A wise man once distinguished between “the noble art of getting things done” and “a nobler art of leaving things undone.” True “wisdom in life,” he taught, consists of “the elimination of non-essentials” (Lin Yutang, The Importance of Living [New York: Reynal and Hitchcock, 1937], 162, 10).
This sentiment has been with me for weeks now as I have reflected on the reasons for slowing down the pace of my professional photography. Instead, I have been focusing on the most essential parts of my life: maintaining my son's health; learning to enjoy his life in spite of the complications of CF; taking care of myself both physically and emotionally; making sure my walk with God is sure and strong; and building my relationship with my sweetheart husband Jacob.
So, last Saturday when I might have been taking photos for other people's families, I found myself running in my first 5K and spending the rest of the day with my family at Burt's Farm. (Thanks to my blogger friend for recommending this pumpkin-patch-to-rival-all-others. My son has been talking about riding on the "orange tractor" hay ride and the "big pum-kins" all week.)
Meanwhile, I am refreshed, calm, and filled with ideas for future photo projects and photo shoots for the holiday season. Surprisingly, doing less has meant having more of what is the best in my life, and I don't think I could have made a better choice than that.
(I loved the old photo treatment on the wheelbarrow photo so much, I decided to do a version of Daddy and son the same way.)
I'm takin' these pumpkins home!
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