Ridicule

I was in Boulder, for Jennie's graduation, when I saw this woman walking toward me. I took two shots; only one came out. When she walked, her tongue was out the whole time and it was moving side to side.

Immedialty I could feel myself wanting to make fun of her. Laugh at her. Ridicule her. I could see other people looking at her, staring and laughing. There is a part of me that thinks I'm 'better than' other people.

I felt sad. I thought about how often I do that. I make fun of others or think I'm 'better than'.

It reminded me of when I did that back in grade school and high school. I would make fun of the kids who didn't fit in, who looked weird, or who acted different. When I think about it now, all I want to do is to apologize to each and every one of them for how I treated them. I didn't take the time to get to know them as people. I judged them by what I saw.

This woman reminds me to be aware of that part of me that is quick to judge others. And to be more empathetic, compassionate and humble toward others.

Until Next Time. Passion Rules.

I

Age

Recently I was is Athens Greece for a YPO retreat. One morning before we started, I was walking outside and I took this guys picture as he passed me in the street.

As I was working on this photo, he reminded me of this 'aging' thing I've been thinking about lately. Look at his eyes. And the sore just above his left eye. Hmmmm.

Now that I'm 52 and my body is aging, I've been thinking more about 'old age'. I have more awareness of the older people I see every day. I remember as a kid, I thought that someone who was 50 YEARS OLD was REALLY OLD. Now I'm there.

I keep telling myself...think young...think young. Then something happens to remind me that no matter how much I 'think young' my body is going to slowly continue to deteriorate. It's a part of the cycle of life. It is what it is.

Interesting process. More interesting is how we respond to it.

Until next time. Passion Rules.

Reflecting

Today I've been working on some photographs in Photoshop.

I took this picture when I was in NY with Jennie. We were walking down Canal Street, looking for purses, and this guy asked us for some money. So I gave him some in exchange for a few pictures.

Now I sit here at home, looking into his eyes and wondering about his life. What brought him to that stoop in NY? What's he been through in his life? What can I learn from this guy? Look at that beard. He's earned every bit of it.

I think I'm going to post a few photos like this one over the next couple of days. Maybe you can see something in their eyes that may mean something to you.

Until Next Time. Passion Rules.