Finding inspiration

When I was in college, my photography professor—and all my other art professors—had a habit of strongly encouraging us to attend campus art events. Whether it was an exhibit, a speaker, or a workshop, there was always a portion of our final grade tied to these experiences.

One of those events introduced me to an inspirational speaker and former National Geographic photographer, Steve Uzzell. His presentation focused on preparation, inspiration, and unexpected discoveries. His key idea was that "just as a well-planned road trip allows for unexpected discoveries, a well-prepared mind is open to creative solutions." He emphasized that this applies to everything in life.

When he first landed his job at National Geographic, it wasn’t exactly what he had envisioned for himself. But that unexpected turn led him to discover an entirely new side of his creativity. I asked him about the preparation aspect—how do you know when you're truly ready? His response stuck with me: you never really know. You just do your best, but you can't wait until you feel fully prepared, because that moment will never come. The key is to start, and you’ll discover things along the way.

I really connected with this because I tend to postpone things when I don’t feel the timing is right. I also struggle with a low tolerance for frustration, which makes me resistant to the unexpected. If things don’t go exactly as planned, I often feel like they’ve failed. But I’m trying to hold onto Uzzell’s message as I move forward with this project.

A few weeks ago, I met with Miss Amy and Cloe to discuss our ideas. The problem isn’t that I lack direction—it’s that I don’t know how to put it into words or turn it into reality. My vision feels so broad, and while I know where I’d ideally like to end up, I struggle to break it down into small, actionable steps.

But, as Uzzell’s presentation was titled, "Open Roads, Open Minds." So, I’ve decided to just start somewhere. I already have an accountability group to keep me grounded and that is my preparation and my open road, and now, it’s about being open to all the possibilities ahead.