or hurtful. 

And that brings me to my point this morning and one of my most favorite quotes:

"Don't judge my story on the chapter you walked in on!"
Unknown

That says it all. Don't spread rumors. Don't share information that's wrong or for that matter not yours to share. None of us know the real story on anything except those people directly involved, and it doesn't matter if it's personal or business related. So, if you don't know the facts then either shut up and don't pass them on or pick up a phone and call the person or people involved. Ask for clarification before you share something hurtful.

Most of you are sick of hearing about "fake news," yet as individuals so many of you actively engage in the process, drawing the wrong assumptions and never talking to the people or companies involved. 

So, the next time somebody throws out a statement you know isn't right, let's grow a set and challenge them. Let's all start to question the "experts." Just maybe, if they caught a few times they'll learn to examine their opinions a little more and in the end, help make the world a happier place, or at the very least, more accurate.

And there it is, I'm out of gas for this morning's mini-rant. There's another quote I love that seems to be perfect this morning:

"You've got two ears and one mouth, so listen twice as much as you talk!"
Unknown

Wishing everybody a perfect day, and one filled with a sense of accomplishment, even if it's for your ability to step away from the business and take the time to appreciate your family and friends.  For me it's going to be a perfect day with friends coming up from Naples and just hanging out and appreciating life...along with the grill and a batch of margaritas!

Happy Sunday everybody...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world. 

It's an almost typical Sunday morning, except for the fact that Molly the Wonder Dog had me up three times during the night - something she never does. So, unlike my usual early start to the day, I slept in.  In the process of waking up I thought a lot about what I wanted to share this morning.

I started thinking about the seasonality in the business of photography. That took me to think about the ups, downs, and seasonality we go through in our lives, along with some personal family challenges. Lastly, I found myself thinking about a few new projects, the artificial seasonality in the business with the Photokina show coming up this month, and new products being introduced.

As I sat here at the computer, trying to figure out how to write what I was feeling, I picked up Melody Beattie's book. So often I've found her thoughts to be right on target. Well, 2-3 times a year I share a post from Melody. She never lets me down, especially when reminding me to trust the process, life and the journey we're all on. 

And there you have it - the importance of listening to our heart, and trusting the process whether it's personal or business. When things don't come together with the way you've hoped it's hard to get to that point of trusting the path you're on. It might not be easy to always do, but Shakespeare's "To thine own self be true," couldn't be more appropriate. 

The journey we're all on is never-ending, and it's filled with changes and surprises, many outside our control. All we have to do is stay focused, listen to our hearts and trust.
 
If you've had doubts about whatever journey you're on - give yourself the opportunity to think things through before you change your path. Draw strength from great friends and family and make it a day that allows Melody Beattie's suggestion of magic to begin.

Wishing everybody a terrific Sunday, or Monday if you're on the other side of the world. Always go for those long eleven-second hugs and cherish the people in your life who believe in you and have become part of your journey.
​

I ran across the quote above recently, and it's one of my favorites, but on this Sunday morning, even though I've always believed nothing is impossible, there are times when it just isn't true. Here's an example:
​
We're out of town this weekend and took a ride over to Headlands Beach. With a major storm coming in, I spotted one wishful surfer. He was ready and waiting. Each time there was a swell, I'd patiently watch, camera ready to capture his success. He'd paddle out to catch a wave, but there was nothing to ride. 

No matter how hard he wished for his board to catch "the big one," nothing happened. He had set his goal, made his wishes, focused on his dream but no matter what he did things weren't going to change. I guess it comes it comes with thinking you're going to surf on Lake Erie!  While now and then the surf kicks up and you can have some fun, it's not the California coast and yesterday just wasn't the day for surfing.

Stay with me because there's a point with this Sunday Morning Reflections. I've met so many photographers and business owners over the years, who have a dream but a lousy plan to get there. They get frustrated over the same old results and haven't recognized the need to change their plan. Sound familiar? 

There are things we want in life and we're so over-focused on the dream we lose sight of what it takes to get there. We keep trying to reach our goal over and again without stepping back and simply asking "What am I doing wrong?" We can't see the forest through the trees. Finally, frustrated over not getting the results we hoped for, we give up, often demoralized and drained of the energy and spirit to start over again.

Here's the solution - step back, and bring a friend with you. You need somebody by your side who you trust and who knows you better than you do yourself. You need a goal navigator, to help you see the need to change the route to your destination.  And often, it really is that simple.

You don't need to let go of your goal, just change the plan you've chosen to get there.

A goal without a plan is just a wish.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery​

Wishing everybody a perfect Sunday and time to think about your dreams and goals. And, if you're struggling with how to turn them into reality, take a step back. Bring that special friend along and appreciate how important they are in your life. You don't have to do everything alone.

Always go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs and appreciate the people in your life who make it so unique.

​Happy Sunday everybody...or Monday for my readers on the other side of the world!

Note: Image captured with a LUMIX FZ1000 f3.2 @ 1/1000 ISO 125 (shot in IA mode and processed in Skylum's Luminar 2018)

It seems like I just wrote a Sunday Reflections post yesterday, and here I am on another quiet morning, and as always, off track from the business of photography. In my Fast Food Friday post, I wrote, "You can't capture images that tug at people's heartstrings if your own heart isn't in it."

Well, it applies to everything we do. On a personal level, for the last two weeks, I've been dealing with some challenges with a couple of my own family members. The issues themselves aren't relevant, and too personal to share in a blog. However, some of the things I did to stay focused are relevant to today's post.

My parents always taught us to "do our own dirty laundry." You never shared anything personal with a friend, and often I'm not sure they shared stressful issues with each other. I remember being shocked but also proud of my Dad when he'd go with me to the Caregiver's Support Group meetings while we were dealing with my mother's Alzheimer's. Opening up about what he was feeling to a group of people he didn't know wasn't something his generation ever did, let alone cry during the process.

So, when it comes to your own "dirty laundry," what do you do?  Here are three things that helped me get back on track:

• Share with your partner: I've written a lot over the years about my relationship with Sheila. So, when something happens that's entirely off the charts in internal pain, there's no one better than my wife. I don't have to keep the old stiff upper lip with her. Whether you're married or not, everybody has that one person you can talk to without hitting a wall of judgment. 

• Phone a friend: For me, it was all timing. "Vanelli" and I had planned on hanging out for a guy's weekend, and the timing couldn't have been better. I wrote about it in last Sunday's post, but here's my point. The best thing for me was stepping away from my business, and directly into the fun of photography accompanied by a lot of laughs with a good friend. The image with today's post was captured during a couple of hours of us watching butterflies with a few cameras in our hands.

​

• Expand your skill set: Over the years many of you have talked about how being a photographer has helped you through difficult times, and essentially saved your sanity. Well, this past week I had a one-hour conference call with "Abba" at Skylum. He took two of us through a demo of Luminar, which is remarkable. I'm now hooked and a complete believer. I had experienced a small demo watching Vanelli when he was working on his images of Molly and me, but getting into it myself was another thing altogether. Again, it kept my mind off the pain I was feeling and into the pure joy of creativity.

Here's my point this morning - I grew up as a right-fighter from a long line of genetically dominant right-fighters. I'm still work in progress, and while old habits die hard, my life is richer letting go of the need to prove I'm right. There's a terrific Dr. Phil line, "Would you rather be happy or right?" The last couple of weeks reminded me, the need to be right is a cumbersome commodity. It accomplishes nothing but takes away from the energy you need to be happy. 

The next time you're in an emotional crisis and digging deep to find the strength to focus on your own well-being rather than the challenge itself, do your best to step back and remind yourself of all the good things in your life. Start with that one person you trust the most to help you through the moment then focus on the one person you always forget about trusting, yourself!

Wishing everybody a day filled with peace, and respect for the love you have for your family and friends. And, if coincidentally you're in crisis mode like I am now, take the time to look back at the good times. Run your own "Throwback Thursday" moments through your head and enjoy the process. As always, go for those eleven-second hugs, but during the embrace, think about how much that person means in your life.

Happy Sunday everybody...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world!

"There are some people in life who make you laugh a little louder,
​smile a little bigger and live just a little bit better.
Unknown Author

It's Sunday morning, and I'm not as off-track as usual for Sunday Morning Reflections. Let's set the stage.  Sheila is down in Naples for a "girl's weekend" with a good friend, and I'm hanging out with "Vanelli," who drove over on Friday from Melbourne, FL. We've easily covered a few hundred stories about our parents, life, families, friends, and practical jokes, just to name a few of the topics. Well, after this weekend I feel like I'm one of the only guys in the industry who didn't know Vanelli's background. 

While he goes by Vanelli, he's Robert Vanelli also known over the years as "V." His first career was in Karate, and he's best known for being a three-time Triple Crown Karate champion in '84 - '86. Luckily for all of us, he stepped out of the ring and became one incredibly talented artist, writer, and educator. 

While I know I've hit it so many times before, the best part of this industry is about the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. Well, Vanelli and I have known each other for a long time, but never got in any quality time. This weekend has been terrific, and I managed to even weasel a couple of favorite shots of Molly and me. Sorry everybody, after just being featured in a Throwback Thursday post this past week, she's back again.

But here's my real point this morning. I've heard people talk about how if you're a tennis player and play with somebody better than you, your game gets better. I've experienced that myself scuba-diving with friends who were more accomplished than me. 

Well, the same applies to photography and in part to life. Vanelli is a wealth of information, great stories, practical jokes and while understanding the craft is an incredible asset, it's the way he sees his subjects, puts them at ease and then turns his mind's eye visions into reality. As an author for Photofocus.com and having depth in so many different aspects of life, my "game" just got better on so many levels.

Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote in Ulysses, "I am a part of all that I have met." Well, when Vanelli comes into your life, he isn't just passing through but is committed to the friendship. In the same way, all the people who have come through Vanelli's life have made him who he is today, he in turn has become a part of so many of our lives.

This weekend has been a kick, and a new, guaranteed to be crazy; funny friendship has just kicked off!

As I do every Sunday, wishing all of you a perfect day and time with family and friends - those people most important in your life. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with at least one person who's special in your life. 

Happy Sunday everybody...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world. Regardless, thanks for being part of the SCU family.

PS Check out more of what Vanelli is up to with a click on either image.