I’m always astonished pleasantly surprised when I realize I’ve made another trip around the sun. This year, I forgot how old I was turning, and was convinced for a good week or so that I was a year younger than I actually am. Time is funny that way. Somedays I feel much, much younger. On other days, I feel every bit my age.
With age comes wisdom though (right?!). And with birthdays being a marker for reflection, I wanted to share a few of the most important things I’ve learned so far.
You are not your work. Be purpose-driven, not performance-driven.
Have at least one thing (not work!) you’re really passionate about (food! travel!)
Nobody else is thinking about you as much as you are. (Spotlight effect!)
Play more. Be silly. Laugh. Have fun. It keeps you young at heart.
Find your therapy. And ideally, find it outside and in motion. (Biking is mine!)
Be honest, even if it’s hard in the short term. Even if it’s hard for someone else to hear.
Protect yourself and cut your losses if someone or something is toxic.
Be kind. And learn to be especially kind to yourself (if you wouldn’t talk to a good friend that way why would you talk to or belittle yourself that way?).
Relationships are worth more than everything else in your life. Foster them.
One of the best things I started doing last year was using the 1-1-1 method. I tweaked the original slightly, eliminating the point of tension, and preferring to note one observation instead. This keeps me engaged and curious during the day. So, at the end of each day, I write down one win, one observation, and one point of gratitude. It’s done wonders, especially the gratitude. Try it.
So here’s me another year older, and here are 5 things I was looking at and loving:
Andy Adams aka Flakphoto did a great round-up of some great eclipse photos. This frame by Peter Garritano was one of my personal faves.
This piece moved me on the This American Life podcast when Reporter Dana Ballout sifted through the list of journalists killed in the Israel-Hamas War—and highlighted a few small fragments of the lives of the people on it.
These Magnum darkroom prints are amazing, and feature the marks and inscriptions by Magnum master printer Pablo Inirio, or in some cases the photographer themself. Speaking of Magnum, I’m excited for Peter van Agtmael’s new book Look at the U.S.A. I like the way he thinks about photos and sees the world in a different way.
I've read some good books this year (Stay True, Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, Let Us Descend), BUT I just finished a gorgeous novella (I was late to it, it was published in 2009!) and it may be my favorite so far... Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera.
And lastly, a nod to the World Press Photo of the Year global winners. There’s some powerful and important work that was honored. Spend some time with it.
Happy birthday! All this is very interesting, thanks for sharing. May I recommend checking out the work of Lourdes Almeida, a Mexican photographer who has covered border crossing stories for a while. I think you'd appreciate her work.
Love it, and Happy Belated!