LIFE LEADS
that they loved to do, that h lit th them up, that was fulfilling and to find a way to do it well enough to get paid. No Plan B. The secret to ‘success’ was in finding their ‘thing’.
The problem was I was a hypocrite. I wasn’t practising what I was preaching.
So, between the extreme discomfort of this self-revelation and the fact I was 52 and broke, I had no choice but to make it happen. It was overcome or submit. And the irony was that in overcoming instead of submitting, I proved to myself that committing fully to something fulfilling really is the secret to a purposeful, contented life.
After the brain cells recalibrated and I could let go of the fear, relocating to Charters Towers to be near my parents, both 87 and still independent, was an unmistakably great idea. So, I packed my Corolla with my camera gear and some clothes and headed off back to the North.
How many people my age have the luxury of being able to just up and go like that?
To be able to hang out with their parents at this time of their lives? That’s freedom and I chose it.
One of the hardest things around my departure from Melbourne was leaving Stephen, 31 years after we first met, 26 of them married and all of them geographically together.
It was strange knowing I would be so far away from him. We have done so many great things together, of course most particularly, create four remarkable k humans. We will always be partners as parents to these four remarkable humans. We will enjoy being grandparents together (insert loud innuendo to said ‘remarkable humans’). I will forever be thankful for having him in my life and I will miss him.
I was lucky enough to grow up in the bush, in the fold of a family that believed in the foundation blocks of truth and love with a good dose of work ethic thrown in for good measure.
Life has thrown some wobblies and I am clear that this is what provides the “school of life”. In my case it gave me the opportunity to discover my own strengths. We are endowed with this at birth and it’s our job in life to find it and to use it to our best advantage, but more importantly, to make a difference to those around us.
What does 2020 hold for us all? As my amazing Mum says, “be open, be patient and see what pops up!”
After reading a terrific book last month by Simon Senik The Infinite Game, I’ve taken that title on as my intention for the year.
Life is a wonderful game and we get to say how we play it.
What I do know is that I get to play full out in the game of being an extraordinary wedding photographer and making a difference to couples on the biggest day of their lives. This is what thoroughly inspires me.
And let’s see what pops up.