Less Scrolling, More Living — Starting Somewhere
In a day and age where everything is digital, I've been leaning more towards the physical side of things. Remember when you were a kid and your parents always told you to get off the TV or computer and go outside? Jump 20 years forward and all we see is people glued to their phones and social media. You go to dinner with friends and everyone is literally on their phone — sending things to each other while sitting right next to each other. I'm sure we can all relate on some level.
Nowadays, I find myself feeling a lot like my parents' generation. I've deleted most social media from my phone because I don't want to be reaching for it every five minutes. The funny thing is, now it's my parents who are constantly on their phones and social media — so I think it's safe to say the tables have turned! I will say, I do still have Instagram, as it's still the go-to place for sharing photography and artwork, but I'm limiting how much time I spend on it.
All of this is to say — I'm trying to be more present. No more doom scrolling. More reading and watching things that actually matter to me. Browsing the occasional internet drama can be fun, but I don't want it consuming my everyday life. It probably sounds a little contradictory since you're likely reading this on a mobile device, but I'd like to think of it differently — you're here reading, not doom scrolling, and that counts for something.
I'm sure blogging feels a little old-fashioned to some people these days. But honestly, "weird" and every other label like it is purely subjective. What feels strange to you might feel completely normal to me. If I want to write about birds, moose, pikas, or any other wildlife conservation topic, I don't want that to be seen as odd. And if it is — that's on you. We shouldn't let what others think dictate what we're passionate about. If I enjoy this, I want to share everything I know and am learning with the world, without judgment. Because frankly, I don't have time for anything else. Judge if you want, and move on.
On another note, I've been wanting to start a YouTube channel — and man, talking to yourself on camera is harder than it looks. Add in multiple angles, post-production, and everything else that goes into it, and it's a whole thing. It's an area I really want to grow in, but let's be real — I'm a photographer before a videographer, and I have a lot to learn. On top of that, I'm doing all of this while working a full-time job. So when you factor in work, photography, off-roading, overlanding, conservation efforts, and learning YouTube on top of it all — it's a lot. I'll admit I'm a little self-conscious about it too, as I'm sure most beginners are. My hope is that blogging becomes my gateway into the YouTube world.
Anyway, I hope this blog becomes an informative space where I can keep you all updated on my photography and wildlife conservation work — along with the occasional random rambling. I hope you'll stick around for the journey, and thanks for reading.
