A time for reflection

Jim in our room at Ace Hotel in palm Springs. The beginning of my journey


I woke up this morning quite early. But I honestly can't complain. I went out the night before and sincerely and truly enjoyed myself. For once I left my phone on silent. I had some drinks. I laughed. I stumbled on my words out of nervousness. Leading into butterflies in my stomach. Which led to rambling. I need to stop doing that. I do it far too often. Which is why I think I'm still single. I just talk too much haha. I wasn't worried about work. I wasn't making lists in my head of what needs to be done. What has to be finished at the studio. What errands need to be run. The deadline of my exam and paper (all within the next 48 hours so now it's really crunch time). I simply enjoyed myself. I enjoyed being in the presence of a really great person. And for once in a really long time I let myself go with no expectations and had one of the best nights in a long time.

I woke up to horrible whiskey breath (why the hell didn't I brush my teeth? Embarrassing), a tiny head ache a cold apartment and four blankets that I then hibernated under for another three hours. I spent the last hour and a half just listening to Pandora on my phone. Listening to acoustic songs and raspy voices sing of loss, love, heartache, and new beginnings. I feel this has thrown me and tossed me around. But in a really good way. I started my year out in the desert. And I'm ending it in an entirely different desert. And I've gained a whole new concept of what independence fully is. I've created this plan of how I wanted my life to lead. And opportunities came up that have changed my life for the better. I've gotten in trouble, but it led to really good things, and making me fight my own battles, and respecting myself for taking care of business. I've gone from someone who would go out 5-6 nights a week, boozing and schmoozing, to rarely even taking a night out to have fun and work a job I literally walked into; I knew nothing about how to run a studio. I didn't know about the photography world outside of school. I didn't know about the business. And here I am now, juggling a professional job at a professional studio, going to school online and working a fun job planning events and parties.

I've grown up a lot this year. Not that I'm all work and no play. Trust. I still like to play.

Globally, this year has been one huge revolution after another. I'm a part of history. I've witnessed amazing things this year. I've experienced amazing things. I've seen so many concerts and shows and raves. I've put a good 7,000 miles on my car. I've made friends all over California, Nevada, Oregon, and New York this year. I've taken so many photographs. I am honestly living such a good life. I really feel like great things are coming. And I welcome them with open arms.