Like most adolescents that grew up in the late sixties and early seventies, I was absolutely clueless as to what I wanted to do with my life.
I had zero sense of focus and purpose.
All I wanted to do was listen to music, smoke weed, skip school, go to the beach, flirt with the ladies, and resist the man!
I saw a sense of greater purpose modeled, in the adults that were my caretakers and influencers, but in my own world and experience, I was, literally, oblivious to any and every sense of forward thinking.
My honest-to-goodness justification for living, as I look at things now, through the rear-view mirror, didn’t begin to really take shape, for me, until, serendipitously, photography crossed, through no intention of my own, my path and purpose.
Looking back and, admittedly, maybe it’s more the romantic recollection and reminiscence of how I presently think of photography, but it was photography, that ultimately gave me what I was always looking for-a sense of purpose, drive, focus, determination.
I tried a lot of shit in my life. None of it stuck. None!
Photography stuck to me like glue. I couldn’t shake its mystique and romance.
Photography gave my life purpose, form, structure, outlet, joy, and intention.
Maybe, way deep down inside, I just wasn’t good at too much else?
I’ll never really know? So be it.
Yesterday, while doing a few errands in the car, I was listening to an NPR piece about how the people who live purposeful lives…. live longer, live stronger, live better, live fuller, live happier, and live more peacefully.
It’s not a hoax, it’s science.
Purpose begets intention, motivation, aspiration, inspiration, health, and well-being.
It may sound really fucking corny to many of you, but I truly believe I was put on this great and glorious earth, to do photography.
Yep.
And not just to create photographs for my personal pleasure but, through my photos and words, to touch those that share my humble sensitivities and sensibilities about life, love, and laughter.
Click.
In the earliest stages of my young adult life, I used to think, as a Bible-toting and quoting believer, my purpose in this life was to prepare for the next life.
How absurd. Lunacy, actually.
Photography gives purpose and meaning to life, this life, here and now, today, this moment, every breath I take, and every step I make.
For those here, on this feed, struggling to find your own purpose in life, it’s not too late.
Find a weekend, jump in the car, take off, bring a journal, and don’t come back until you have a written, roughed-out purpose in life on paper. Then massage that purpose, every day, for the next 4 weeks.
It’s a start. Discover your purpose.
Why were you born?
Why do you exist?
What is your life purpose?
A purposeful life is a wonderful life.
Click
Jack
