As my thirties slowly come to an end and I approach that ominous mid-life 40th birthday, one of the concepts I battle with daily is whether my life is a success or a failure. Sure, I've had a few miss steps along the way, but I think I continue to grow and learn with each year, which is really all you can ask for, right?
One of the things I love to observe is the energy given off and received at various events. I think that's why I love photographing sports so much. The youth involved in high school athletics always have such a joyful exuberance about life. To watch them compete and capture that excitement in pictures always brings me joy. Those memories are such a small part of life, but a part I feel honored to share with them.
I recently was invited to meet a new addition to this world. And I must say the energy a newborn gives off is like nothing else I've experienced. The love two parents exhibit is palpable. To just sit in it for a few hours is an experience in itself. It's something I'll never forget. The love a new mother has for her creation is above all else. And to see it, and talk about it, helps me realize the importance of the miracle of life my parents gave to me. Thanks MOM & DAD!
This year, like many before it, has been a trying time financially for me. To sit on the verge of a business breakthrough for so many years, yet never quite figure out how to take things to the next level is trying at times. Many of my friends make twice as much money as me and that realization is always tough for me to handle. If life is judged on the bottom line, then, obviously, I'm not winning. But winning and surviving are two separate things. I survive. I do it by continually working hard and relying on my work ethic to get by in life.
Giving up on something is tough. I've thought long and hard about giving up on my business ventures, but something always stops me. I think I'm stubborn. I think I'm scared. And I think I'm afraid to give up because, if I do, that admits failure. And nobody wants to be a failure. So I struggle through.
I recently had a conversation with my dad about money and the possibility of starting over at my age to give myself a better financial future. My dad had two careers and always did well financially, but I think my path is obviously different from his and that's sometimes hard for him to understand. My path has been chosen and it's not the easy one. My path involves long hours, struggle and sacrifice. It's what I've chosen and what makes me who I am. I was raised to skimp, save and get by, so it's what I know. It's in the genes my mother lovingly passed down to me. That Dutch blood runs deep through my veins and it's what will get me through this week, this year and many more to follow. They say you gotta just keep on keepin' on. So the next time you wonder how Brian's doing. Just know he's busy keepin' on. Because failure is not an option.
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