I am starting to truly believe, that some of the most important and influential people you will meet in your lifetime, are total strangers. I have met total strangers in passing here in North Carolina who have given me insights and wisdom, just in casual conversation, that have changed my life, and my thoughts. These North Carolinians just seem to be born with poetic wisdom and passionate insights on life and love.
Honestly, I have probably received some of the same wisdom, some of the same advice, or insights from friends and family members over the years, in different words of course. But maybe..just maybe, we listen a little harder when the words are coming from a total stranger.
Maybe in order to really listen and learn, we have to be out of our comfort zone, out of our element. At least i'm finding that this is true for me.
During a winter walk on the shores of Atlantic Beach recently, I saw a man in the distance sitting on the sand, scooping up handfuls of broken shells and placing them into a bag.
From a distance, the mans surfer-like, shoulder length hair, made me assume he was a young man. But as I got closer I was able to see his weather-worn face, deep lines under a dark tan, that of a man who was maybe in his early fifties.
I approached him and asked him what he was going to do with the broken shells. He replied proudly, "I am a surf artist. Going to use these for my next piece."
I looked at him puzzled and asked what surf art is.
"Hard to explain", he started. "I use elements of the sea and land to create art that reflects my love of surfing and my love of the coast."
I asked the man if he had any of his works "online" that I could view. He replied that he did not because he does not sell his art.
"What? What you do sounds great! Why would you not sell your work?" I asked.
The man looked down at the sand and smiled as if he were experiencing a wonderful memory. He explained that each piece of art that he creates, represents the emotions, the feelings he was experiencing in his life at the time of the creation, thus the piece becomes personal, a memory of sorts.
"I have my day job", he said as he laughed. "This....this I do for the love...love of surfing, love of the coast. I want it to be always, about the love, not the money".
I found this man fascinating and I talked to him about his surfing experiences in his younger years for quite some time. Before we parted, he told me he did have one piece on exhibit at a local surf shop. "I traded it for a surf board!" He said proudly.
I was a bit confused when I left. Why would he not be interested in selling his art? I mean, I get it, sort of..but why not make a few bucks from your talents? My daughter and I drove away and decided to find the surf shop where his art piece was on display.
Once there, the man at the counter knew what we were talking about right away. He led us to the top level of the shop, and proudly presented the "surf art". Can I paint a picture with words to describe the beauty of the piece? No. He was right, very hard to explain. But it was beautiful..a combination of sorts, representing earth and sea--A real tree trunk, and a wooden surfboard consisting of two different types of wood, 100 percent made by hand.
And the plaque this "surf artist" embedded into his piece, summed it up as he did for me earlier that day "For The Love of Surfing".
A few days later I met a small business owner who was in line behind me at a local coffee shop. There was something on the TV at the shop, concerning small businesses, and we were both watching it as we waited.
I heard the man say "It's rough", in response to the reporter on the TV. I turned and asked if he was a small business owner.
"I am!" he said as he stood tall and beamed a proud smile. "But it is rough, times are tough, people aren't buying like they used too".
I agreed with him and revealed to him that I had moved my photography business from Michigan to North Carolina and that I was a bit worried, as I had left a pretty large clientelle-base behind in Michigan.
"Well it's obvious that we small business owners do it for the love of what we do, not the money", he laughed. "Don't worry ma'am, it'll come".
He must have noticed the worried look on my face. He put his hand on my shoulder and said "Remember when you first started, it was about the love for what you do, photography right?"
"Yes?" I replied.
"Love of what you do, is where it starts..and if you let the "money" aspect over-rule the "love" aspect, you'll fail. So keep that love, the rest will follow."
Surf art man, and small business owner, gave me some very valuable advice, and at a time that I really needed it. Now surf art man may not be the same as small business owner in that he does not make his living by making his art a business. Surf art man, did not want to risk his love, by coupling it with money. Small business owner took that risk, but is very careful to always keeps his "love" in check. Regardless.. both of these men reminded me of why I picked up a camera in the first place...for the love, love of people, love of emotion, love of mystery, all from a camera lens, frozen in time.
Yes it is how I make my living, but the frenzy to make money, and the anxiety of worrying about this and that, CAN AND WILL "kill" the love, and without the love, you have no foundation. You will fail.
Note to self: In whatever you do, if the "love" comes first, the rest will follow in its own due time, and in its own way.
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