Another Year

By Glenn Palacio

We’re just 4 days away from the first dawn of 2019 and the roller coaster of a ride this year is about to end. This may be far from the norms of my usual column, but I suppose this New Year is a welcome for change.

In the past 12 months, I have been all over the country and it was a realization of a dream. To travel and photograph people, places and events that only few could be witnesses of is such an honour that I will be telling the stories for years to come. Here are 4 things that I’ve learned in the mentioned span of time:

Be Humble

                It isn’t easy to deal with a lot of people with different cultures. You have to be very careful, observant, and have your foot planted on the ground. Bragging will not get you anywhere, most of these indigenous people or strangers would appreciate more a person who would come up to them with the most sincere of ways. Be down to earth and connecting with these people will come easy.

Work Hard

                Tired of a 8 to 5 job? Well, travel photography and writing is no joke. You’ve got deadlines, places to go to, photographs to sort and edit, and the article needs to be done. It is no surprise that having the luxury of a career also demands a time consuming effort on balancing everything. Friends, family, yourself, and work, these are only some of the things you need to consider when you work in this line of industry. There is no glitz and glamour but only hustle and hard work. Success is rented everyday and its due is collected every day.

Life is a Mess

                There were parts of this year when I could say that I was living the life that I’ve chosen and there were days when I could just roll on my bed and ask myself what the hell am I doing? But maybe that is just life telling you that seasons change and we can’t always expect to have bright sunny days all the time.

We just have to carry on and keep pushing forward. Persistence, I believe is a necessary attribute to anyone who wants to reach for their dreams. Life is filled with chaos, but one can only appreciate the beauty of peace and success when they’ve been through the worst days of their lives.

Passion

                Yes, passion. You’ve heard it over and over again from me for a year and more, but it all boils down on how desperately you want to be the master of your craft. But where do you draw the line? To sacrifice stability over something that makes you happy is something of a disapproval to some, however if you know how to place yourself at the middle of earning a good liveable amount of money and feeding your soul, you’ve found your place which only very few can find in their lifetime.

Quite redundant, I know. But it’s what keeps us going. You always have to drown yourself with these principles to be reminded that you just have to go out there and do what you can in this life. Respect everyone in their journey and the battles that they’re fighting, it is a decency that we must uphold.