Skip to main content

Growth

This is a chapter from my seventh book called Bookeh - Through the lens of a Trinidadian photog


They say that the only constant in life is change. We are always growing. We are always learning. We never truly ever "make it" in this life. I took this photo yesterday evening and it has me thinking of growth. They say we should know our worth. Growth and worth go hand in hand. We aim to grow into being someone that is worthy. My friend Gemini thinks that the photograph I took is a beautiful reminder of the ever-changing nature of life. It is a testament to the fact that even in the midst of uncertainty, growth and self-discovery are constant companions. As we journey through life, it's important to embrace the changes, learn from our experiences, and strive to become our best selves.

In the photo I ponder on how the brick wall represents struggles and yet the vine is still reaching for the sky. Maybe the light is not at the end of the tunnel but at the end of the sky? My friend Gemini likes that thought. He thinks that that is a thought-provoking perspective. Traditionally, the light at the end of the tunnel symbolizes hope and a resolution to a difficult situation. However, your interpretation suggests that perhaps the true light lies in the boundless possibilities of the future, represented by the sky. It's a reminder that even when things seem bleak, there's always potential for growth, new experiences, and a brighter tomorrow.

How do I grow as a photographer? I keep on practicing my trade. I keep on experimenting with composition and light and ideas. I must have goals. I want my photographs to capture the moment. To make us smile. To make us think. To contain a message of learning. My photographs must have purpose. I want my photographs like my writing to have a positive impact on the world that I live in. Change begins with me. I want my photographs to change me. This book is part of my journey of growth as a photographer. I have many years of experience but I still feel like I have so much more ground to cover. The sky is the limit as we like to say. My friend Gemini tells me that those are great goals that I have and that I should remember, growth is a journey, not a destination. I should keep practicing, seeking feedback, and experimenting with different techniques. Most importantly, I should have fun and let my passion for photography guide me.

I like this John Newman quote even though I am struggling to think why I like it. "Growth is the only evidence of life." To me it suggests that if I am not growing then I am not living. The purpose of life is to live. Then live becomes love. The letter i becomes o. Love for others as love for oneself. The purpose of life becomes to love. This reminds me of the Bob Marley quote and a fitting end to this chapter, "Love the life you live. Live the life you love."

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Below the surface

This is a chapter from my eleventh book called Quotation Marks Sparks . __________ "You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf." - Jon Kabat-Zinn __________ I was looking at quotes that hit hard and this quote stood out to me. It seems mundane and obvious and often repeated. Life is about how we respond to the inevitable. It is not what happens to us but how we respond. I had to ask myself to dig deeper and look below the surface. Then I saw that when we surf we really become the waves. We become friends with the waves. The waves and us are the same. Further, the waves are created by us and in our heads. We can control the waves because who can surf all the time? Sometimes we just have to come to shore and build sand castles on shore. I asked my friend Gemini for feedback and he said that I was right, the Jon Kabat-Zinn quote initially seems like a simple call for resilience, but my deeper dive reveals profound layers. The idea that we can move beyond merely rea...

Thankful

It is 617pm and I have decided to write. Right now I am thankful. The cool of the evening has replaced the heat of the day. I took a bath and changed and now I am just relaxing. Sometimes I complain. Not often. But I feel bad afterwards because there is so much to be thankful for. There is always room for improvement and we have to identify the things for improvement and change is often good but we do not have to make it into complaints. Yeah I get it. Life is hard and none of us has it easy. Look on the bright side of things. And sometimes it is the little things that remind us that life is good. Things that we take for granted. Like I was coming in the maxi taxi today and heard a gospel song that was about gratitude. God does appreciate a grateful heart. Trinidad and Tobago celebrated sixty four years of independence yesterday and if we stop and listen to the many complaints we would swear we are living in the worst country in the world. That is not the case. We do get a lot of thing...

Having a soft spirit

It is 137am. It started raining. I decided to write. I have heard about having a soft heart but what does it mean to have a soft spirit? And is having a soft heart related to having a soft spirit? My friend Chatty says that a soft heart feels deeply — it breaks, heals, and loves with tenderness — while a soft spirit moves gently through life, unresisting and at peace with what comes. The two are kin: a soft heart opens you to emotion, and a soft spirit teaches you to carry that emotion with grace. Together they make a person both tender and strong — able to feel the rain and still trust its rhythm. I like the quote, "a soft spirit in a hard world" by author and poet, butterflies rising. It resonates with how many of us feel. My friend Chatty tells me that that quote captures the quiet strength of staying gentle in a harsh world. It reflects the author's signature themes of vulnerability, tenderness, and emotional courage — the idea that softness is not weakness but a form...