It struck me, while on my bike this afternoon, and drove by this sign in the park, “Pardon our Dust”, how apropos it would be, for every last one of us, on planet Earth, to metaphorically hang a sign around our neck, for the whole world to see, just like this.
Pardon our Dust.
A sign that says “Pardon our dust” usually means that some construction or renovation work is going on in the area and the sign is asking for patience and understanding from the people who might be affected by the noise, dirt, or inconvenience caused by the work. It is a way of apologizing for the temporary mess and promising a better outcome when the work is finished.
Doesn’t this sound like all our beautiful-mess lives?
Aren’t we all “under construction”, more to less?
For those of you who pay attention and know me well, I’m sure that many of my, more recent, “pardon my dust” writings, are mild indicators of my own renovations-life, career, family, love, success, children, identity, security, health, faith. So be it.
Yes, like it or not, our construction messes cause inconvenience to both ourselves and others. It’s the nature of the beast.
But heck, isn’t this what life is all about-being built, going up, under progress, in development?
If you’re not building something up…you’re breaking something down?
Photography, just like our life journey, also experiences a “Pardon our dust” phase?
You can apply this concept to your own journey as a photographer, or any other skill or passion that you are pursuing. You can acknowledge that you are not perfect, that you have flaws and weaknesses, that you make mistakes and encounter challenges. But you can also show that you are willing to learn, to grow, to experiment, to try new things, to overcome obstacles, and to achieve your goals.
You can use your photography as a way of documenting your progress, your struggles, your successes, and your emotions.
You can capture the moments that matter to you, the ones that make you happy, sad, angry, or excited. You can share your story with others, and inspire them to follow their own dreams.
To give you an example of how you can apply the “pardon our dust” concept to your photography journey, here is a short paragraph that I wrote:
As a photographer, I often feel like I’m under construction. I’m always learning new things, trying new techniques, experimenting with new styles, playing with new apps, understanding new technologies. Sometimes I get frustrated with myself when I don’t get the results I want, as quickly as I want them. Sometimes I compare myself with others and feel inadequate. Sometimes I wonder if I’m good enough or if I’m wasting my time with this or that. But then I remember that photography is not about perfection. It’s about expression. It’s about capturing the beauty of life in all its forms. It’s about telling stories that matter to me and to others. It’s about having fun and being creative and making art. So I ask myself and others to pardon my dust while I work on improving my skills and my vision. I know that every photo I take is a step towards my goals. I know that every challenge I face is an opportunity for growth. I know that every mistake I make is an opportunity for learning. And I know that every success I achieve is an opportunity for celebration.
Click
Jack
