Re-igniting Passion

Every once in a while you wonder, "what am I doing and why am I doing it?" Sometimes... you just need to step back from life and give yourself a chance to breathe and reflect on what's really happening, and maybe even see things through someone else's eyes. That can apply equally to all areas of our lives: our jobs, hobbies, passions, relationships...

One of my passions is my photography business. I've been photographing professionally since 1983, first with very little training, and then with lots of training. I've become certified through the Professional Photographers Association and have even become president of Professional Photographers' Society of NY State , but still sometimes you have to step back and breathe.

This last week was awesome for me -- refreshed, challenged, socialized, appreciated, exercised! Who'd have thought you could get all that out of one teenie weenie week of "school" on something you've already been doing for over 20 years! But, I did. Got a new lease on my photographic life from this fellow named J. Michael McBride. Seeing the world through another's eyes and heart is sometimes just the window we need to look through. So, I've had a re-awakening, and a re-acquaintance with the reasons that I started doing what I do.

If you're asking yourself the same kind of questions about things in your life, find someone who's doing what you're doing, living the life you want(ed) to live, having the happiness you'd started out in search of... and get positioned to see the world through their eyes. Maybe you'll have a reawakening and a re-acquaintance too :-) Then, when you're all happy and beaming... call me. Maybe I'll hook you up with a nice portrait.

Have an awesome day!

Kelvin

Happy Birthday, "Peace"

On July 9, 1927 a child was born in Portsmouth, VA who was named, John Willie. 26 years later in 1953... John Willie became my father. Over the years, we came to call him "Peace", as a private joke amongst the family and some close friends.

You don't hear me mention him much... because over the years, my father and I... well... we had some issues, and to say that we didn't see eye to eye on a lot of things would be a bit of an understatement. Still, through all of that, there's a lot about me... and the person I became... that derives from him.

He was an educated man, most of which he didn't obtain until he was well into adulthood. He became a minister when I was a baby, and in following years amassed several degrees: Bachelor and Masters of Sociology, Bachelor of Theology, Master of Theology (I think), a Doctorate of Pastoral Psychology and an honorary Doctor of Divinity -- to name a few. And for many of those papers and theses... I was his young typist.


He died on August 22, 2002, losing his battle to prostate cancer which metastasized to his bones, and whether he and I saw eye to eye or not, that was a pain that I did not wish on him. Many people saw him as a hero -- many did not. The church was full for his funeral, and for the two hours of service we had for him the night before, which for anyone else would have been just "calling hours."

So, today is his birthday and he is on my mind. The inscription on the back of one of these photos reads, "To my son Kelvin, with love. Pop" The other reads, "To Kelvin and Michael, with love. Dad (Peace) / Pop-pop). I'm not really certain that I ever really said good-bye to him. It's 6 years later; I guess it's time.

To Reverend Doctor John Willie Ringold, Happy Birthday, Peace! Rest well. I loved you too.

Your son,

Kelvin

Make Somebody's Day!

I dashed to catch the elevator, this morning, "Can you hold that car, please?" After the customary amenities, "hi...what floor...5? Okay, thanks...." one of the occupants asked, "How are you today?" I said, "I'm wonderful. The sun is shining, no hurricanes, no tornadoes, no thunder storms... we're cooking with gas, here." She chimed in, "Yeah, no earthquakes, we got up this morning, moving around on our own power" (hmmm... made me wonder if she reads my stuff... LOL.) I said, "Exactly," and we chuckled.

Then we left elevator and approached the next door, which usually opens automatically when you get close (infrared-triggered, I suspect), but it didn't work. I said, "gosh... that used to open when I walked up to it; it made me feel special. I guess I'll have to find another way to feel special." My elevator partner responded, "Well, you made my day this morning, so that should make you feel special." I said, "Thank you, you're right. Meet you at the elevator tomorrow, same time."

Sometimes... it doesn't take a lot to brighten someone's day, and when you do, your day is brightened automatically.

So, make yourself happy. Go and brighten someone else's day.

Have a great one.

Kelvin

Born Leader... or not?

Born Leaders! They're out there, you know. We all know one -- resourceful, likeable, everything they touch turns to gold! Always on top of things, nothing ever phases them, nothing is ever a problem, nothing ever stands in the way of them winning; the epitome of "rags to riches" and "lemons to lemonade."

But, not all of us are so empowered, and if we happen to have that kind of success in one area of our life, we wonder why we don't have the same kind of success in the other areas of our life -- at least I do. How do I get off "pause" and press "play", and make my life work the way I want it to ?

A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled across something called ThinkTQ. It was an AdSense ad, really, on my friend Mitch's site. I don't remember why I went there, and have no idea why I clicked on the link -- I'm not a clicker. Yet, I clicked, and once I was there I became intrigued... then engrossed.

I've studied lots of success programs, read lots of books, listened to lots of tapes, yet somehow this one was different. It struck a different chord. Intentional Excellence! they call it, and they have a daily Lesson in Excellence - FREE. Intriguing. Not just a "motivational quote" but a complete daily lesson... with tips on how to make a difference "now." I don't know if it will have the same effect on you, but the first person I shared it with also became intrigued... then engrossed... then energized!

SO... I'm passing it on. I liked it so much that I incorporated their Daily Lesson in Excellence on my web site, and subscribed to their daily TQ.

So, if there's someplace you want to go, and you just can't quite seem to get there, but you really want to get off pause and get to "play", check it out. I'm not telling you to buy anything, I just want you to look around, kick the tires a bit. Check out the free stuff, the tests, read what they're all about... see how much you know about yourself.

I'm betting that you'll feel this is "something different." If you do, let me know.

ThinkTQ!

Kelvin