The Magic of Trains

I love trains! It all started on my mission in Italy. My first city was on the outskirts of Rome and we often took the train to the city. Our area covered about 40 other small cities so we frequently used the train to transport us on our many adventures.
There is something magical about a train ride. Maybe it's just the hot smelly environment that makes it seem like you are living in a dream.
I love sitting there and watching the beautiful country fly by. I love how the train always takes the back road.
Trains inspire me. My mind tends to wonder when I'm on the train. It makes me think about life.
I love all of the people you can meet on the train. You're stuck in a little area with a complete stranger; they could be a farmer, an engineer, a business man, a single mom. Anyone!
The other day I was on the train and a man was talking to someone across the aisle. He said "All of us are different! We all have different dreams and aspirations, but when it comes down to it, we're all the same"
Life is like a big train. We are all different, we have different dreams and different lives, but we're all on this train together. And we're all headed in the same direction, we are all wanting to arrive at happiness. Some of us get off the train early. Some of us sit anxiously on the train hoping for the ride to be over soon. Sometimes the train is late and there are delays in getting to our destination. Some of us sit on the train and awe in the beauty of the world passing by. It goes by fast; the time. And before you know it, the train ride is over.

You've met different people on the way; people that you may have never chosen to know. Maybe it's fate, maybe it's God.
One week in Rome I was having a particularly hard time. I was feeling discouraged at my lack of ability to speak Italian. We were sitting on the train and I was reading a talk by David A. Bednar called "The Tender Mercies of the Lord". He explains that "the Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ"
At that moment of frustration, sitting on a train in Italy, I said a small prayer and just asked the Lord to send me a tender mercy.
Just then a woman sat down next to me, and in between my little teary snuffles I managed a "Ciao". And this little Italian woman started talking to me. She spoke slowly and clearly and had patience to repeat herself when I told her I didn't understand. She listened to my terrible Italian and tried to understand what I had to say. It was the first time I had a real conversation with an Italian. And it was just what I needed. I needed someone to come and listen to me and I needed someone to speak to me without getting frustrated. And that was my very clear tender mercy from the Lord. He placed that kind Italian woman on the right train, at the right time, in the right seat, just for me. And I'm sure she has no clue what she did! And I'm sure she doesn't even remember me. But I remember her, and that conversation gave me the confidence to keep going and not give up.
(And the fact that my amazing companion took a photo of this moment is a tender mercy in it's own)

 

We're all on this train called life. We're all here together, learning from one another. It's an adventure! A beautiful adventure. Oh the magic of a train ride!

 

Passion vs. Skill

 

       I've been reading a book for a business class titled So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport. The book's main argument is that "skills trump passion in the quest for work you love". If I wouldn't have had to read it for this class I would have thrown it in the trash after the first 10 pages.

Chapter 1: "Don't follow your passion" with a bolded quote on page 6 " 'Follow your passion' might just be terrible advice ".
       Reading what this man had to say literally made me antsy. Like when you are in the middle of an argument about some fiery topic and the other person is just making a fool out of themselves and you just want to stop them before they go any further; but you know the courteous thing to do is to wait your turn and listen to what they have to say. You might be thinking to yourself "Oh, she's THAT girl!" (not saying that I'm not) but this topic is a bit personal for me.
       When I was in middle school I took a photography elective where we learned how to take pictures of flowers and cats. And after 3 months I thoroughly enjoyed taking pictures of flowers and cats. I started taking pictures of everything! Literally! I also started the selfie trend.... but we won't post those photos online.
       A few years later I was a sophomore in high school and I was chatting with a friend on Facebook (I was too socially awkward to do that kind of stuff in person). This friend and I share the mutual interest in photography and this friend proceeded to explain to me that I had no skill as a photographer.
      Okay dude.... let me remind you that I take pictures of flowers and cats and I could honestly care less what you think of my dinky photos! But, if you know me, when someone lights a match near me it starts a flame. So I decided that I was going to show this kid up!
       I recruited my beautiful friend Kendall, stole my mom's nice Canon Rebel, scouted out the perfect locations, and on a beautiful July afternoon in 2010 I shot my first photo shoot!
Not only did the pictures turn out great, but I had so much fun that I wanted to do more! I posted the photos on Facebook for my friends the hater to see and we blew up that Facebook news feed!

       Because it was so much fun I started asking other friends to let me take their pictures! After a while people started requesting my time and my talents (!!!!). My mom eventually convinced me that I was spending so much time on this new hobby that I needed to start charging people. I reluctantly asked $25 per photo shoot.
       5 years later I've done over 80 paid photo shoots and supported myself financially in the pursuit of a college education.

 

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Kendall kept me around ;)

 

You can find more of my portfolio here.

       So when I started this book that told me that following my passion was a terrible idea, I was a bit offended. When I started taking pictures I had no marketable skill. In fact, now looking back at those photos that I was so proud of, I am a bit embarrassed.

       But the other day I read this article written by Mike Rowe; that one guy who does dirty jobs for a living. He tells a great story about an 8 minute timer and a pencil. You can read it here.
       The point that Mike is trying to make is that "a trillion dollars of student loans and a massive skills gap are precisely what happens to a society that actively promotes one form of education (or heeding the advice of following your passion) as the best course for the most people. I think the stigmas and stereotypes that keep so many people from pursuing a truly useful skill, begin with the mistaken belief that a four-year degree (or simply following a passion) is somehow superior to all other forms of learning".
       Reading further into the book I have learned that while pursing a career it is more important to focus on what you can offer the world rather than what the world can offer you.
       I am not quite so upset with the author anymore. Instead of feeling attacked about following my passion for photography, I feel endorsed for the fact that I worked hard to gain a skill. And at this point in my photography career I recognize that I still have a LOT of skill to learn. I feel like I am at a fork in the road. At only 21 years old I can choose to continue strengthening a skill in photography, or I can choose to pursue strengthening other skills. I am currently attending a business college and studying a social media marketing program; I love it! It is an unexpected discovery into a whole different field. Who knows, maybe I can do both!

     So I won't throw that book in the trash after all. If anyone is interested, you can find the book here.