If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s this: life, no matter how messy or emotional, eventually passes. It naturally moves on to the next stage without your permission. If you’re currently stuck in the trenches of turmoil, I want you to know something – this too shall pass. And here’s the kicker: you’ll be fine on the other side.
But let’s take a trip down memory lane to a time when I found myself in the middle of a personal storm. Years ago, when Shannon and I ended our marriage, we didn’t end our relationship. We still remain best of friends and, even more, co-parents to our daughters, Emma and Audrey, and their love interests (yes, they’re still growing up). We’ve come a long way since then, but back in those early days? Tears. Oh, there were tears. And drama. A lot of it.
Now, looking back, I can’t help but laugh at how I handled those days. My emotions were like a high school theater performance – over the top, exaggerated, and a tad embarrassing. But, in the moment, it felt like the world was crumbling. What I failed to see at the time, and what I wish I could’ve told my younger self, was this: it’s all temporary. The pain, the uncertainty, the tears – it’s all a part of life’s ebb and flow. Nothing stays the same forever, and that includes the hard stuff. Trust me, the storm always subsides, even if it feels like you’re in it forever.
This kind of turmoil is, in a way, the perfect reminder for me of what I’ve seen in photography over the years. How many times have I, in my early career, freaked out over the tiniest technical issue or missed opportunity? I’d spend hours agonizing over one blurry shot or a setting I couldn’t quite figure out, thinking the entire project was doomed. I made mountains out of molehills. As if the future of photography itself depended on my ability to get every single shot perfect.
But, as it turns out, nothing in photography is that dramatic. A blurry shot is just that – a blurry shot. It doesn’t define your career. An off day, a poorly lit portrait, a composition that doesn’t quite work? It’s not the end of the world. It’s a moment, and moments come and go. And the next photo, or the next project, might be the one.
The same holds true in life. You might find yourself in the thick of something hard right now, feeling overwhelmed by everything that’s out of your control. Trust me, I get it. When you’re in the trenches, it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But here’s what I know from experience: this is just one chapter in a very long book. And chapters change. Time passes. Before you know it, this hard moment will be just a memory, and you’ll have grown and learned from it.
In my case, I’m lucky to have had a level-headed partner (thank you, Shannon), wise children (who were far more mature than I gave them credit for), and a great therapist who helped me process everything without losing my mind. We all need support. No one is immune to the hardships life throws at us. But here’s the trick: don’t let it define you. The tension, the emotional rollercoaster – it’s not who you are; it’s just something you’re going through.
And speaking of going through things, let’s tie this all back to photography. If there’s one thing my journey has taught me, it’s that life mirrors photography in many ways. The best photos are often the result of a lot of mistakes, frustrations, and imperfections. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being persistent. Sometimes you get the perfect shot, and sometimes you don’t. And when you don’t? You don’t throw away the camera and call it quits. You go again. You try something new. You adjust the lens, change your angle, or wait for better light. You keep going, because the next photo is waiting for you.
So, wherever you are right now in your life – struggling, stressed, overwhelmed – remember that nothing is permanent. It’ll get better. This chapter will pass, just like all the others. And in the meantime, keep shooting. Keep doing your thing, whether that’s photography, cooking, hiking, or whatever brings you joy. The drama, the tension, the chaos – it’s all part of the process. And just like with photography, you’ll eventually find your way through it to something beautiful on the other side.
Hang in there, my friends. It gets better. It really does.
Click.
Jack.
