Quote of the day: “My darling girl, when are you going to understand that normal isn’t a virtue? It rather denotes a lack of courage” — Practical Magic (the movie)
Sweet Monarch Butterfly – Photo textured with 2 layers kk_printed in soft light blend mode 100% opacity
I had lunch with an old friend last week. We hadn’t spoken for several years and both of us had moved through many changes in the intervening time. After a few minutes of conversation I discovered that I had moved to a space so different from the values of the corporate world that I used to live in, that I felt totally weird when I described what I was doing and why I was doing it.
My friend had just completed an MBA program and was embarking on a new job with a consulting firm. He is full of idealism, energy, and the belief that he can make a difference. I remember being filled with that idealism and working hard to make a difference. But in the end, I lost my belief that I could make a difference in the corporate world. And at almost the same time, I discovered a true passion for photography that led me to decide to start my own business, crazy as that seemed (and still does some days).
I felt that my friend didn’t really understand the reasons for my decision to pursue photography despite an honest effort to do so. By the end of our lunch together we both felt a little perplexed. How could he connect with this person who no longer worries about leading others or getting ahead or being seen as a strong contributor? What happened to the mentor and leader that he looked up to and listened to?
Part of me was worried about being seen as a failure or a quitter. Perhaps those are my own projections based upon years of living and working in the corporate world. I’m not sure what impression my friend took away from our meeting. But I know this—it takes courage to stay on this path. Getting a job would be the easy way out, but not the true way for me. So I continue to follow my heart and work on being courageous. Anyone can be normal. It takes courage to be different.
3 Comments
Pat · August 28, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Lovely work.
Marilyn · August 28, 2012 at 11:32 pm
Amen!! I’ve never been happier than when I left the corporate world a few years ago. It seemed when I first started in that world, everything was freer and easier. People were easier to deal with……was that just me or did something change? Now it seems the only thing that matters is the almighty dollar and big salaries for the CEO’s. I don’t know what your friend thinks, but perhaps one day he will become a bit more evolved, as you have. Keep following your instincts.
P.S. beautiful photo!!
Andrea · September 2, 2012 at 3:19 am
I work in the corporate world but escape with photography. Nice post, made me think!