The year of adventure
Another new year, another new start. There are many emotions that go into thinking about everything that a "New Year" entails... Fear of the unknown, anticipation of the journey, curiosity about the order of circumstance and excitement over the adventure of it all. Part of me wishes I knew what to expect out of this year, but then again part of me is blissfully content to remain naive. But with all the possibilities it is hard for a dreamer like myself not to wonder what this year will bring, or not bring for that matter.
Last year I barely broke the surface of exploration with the few adventures I was able to enjoy. I was left feeling hungry for more and so I have decided that this year it will be my mission to explore new things as often as possible and to blog about at least one of those experiences each month. It doesn't have to be far or daring or crazy, it just has to be new (or new to me anyway).
In January I had my first adventure of the year and it changed my entire perspective on the word "community". There is a new craze happening right now that brings online community into the real world. Socality is an organization committed to creating spaces of belonging online and turning these into real life interactions. They encourage others to use their social influence collectively to develop local communities that are connected globally. With the use of Facebook Groups, Socality is helping to turn online interactions into real life friendships. It's easy to join, just visit their website at www.socality.org and find your local community. Once you join the group on Facebook you can chat with others and see when others might be hosting "Instameets" in your area.
A couple of weeks ago a dear friend of mine invited me to one of these events and I must say it was extraordinary. There were about twenty people who met at the Bronson Caves in L.A. Twenty people with different backgrounds, different stories but all with a love for people and for photography. It was amazing to meet new friends and be able to take fun creative photos in a beautiful location. We stayed at the caves, chasing light and shadows, until just before the sun fell behind the hills. We were having so much fun getting to know each other that we were not quite ready to go home so we opted for the next best thing... FOOD! We made our way to the Art District downtown where we gathered around one long table to enjoy some braughts and fries. There was plenty of life and laughter happening around the table that night, and because of that, this is an experience I will not soon forget.
As someone who, not too long ago, uprooted her life and moved to a new place with new people, I can not stress enough the importance of community. It is vital for one's emotional well being to surround yourself with people of similar passions and beliefs, people who can pull things out of you that you never knew you were capable of. That day, in those caves, I met an entire group of people who each inspired me in vastly different ways. They challenged me to see things differently, to dig deeper while learning more about my craft and to be more confident in my art. Photography is an art as unique as each person behind the camera. We've all heard the saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words." But a good picture should be about more than just words, it should invoke emotion and even inspiration. Now I am not claiming to be an expert by any means. I do not have a degree in photography or art. It is just something that started as a hobby and turned into a passion. Life is full of beauty, adventure and love. I am merely blessed with the gift of capturing those moments and sharing them with whoever will pay attention. Thanks for being apart of my journey.
Until next time... keep exploring,
Liz