For photography, it’s been a really productive year for me. I’ve wrapped up the year having taken a little more than 17,000 photos, which is a new high for me (Especially since it’s not how I earn a living). It’s been a year that’s had more travel than I’ve done in a calendar year too. New Orleans and the drive north to Arkansas to view the full solar eclipse in April, a week in Edisto Island South Carolina and a Cruise to Alaska in July and just a few weeks ago, 12 days in Kenya. Honestly I don’t know how I’m not in the poorhouse after all that.

In looking back on the trips, there is such a contrast to what I saw and feelings behind them and of course when comparing the 3 trips within the US and the the trip to Kenya I can’t help but think about how vastly different they are. One of the things that I can’t help but think about is how really blessed I am, when I think about passing through the Kibera slum and how it made me feel. There was a level of guilt because I have it SO good when looking at the contrast. I am unable to fathom going from my cushy computer chair, with my big monitor as the heat comes on because it’s a little “chilly” outside and I go upstairs to grab another cup of coffee (the list goes on and on) to living in Kibera. Where 12% of the estimated 170,000 people there are living with HIV, there is NO clean water and it’s estimated the average income is $2 per DAY (Yeah Nespresso pods cost about that).

Is it Karma why someone is there, and I’m here? It’s the only way I can come to terms with this extreme contrast. I don’t look at it as though “You did something bad and now are paying for it, I was good and am fortunate”. I see it as a teaching tool for each person. As I think more and more about my experience, my mind goes to “Compassion”. It’s my reminder to be compassionate to everyone no matter how stark or minimal our place in the world is. To take any wisdom I might have gleaned through my years and use it to find that place of compassion for another person struggling or sitting on top of the world.

My hope is that I might be able to carry this with me further into my life and my hope is that for anyone who might find this post be able to find that in themselves.