Hello! Thank you for reading week 30 of The 365 More People Pictures project. I'll soon post week 31, which are the subjects from this past week, and then we're officially caught up! I've continued taking a picture of a person every day but I managed to let myself get behind in the blog posts. If you'd like to follow along daily, my Instagram username is @missellanea.
Day 203 - Lillie
This is Lillie. We met outside of Mod Haus in downtown Vancouver. You may remember Mod Haus. Lynn, the owner, was day 119 of my first project. It's such a great shop! When you're in downtown Vancouver, be sure to stop in and say hello to these ladies! They have great style and they'll help those of us who need a little help finding our own style.
The happiest thing happening in Lillie's life right now is that she's an honors student and almost finished with her Associates degree. Lillie is studying Japanese. It was both funny and impressive because several times she naturally spoke in Japanese instead of English. She's clearly comfortable and fluent in the language.
As soon as Lillie got in front of the camera, it was obvious she's done some modeling. I've said it before, but modeling takes a special skill and we often underestimate the amount of talent required of models. Models truly have something special and unique and even my amateur/beginner eye can immediately spot when someone has modeling experience. I can't articulate it properly and I was going to say that when a model is in front of your camera, you can tell the exact moment when they turn their model on. As I was typing the words, I was struck with the thought that it's more like models turn themselves off. They momentarily disconnect from themselves, take on a new persona, and become this pliable form who is eager to create cool images with a photographer. I'm still so new and learning, so I haven't really taken full advantage of the few opportunities I've had with the models I've accidentally met in this project. I've been so awestruck as I watch them transform in front of my very eyes. Lillie has that something special.
Lillie's recent act of kindness also relates to her modeling as she's recently modeled for a few local shops for free, and in return, a few of her photographer friends have photographed her which is helping her build her portfolio. Everyone wins.
When I asked Lillie her life's purpose, she responded: "To grow as a human being, to become more self-aware, to learn from others and hopefully teach something along the way." Lillie then added, "traveling wouldn't hurt either!"
"I try to be as amiable as I can be...my personality is a success," Lillie answered, when I asked something about herself which she would consider to be a success. Indeed. Lillie was so sweet!
Wishing you lots of success with everything you set out to do, Lillie! Thank you!
Day 204 - Aaron
This is Aaron. We met on the street. The happiest thing happening in Aaron's life right now is his job.
Aaron's recent act of kindness is that he bought food for some homeless people.
When I asked Aaron if he has a personal mission statement or life's purpose, he said that he has a quote he likes to live by: "What do you do when no one is looking?"
"I have a large friend base from all walks of life," Aaron answered, when I asked him something about himself which he would consider to be a success.
Thank you, Aaron.
Day 205 - Zach
This is Zach.
The happiest thing happening in his life right now is that he just moved in with his girlfriend.
I asked Zach if he's recently performed an act of kindness or if he's been on the receiving end of an act of kindness. On the receiving side, Zach's best friend helped him move. On the giving side, Zach does volunteer work at a soup kitchen.
"Learn something new every day," Zach answered, when I asked if he has a personal mission statement or life's purpose.
When I asked Zach something about himself which he would consider to be a success, he answered, "I have a lot of friends."
Thank you, Zach.
Day 206 - Maurice
This is Maurice. He was two people ahead of me while we were in line at Starbucks. I couldn't hear the conversation but Maurice, the barista, and the person in front of me were all laughing about something. When I looked up to see Maurice, he had the warmest, most friendly smile I've seen in a while. I didn't want to bother him, but I just couldn't resist asking Maurice if I could take his picture for the project.
"I'm in the process of writing a book," Maurice answered, when I asked the happiest thing happening in his life right now.
When I asked Maurice if he's recently performed an act of kindness, or if he's been on the receiving end of an act of kindness, he thought for a while and then jokingly explained, "I live the life of a hermit." Maurice is working on his book and he said he doesn't get out much, other than his Starbucks breaks. However, he said that his daughter visited last month and while she was in town, she did all kinds of nice things to help Maurice.
I asked Maurice his life's purpose and he answered, "right now...just to get that book finished." Maurice has been working on the book for 5 years, but paused when his wife passed away, and then again when he was dealing with health problems. I asked when he anticipates its completion. Maurice thinks he'll finish in 6 months. Maurice said he should probably say that more often, so that it will become reality. I agreed and explained it's part of the reason I ask some of the questions I do. The more we talk of something, the closer we are to making it happen.
When I asked Maurice something about himself which he would consider to be a success, he laughed and said that he would have to go back to his youth. "I was chosen to be on a particularly good Rugby team," Maurice said. I think Maurice has many more successes in addition to his Rugby career, and I'm wishing him good luck that he will soon add "finished writing a book," to his list of successes.
Thank you, Maurice! May the words flow freely and easily for you, and in the perfect order.
Day 207 - John
This is John. We met on the street.
"Life itself," John answered, when I asked the happiest thing happening in his life right now. John explained that he's made a lot of changes in the past few months and he's feeling good about things.
I asked John if he's recently performed an act of kindness and he said that he tries to do little things every day. Doing things for others makes him feel better than being on the receiving end of kindness.
John's life's purpose: "Constant forward movement. Constant forward progression."
When I asked John something about himself which he would consider to be a success, he said that it was the way he was able to meet a person and connect with them.
Thank you, John!
Day 208 - Matthew
This is Matthew. We met at the bus stop.
"I got a new job," Matthew answered, when I asked the happiest thing happening in his life right now.
Matthew's recent act of kindness is that he helped a man in a motorized wheel chair who had become stuck as he was trying to make it over a curb.
"To love," Matthew answered, is his life's purpose.
When I asked Matthew something about himself which he would consider to be a success, he answered, "my happiness, because I'm in charge of it."
Thank you, Matthew.
Day 209 - Bruce
This is Bruce. We met at the park along the Columbia river on a beautifully sunny day.
"Getting to know who God really is," Bruce answered, when I asked the happiest thing happening in his life right now. Bruce has endured a few difficulties the past few years. He broke and seriously injured his leg, was divorced, and now his injured leg is causing more serious problems again. Through it all, Bruce has found comfort and strength in faith in God.
When I asked Bruce if he's performed an act of kindness or if he's been on the receiving end of kindness, he answered, "both." Bruce was a very shy person and didn't think he had much to offer, other than his skills in construction, but now he considers himself to be an "encourager." When he was working, before his injury, he would help build and re-build in distressed areas and he would like to return to that some day when he's healed again. "We are so valuable, we don't even understand it," Bruce said, when he spoke of our purpose to be used by God to contribute to something bigger. He's also been on the receiving end of kindness, finding support in his new group of friends he's met through Church.
"To love and help other people," Bruce answered, when I asked his life's purpose.
I asked Bruce something about himself which he considered to be a success and he answered that he was a successful builder, he's raised 4 kids, and he's maintained a positive attitude.
Bruce and I continued to visit for quite a while and I was so glad to have met him that day.
Thank you, Bruce.
Here's the summary of the personal mission statements and life's purposes of the subjects from week 30:
- To grow as a human being, to become more self-aware, to learn from others and hopefully teach something along the way.
- What do you do when no one is looking?
- Learn something new every day
- right now...just to get that book finished."
- To love
- To love and help other people
- Constant forward movement. Constant forward progression
Thank you for following along, and thank you to each and every subject in this project.