How to have a great life………

A number of years ago I heard a great quote, it went something like this; “If you want to have a fulfilled life you need three things, (1) Something to Believe in, (2) Something to Do, (3) Someone to Love, (4)  and something to Look Forward to!”  I thought about that for some time and I think that’s why I feel so fulfilled and joyful as a person.

(1)  I believe in God.  I believe His only Son, Jesus Christ came to earth and lived to show us how to live, and died for the forgiveness of mine and your sins.  I believe He loves me, and you, that He orders my steps. protects me, encourages me, and give me lasting peace and joy, and will for you too!  I also believe in America.  I believe in what we once stood for, and can stand for again.  I think we are generous, carrying and kind nation, and I also believe we stand for what is right.  While many in our country have turned away from God, and from what our forefathers wanted to establish, I don’t believe it is too late to turn it around, and return to our former glory.  I pray we will!  I will work to do my part.

(2)  I’m officially retired from a 40 hour a week job, it was actually 55 to 60 hours a week!  I still get up every morning at 5:30, see my wife off to work and then go to my home office where I put in around 8 hours a day.  I write, plan workshops, and the thousands of other things photographers do, work on my stock file, process images, the usual.  I can’t just stop and sit down and wait to die!  As the old saying goes, I hope to die with my boots on!

(3)  In this area I am especially blessed.  I have Sherelene, the love of my life, my best friend, and my favorite person to hang out with!  I have my children, whom I love dearly and the fantastic grandchildren they have given me, Hannah, Ben, Cassidy, Cade, Elijah and Abigail.  I have, and this is where I’m going to get in trouble because I’ve blessed with too many friends to name them all, but I love Jim Begley, Jack Graham, Bill Pekala, Jim Haverstock, Stephen Hart, “Snake” Barrett, and the list goes on and on and on.  I’m truly blessed with sop many wonderful friends and brothers and sisters in Christ!

(4)  Something to look forward to!  One of the greatest blessing of my life is all the great activities I enjoy and places I look forward to going to!  I am going to get to teach with Jim Begley, Jack Graham, Fred Sisson, Bill Pekala, Joe McNally  and Anne Cahill McNally, and “Snake” Barrett  in 18 workshops this year!  I’m really excited about going out to Peoria in early March and teach a big group of photographers a one day seminar!  Then I’m doing something I have wanted to do for many years, drive a portion Route 66 (some day I hope to drive every mile of it over a two or three week period of time!)   I will leave Peoria the day after the seminar and drive to the New Mexico border and then follow Route 66 all the way to the turn off to Las Vegas, where Jack and I are doing a two day trip with students to Nelson Ghost Town!

I am not telling you this to brag or boast!  There is a passage of scripture that states;  “Seek First the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you, (your needs), and even the desires of your heart!” 

This is the explanation for all the great blessings I listed above!  I have not done anything to deserve such blessings, I have only given my life, and heart to Him.  My Heavenly Father delights in giving us great gifts and he has overwhelmed me with His Blessings!

Starting March 12th I hit the road for a 19 day road trip to Peoria, then Nelson Ghost Town (Las Vegas) and on to Moab, Utah for a workshop with Jack at Arches/Canyonlands, and then home!  That kicks off a glorious year of planned events and the chance to get to spend time with a  lot of great friends and students from the past workshops!

For now I am working on two new books;  The Fuji X-System User’s Guide Volume 2, and Learning to See Photographically ( an advanced Composition and Visual Arts book )

Blessings,

the pilgrim

Coming Soon!  The latest updates on the Fuji X System, new lenses, the Firmware updates for the Fuji X-T1 and X-E2, dozens of new tips and and info ongoing the most out of your X System.  Value priced at $4.99  Also the New Advanced Composition and Visual arts book,  “Learning to See Photographically”