There are too many days when I wake up and jump right into the news. I openĀ up the paper and get bombarded with very little information that seems joyous. It tends to cloud my judgment and can even sour my day. I’m not sure why I am, like many others, drawn to bad news and tragedy.
What makes this even worse, is the tendency to start to view the world as a bad place full of bad people. I stereotype by geography and profile by association. In turn, I start to interact with the small world parts that I touch with a sense of caution and suspicion.
But I know there is a way to make the day better. From the mouth of a leader known for his focus on non-violence and peace,Ā Mahatma Gandhi, comes very sage advice. His message is clear; “You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty”
When I craftedĀ the picture that accompanies this post, I was trying to show the frailty of the argument that IĀ can’t assume to see the whole world when all IĀ have to look at is a part no bigger than a single drop of water. I have to look beyond the dirt and the grime that can cover me in daily news. Every once in a while I need to wash off the gritĀ that obscures my vision and let my eyes see a much cleaner view of what surrounds me.
Dewitt Jones, a well know photographer for National Geographic has promoted a great way to see each day withĀ what he calls,Ā “Celebrate What’s Right with the World.” It’s a fantasticĀ blog and a great way to stay reminded of the good things that make this world a great place to be.
I am going to try and celebrate moreĀ good; so I can better handle thingsĀ when the bad creeps back in.
ā¦Photo Tipā¦Ā I like to think that creativity is the cornerstoneĀ of fun photography. Like not being afraid to laugh out loud, or dance in the rain– photography should be allowed to reflect who you are not who you think others want you to be. I take pictures that I never touch after the shutter snaps and I have pictures that through the magic of Photoshop resemble little of the original. I use photography to express emotion and capture moments in time that need to be preserved. Don’t be afraid to get creative!
