I reached a personal finish line Thursday. One that took some time and effort. One that took a toll on me and those around me. One I hoped to have never embarked on. One that showed me I have a lot of people who support me. One that is testing my strength and resolve. One that reminded me of a lesson on the first day of a few month journey, that my Mom taught me when I was in single digits age wise. (there are always people worse off than you, so smile and be thankful for your health).

For at the beginning of the race, I saw a young girl. I could see this was not her first race. She was bald and had one of those roving medical Xmas trees full of bags and ribbons leading to her. But what I saw was a young girl full of life. She had a game and was smiling and laughing like this was the best moment of her life. Mom at her side, she seemed so strong, active and happy. What a wonderful example she set for me at the beginning. She showed me the light I needed to jump that fence.

I’m very excited about 2016 and making it a grand year. The opportunity to work hard on so many ideas, goals and desires is enough to put a smile on my face a mile wide. For I no longer classify things like that as work. Yeah it will take hard work to accomplish them, but it won’t feel like work while doing them. For they are task of love in some cases. Sometimes making something for a loved one. Sometimes the love of finding the image that makes me happy as well as others. The love of stringing together words that mean something to me and maybe others.

The chance to craft a stone into something that might endure time. The chance to get my parents images documented and organized for my family. The chance to fill the walls in my office with images. The chance to maybe pull a group of work together to exhibit or enter some local shows. The chance to update this blog each day with interesting and beautiful content. The chance to build that mural I’ve had in my mind. The chance to see others work and words shared digitally and in person.

A year or so ago I started my own company with the thought that would become my business after I retired or was put out to pasture by my career job in Newspaper/Digital Publishing. Well if I’m successful yes it might become a true business because it would be nice to leave my family with something more. But success is going to be measured in a far different way than when I went into it.

Success is about taking that opportunity each day in front of me to use the tools I have to create something special. If I have worked hard that day, I will feel satisfied. If I look at it and like it, I will smile. If others look at it and smile, I will feel accomplishment and success.