It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’ve been pondering what to share on my blog lately. It feels like I’ve fallen a bit behind on my New Year’s resolutions, particularly regarding my vlogging and photography. No excuses, though. Instead, I’m choosing to give myself some grace and reassure myself that it’s okay.
If you’ve been following my blog or YouTube channel, you might recall that I lost my job of over eight years back in November 2023. Since then, I’ve decided to focus more on my creative side. I enrolled in a Product Management course at Tacit Edge and The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), and let me tell you, I’m loving the journey so far. It’s a blend of arts, technology, science, and economics, and I’ve been diving headfirst into learning the ins and outs of communication, data analysis, critical thinking, strategy creation, and problem-solving involved in product development.
On another note, I’ve realized I’ve been neglecting my running. I’ve got two ultra marathons lined up for this year – the Calgary Marathon in May and The Grizzly Ultra in October – and I’m not training as diligently as I did last year.
Job hunting hasn’t been a walk in the park either. After facing a few rejections for positions like product manager or business analyst, I’ve realized the challenge of gaining experience when most roles require 2-3 years of prior experience. But I’m not one to back down from a challenge. I see each rejection as an opportunity to learn and grow. Landing that dream job as a product manager while continuing my photography gig on the side will be a proud moment indeed.
In the midst of all this, life threw a few curveballs my way. Our water heater and dryer decided to call it quits, but with a little DIY spirit, I managed to replace the motherboard in the dryer myself. As for my snowboard needing repair, fingers crossed the shop can fix it up for me to enjoy until I can afford a new one.
Tax season also demanded my attention, but I’m relieved to say I got my bookkeeping sorted and submitted to the accountant on time.
Then there’s my baking escapades. My sourdough starters, Sourie and Sauron, have been thriving. I’ve whipped up waffles, brownies, and English muffins, and I’m even contemplating selling some of my baked goods at the farmer’s market.
As snowboarding season winds down, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment that we didn’t get to explore more resorts this year. But hey, there’s always next season to look forward to.
You might be wondering why I’m sharing all this on my photography blog. Well, I wanted to shed light on the reality behind the scenes for most part-time photographers. It’s not always glamourous, and breaking into a saturated market can be tough. But I firmly believe in the value of my work, and those who appreciate it will see that too.
I hope this lengthy tale hasn’t bored you. My intention isn’t to garner sympathy but rather to embrace the ups and downs of life. I’m grateful for the opportunities to learn, grow, and connect with wonderful people along the way. Life isn’t always smooth sailing, but I’m reminded that this too shall pass.
Stay positive, stay resilient.
