"Anticipation" - A Key Ingredient to Slowing Down Aging

by Skip Cohen

As I sat down to write Reflections this morning, I had no idea what I wanted to share. I started by pondering what was happening in the world; overwhelmed, I switched gears and decided to focus on what was happening in my head. My first thought was the excitement of heading to Detroit for ClickCon two weeks from today.

For over thirty years of speaking at conferences and workshops, I've always recommended that people attend as many events as possible. Why? Even the smallest workshop is about recharging your battery. It's about expanding your skill set, exchanging ideas, being inspired, and, oh yeah, having FUN!

"Fun" is one of those words too often lost under the stress of running a business. We simply forget to have fun, and it's usually not until it's too late that we realize it's the missing ingredient. A great conference as a photographer is about reinforcing why you went down the imaging path in the first place.

For me personally, my keynote on July 29 is especially exciting—it's going to be one of my last presentations. I want it to be the best I can make it and packed with ideas to help attendees get closer to the success they imagined when they started their journey. I'm not ready to fully retire, but it is time to slow down and smell the roses.

I don't want to turn today's post into one about aging. While I creak for ten minutes when I get out of bed in the morning, according to Sheila, I'm no more mature. And when we look at the two of us, we seem younger than most people our age. We're certainly younger than our parents were when they were our age!

Here's my point - it's the presence of anticipation that keeps us young. It's the energy I feel as I put together my program. It's the pure joy of thinking about catching up with old friends, making new ones, and being in an environment of passionate people. 

Many years ago, I wrote, "You can't create images that tug at people's hearts if your own heart isn't in it." Well, it's not just about capturing photographs, but in everything we do. I am the quintessential example of a guy with an excess of Peter Pan genes - you know, the ones that, throughout our lives, keep screaming, "Don't grow up."  Fifty-four years ago, I stumbled into this industry at Polaroid, and it's been a kick, every day since.

Wishing you a day filled with anticipation for whatever you see on the horizon. Take the time for an occasional look in your rearview mirror - it's one of the best ways to appreciate how far you've come. Looking forward is how you draw from the power of anticipation, especially when the word "fun" is in the mix.  Always go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I've written about for the last ten years, and whoever your "huggee" is, think about how much richer your life is because of them!

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

PS I hope to see many of you in Detroit - what a kick this conference will be.
 

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