Hello! We're finished with week 5 of The 365 More People Pictures Project! As I wrote that sentence, I couldn't help but chuckle at how poorly I named both this project, and last year's 365 Day People Picture Project.
I owe you a bit of an explanation, and I owe myself a little slack. Ok, a lot of slack. Before starting the first project, I thought long enough about the idea of taking a picture of a person every day for a year, to allow it to become an obsession, and then a burning desire. Or maybe the burning desire came first, and obsession followed. (I'd have to think about that, but that sort of chicken-egg-chicken debate is one which I'll never be able to really settle.) I thought about it long enough to know I was going to do it, but not long enough to talk myself out of doing it, or to really consider the actual reality of how it would impact my daily life or schedule. By not giving it enough consideration to discourage myself from doing the project, means I also hadn't given any real consideration to naming the project. I shot out of the starting block with a "working title" and that's what stuck.
The 365 More People Pictures Project was named, or un-named, in exactly the same way. Once the first hashtag is used, you're just sort of stuck with it. So here we are, week 5 of The 365 More People Pictures Project. If you ever decide to do your own 365 Day Project, I hope you'll come up with a brilliant name before you start.
Day 28 - Kari
This is Kari. She was walking the path along the Columbia River when we met.
The happiest thing happening in Kari's life right now, is that she's taking a month-long cruise from San Francisco to Sydney.
I asked Kari if she's been on the receiving end of an act of kindness and at first, she couldn't think of anything because she's been somewhat isolated, recovering from a recent shoulder surgery. After telling me about her surgery, she remembered that one of her friends helped her by taking her to her doctor appointments.
"I'm still trying to figure that out, that's why I'm traveling," Kari answered, when I asked her life's purpose. Kari then when on to say, "what you think about, you bring about." Kari believes instead of focusing on what we're afraid of and "what ifs," we should have faith and focus on what we want.
I asked Kari something about herself which she would consider to be a success and she replied, "my whole life is a success. Everything I put my mind to do, I keep at it till I get there."
I had a nice time hanging out with Kari for a little while longer and hearing some of her wisdom on everything from how to save money on travel, to getting what we want from life. Kari and I day-dreamed for a moment about what it would be like live on a cruise ship rather than in an assisted living facility when we get old.
Bon Voyage, Kari!
Day 29 - Duffy and his Dogs
This is Duffy and his dogs. We met at Mt. Tabor Park. The dogs pretty much look how I look after doing the stairs.
"Walking these guys," Duffy answered, is the happiest thing happening in his life.
I asked Duffy if he's been on the receiving end of an act of kindness and Duffy explained that right now, it's time for him to be on the giving end. It's been a heavy year of giving and caring for sick friends.
"To do your best every day, and to be honest and sincere," Duffy Answered, is his personal mission statement.
I asked Duffy something about himself which he would consider to be a success, and he answered that it would be his outgoing personality.
I love taking headshot-like portraits of people. I didn't have a "style" when I started this project, but over time, I've definitely developed a personal preference and my favorite is taking headshot portraits. You've probably noticed that I love to get up close and personal...so close that you can see the twinkle in a person's eyes, feel a person's sparkle, and even imagine the sound of their voice. Portraits are my favorite. I'm getting better. I'm seeing improvement. However, I'm pushing myself to do more. I don't think there's anything wrong with developing a specialty and over time, you find your own style, but I'm so inexperienced and such a beginner, that I think it's important not to limit myself to just one thing right now. The more we try in photography, and in life, the more likely we are to discover something we love, or something at which we may even be good. At the very least, working outside your comfort zone strengthens and sharpens your skills in other areas. When I take a picture of anything other than a headshot/portrait, such as this, it feels like I could do a better job with my iPhone than with a DSLR. It just takes practice. Lots and lots of practice.
Day 30 - Robert and Collin
This is Robert and Collin. We also met at Mt. Tabor.
"My girlfriend," Robert answered, is the happiest thing happening in his life right now.
"To enjoy myself as much as I can, without hurting others," Robert said, is his personal mission statement.
I asked Robert something about himself which he considers to be a success, and Robert answered, "I'm the first person in my family to graduate from college." Robert paved the way, and now his Sister and other family members have followed his lead.
Day 31 - Raul
This is Raul.
I asked Raul the happiest thing happening in his life right now and he answered, "my Daughters."
When I asked Raul if he's been on the receiving end of an act of kindness, he answered, "all the time. I have good people around me." The day prior, Raul's neighbor brought him dinner, completely out of the blue and unexpected.
"To bring good around me," Raul answered, is his personal mission statement.
I asked Raul one thing about himself which he considers to be a success and he answered, the "great community around me."
Day 32 - Anonymous Dog Walker and Anonymous Dog
This is Anonymous Dog Walker and Anonymous Dog. They were in a hurry, but they paused long enough for a quick picture and to answer a couple quick questions.
"I just got married," answered the anonymous dog walker, when I asked the happiest thing happening in his life right now. I joked that he was in a hurry to get home to his new wife.
"To keep things positive," is the anonymous dog walker's personal mission statement.
Day 33 - Paige
This is Paige. We met at the bus stop.
"I'm going to a show with my girlfriend," Paige said, is the happiest thing happening in her life right now.
When I asked Paige if she's been on the receiving end of an act of kindness, she said that the cashier at the grocery store was nice, and that everyone had been nice today. We talked about how when we're feeling happy or nice, we seem to attract other nice and happy people. I know, personally, an extremely friendly cashier can also lift my spirits and put me in a great mood when I've otherwise been stressed or preoccupied with something else. Paige then took that friendly experience and passed it forward. Paige had purchased a bunch of juice because it was on sale, and then proceeded to give some of her extra juice to a stranger, just because they needed it.
When I asked Paige if she had a personal mission statement or if she could think of one, she asked if she could share her Dad's instead. Paige's dad had just recently told her that he thought he'd finally figured it all out and asked her if she wanted his philosophy of life. He had written it down for her on a little note card. I'm going to share with you Paige's Dad's Philosophy of Life, exactly as he wrote it down for her. (Between Paige's recollection and my hastily written notes, we had changed things a bit. After our interaction, Paige and I became Instagram friends and she shared her Dad's note, so I'm taking it straight from the photo of her Dad's Philosophy of Life.)
Find something to do that you love and learn to do it as well as you can.
Find a partner to share life with.
Leave the world a better place than you found it.
Treat other people the way you want to be treated.
Enjoy life!
Such great wisdom from Paige's Dad. This project has taught me one unexpected skill, which is how to keep the tears from welling up and actually spilling onto my cheek." Paige's Dad's words were so loving. I had to fight to keep my tears hidden. My heart was just so touched by Paige's Dad's love for her, and his obvious pursuit of the meaning of life.
Day 34 - Alicia
This is Alicia. She was packing up from having spent the day as an exhibitor at the Vancouver Peace and Justice Fair.
I asked Alicia the happiest thing happening in her life right now and she explained that she's soon going to get an apartment through the Share Aspire program, through the council for the homeless. Alicia shared more about her circumstances, but rather than elaborate, I'd rather just be encouraging and supportive of the next chapter in Alicia's life and wish her the best of luck and success.
I asked Alicia if she had a personal mission statement and Alicia explained that her personal mission statement is the same as the mission of her business/organization, Casa De Las Palomas, - "To promote peace, justice and well-being for all citizens, equally."
When I asked Alicia something about herself which she considers to be a success, she answered, "my business."
The subjects from this week, with a guest appearance from a subject's dad, have shared the following wisdom with us:
- What you think about, you bring about.
- To do your best every day, and to be honest and sincere.
- To enjoy myself as much as I can, without hurting others.
- To bring good around me.
- To keep things positive.
- Find something to do that you love and learn to do it as well as you can.
- Find a partner to share life with.
- Leave the world a better place than you found it.
- Treat other people the way you want to be treated.
- Enjoy life.
- To promote peace, justice and well-being for all citizens, equally.
Sincere appreciation to all of the subjects from this week, and throughout the entire project. Thanks to you for following along.
Wishing you a happy and productive week!