Comments on: Wasted Time

By: Ann Vargas

Ann Vargas — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 18:41:47 +0000

Hi Brooke, can I relate? I can relate with what you write a thousandfold! I have too many passions too, and struggle with which ones to persue. I have an essay that I’m working on about the cause and nature of evil. And I’m working on a little book about the psychological/spiritual seasons we go through in life. I have a greeting card line that needs developing and expanding. And a blog that has been sorely neglected….I’m overwhelmed to the point that nothing gets done at all and I go shopping instead. Thanks, Brooke, for your constant words of encouragement and inspiration.

By: Ruth Butler

Ruth Butler — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 18:21:02 +0000

I am also looking to share postive feedback (and struggles– but an emphasis on moving forward) with another(s) in our journey.
if it’s ok to post this is my email ruth 7 0 2 @ a o l dot com without the spaces of course.
please get in touch.

By: Ruth Butler

Ruth Butler — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 18:01:24 +0000

Thank you Brooke for pulling me out of my funk. My goal is to pay it forward with great art and inspiration.

By: Angie Lambert

Angie Lambert — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 15:12:04 +0000

You speak to me immediately, with the title. Are You Wasting Time?
Yes, I am wasting time.
I flag the email, not reading it entirely.
Days pass.
I come back.
Your raw question is rubbing like salt a painful wound. Where do we begin to transition from an artful hobby into a guiltless career? I gave up the stressful, unfulfilling job of 20 plus years. I was in it for the wrong reasons. I am a creative spirit, often socially awkward but loving human with a soulful, hopeful heart. Wishful that this unquenchable want to create photographs that touch emotions of others could leave me feeling less guilty. The quilt. You say it correctly, Brooke. To charge for services is a challenge, at best. Is the work good enough? Am I good enough? Perhaps it is indeed a self-value issue.
It’s a puzzle of sorts. Now, I am laughing. I escape one career which is emotional unfulfilling but financially generous. Attempt to begin an artful photography career to find emotional fulfillment only to see this guilt you are describing is a real thing through which to navigate. In reality, the photography needs to make money. There I said it. It is a need. We need to be financially responsible for ourselves, producing an income for ourselves, allowing extra to share with others.
I am at the point of opening a little studio at home. I have the space ready. We live in the woods. There are generous organic options for creative photo shoots, having weekend workshops, and offering innovative escapes to others of our tribe. I love having a homeful of like-minded humans. That inspires me. Sharing fulfills me. Helping others feel safe and see their beauty completes me. It sounds like I am unrealistic, I know. But this is candid. This is real. This is the human that I am.
Today, this morning. This human needs direction, advice, and comfort. A life plan. A confirmation that living a creative life in this organic environment is not just a pipedream but a successful employment opportunity, as well.
xo

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 23:30:02 +0000

This resonates with me on so many levels. When I first started photography I did it for pure joy. Somewhere along the way I felt I had to start justifying why I was creating. It doesn’t always have to be money – the last real body of work I produced was over a year ago when I was studying photography – because I was a “photography student” I could justify spending time creating, because it had a “legitimate” purpose. I had to postpone my course to return to work because I felt the stable income was a greater need. Now I feel like if I’m going to spend time on photography I have to make it something commercially viable with the aim of building a career out of it – my brain tells me the only way it would now fit into my life would be if I were able to leave my job to pursue it. This has lead to me second guessing everything I create based on it’s “marketability” and “saleability”. I have produced images that people like and that may be technically good but to me they lack soul and so they don’t fill the void that creating used to fill. Only in the last month has my frustration and sadness about this situation come to a point where a concept for a new body of work has started to emerge – darker and deeper but honest. Each time I start to plan, to dedicate time and space to creating it I fight the battle of “wasting time”, of lack of self cofidence, of inadequacy. This morning I asked my husband for his help with a shoot and was able to do so without giving any justification other than “I have an image in my head that needs to come out”. Reading this post has helped me feel that spending time on something that does nothing other than calm my mind and feed my soul is worth the time and energy it takes. Thank you Brooke.

By: brookeshaden

brookeshaden — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 17:14:00 +0000

In reply to Debbie.

Hi Debbie!

Thank you so much for your response – I love that you brought up the value system. That is actually a very clear way for me to think of this in the future. And, you are my random giveaway winner for a free portfolio review! I’ll email you now 🙂 XOXO! Brooke

By: Zoe

Zoe — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 18:05:08 +0000

Yes, yes and yes. I have spent the majority of my life doing stuff to pay the bills and not pursuing creative endeavours as much as I would like because I suffered from ‘wasted time’ syndrome. It’s not easy to spend time doing something creative when you know that there may not be a reward at the end of it, especially when you have real responsibilities. And especially when you flit from creative project to creative project. I don’t have an answer, only that, keep at it. Keep writing. It took me an age to be able to call myself a writer but I’ve got my first book out at the end of the month and it feels magnificent. Much love and I’m so pleased to have found your insta account and this blog. x

By: Cindee

Cindee — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:40:58 +0000

1) Do creative projects ever give you anxiety?
2) What do you wish you spent more time pursuing?

Brooke, you are wise beyond your years!

1)YES!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone of the photography projects do. I’m a sewer and when I am creating in the sewing room I am at peace, the world outside no longer exists. I want that feeling in my photography, but right now it feels like a struggle. Those around me poopoo my endeavors to become a professional photographer as if I’m not making any money at it so it is just a hobby.

2) I wish I had more time to sit and work on my photoshop skills. If I didn’t have to work so hard at it I might find more peace putting whats in my mind to paper.

By: Mari

Mari — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 07:40:08 +0000

Dear Brooke, thanks a lot for you writing this. To be honest, I always wait for your Monday letters. There are my Tuesday letters here, since I am far away from the USA.

I constantly feel that kind of guild, I have to say. I worked for a terrible company for about 4,5. The salary was very poor, the job didn’t bring me satisfaction and plus the high management of the company treated people like a garbage. I don’t know why I have been there for such a long period of time. But I live in Russia in a small town. And here one is supposed to have ‘a normal job’. By that they mean the one from 9 to 6. Being an artist is not a job – a lot of people said to me so. I really like taking pictures, creating concepts and writing essays, but I always had a little time for that, because I needed to combined it with that job plus I took the second job (just to have money for living). But now everything has changed. I am a freelancer for 5 months now and my life has never felt better. I still work on my schedule, trying to find the balance between work and leisure.

By the way, I would love to read your novel. And I guess a lot of people from this community as well. You already have your readers We are patient and we do not want to disturb you while brainstorming.

By: David Thomas

David Thomas — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 05:03:48 +0000

Wasting time ??? I’m never wasting time when I am creating. Rather, I’m inspired, excited, motivated, energized, and oblivious to most everything else. I’M ALIVE ….so it doesn’t matter what I am doing as long as my head is creating

I’m retired. I had two careers one in non-profit management and the other in computer systems management. I burned the candle at both ends working 50-60 hours a week. Now I get to think about photography, fantasize about photography and do photography. I feel liberated.

However, When I watch TV or surf the web I feel terribly guilty about “wasting so much time”. I usually do this when I am procrastinating on making decisions about what to do next creatively. Either I’ve reached an impasse and don’t know how to go forward ….or more important..I afraid to go forward because I’m afraid of failing.

Of course, there is only one answer for this….just do it…my reward will be whatever comes next.