Justin and Mary. Friends, colleagues, and some of the most generous people I know.

If you follow me on facebook you have seen my links to them and probably think who are these people Joe Don talks about all the time. Well here is a little bit of insight to J&M.

A few years ago when visiting the Hallmark Institute of Photography. I was introduced to Justin and Mary. I have heard numerous speakers, leaders in the industry speak at Hallmark but none of them have impacted me like J&M.

I have been in love with everything J&M since then.

The real difference is there vulnerability. There willingness to tell you what it is really like to be a photographer. They are not full of themselves. They are as real as you and me.

With Mary you get someone who is the voice of J&M. She has a contagious quirky spirit and has a million stories of growing up in West Virginia. Her stories move your heart and tug at your soul. She is also as determined as they come.

With Justin you get the quieter humbler side of J&M. He knows it all(well maybe not all but he knows a whole lot more than your average bear) but would never say so. His ability of lighting and knowledge of photography seems to have no bounds. There is something peaceful about just being around him. He is the calmer side of J&M.

You also have Julia. The engine who gets things done. Her attention to detail is breathtaking. As Justin and Mary put it she is not an employee but the third leg of there tripod.

They are so wonderful. To call them friends is such a privilege.

If you have not visited there sight please do so by going here.

Trust me if you visit them as I do they will lift your spirit and bring more life into yours.

Who am I becoming.

Earlier this I week I blogged about concrete goals. Goals that are easily measurable. If you did not read it yet look here.

Now I am going for more abstract goals. Goals more about who I am becoming as a person. In a way these goals can be more difficult than the concrete. They require more introspection.

This year one goal is to listen more and talk less. I love to tell stories. I really like one in the middle of the room captivating others with stories. This year I want to be aware of others stories. I want for others to believe that I care because I listen. I want to listen more, better, to not miss what someone is saying because I am trying to come up with a witty response.

A spiritual goal is to desire God. To pursue him, not my own selfish gains. To not always be scheming and coming up with a plan for this or that. I feel so many times like I have a God who loves me and desires to spend time with me but I am too busy planing things on my own. How much stress in my life could I avoid if I just spent more time with Him. I do believe to spend more time with Him it does have to be a deep desire of my heart and this is what I want.

I want to be able to take criticism better and be less critical of myself. This may seem like an odd combination but part of the reason that I do not take criticism well is because for every critical point that someone makes of me or my work is that I have probably yelled and screamed at myself about these criticisms many times over. I have to admit I have inwardly considered it good that I am so hard on myself. Because I have believed that if I am not hard on myself I will not get better. I won’t be able to improve. This is total crap(sorry to use such crass language). I have to realize that God has given me more gifts and talent than I will ever know. I have to acknowledge that He has blessed me with incredible talent. Once I know that I am blessed I can then improve by listening to those around me who know better than I know.

These are just three goals that I have and I hope that this inspires you to get a little bit introspective. If this inspires you let me know.

I have to admit I do not liking turning around.

When I am driving my GPS will tell me to make a u-turn.  I am convinced that I can keep going and everything will work out.  Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t.

Once you get on a path and you are headed down it it is easy to just follow it even when it is going the wrong direction.  I know that when I am  headed the wrong direction it is a combination of pride(I must be right), anger(why did I not make the right turn in the first place, and apathy(what does it matter it will come out alright, I’m sure) that keeps on the wrong path.

You may have different reasons for not changing course.  It is always good to reasses where you are going.  Get some advice.  Find what works and what doesn’t.  Don’t let fear or anything else keep you from going in the right direction.

“All it takes is 20 seconds of insane courage and great things will happen. I promise.”

While home over Christmas I saw We Bought a Zoo. It was by Cameron Crowe. I have to admit I loved the whole movie. But the last scene. I mean the absolute last scene could be life changing.

If you have not seen it. Stop now and go to see it.

Now. Right now stop because it is that good.

Ok. Now that you have seen it can we just say together “WOW WOW WOW Jimminy Cricket WOW”

I have blogged from time to time about how I am not the hero type, I live with fear. I do not step out on ledges, I stay close to the pack, I stay away from conflict.

I soo want to be different. To not worry about what the other guy thinks. To not always be looking around and seeing what everyone else is doing and try to emulate there style. I want to have my own style but for someone who feels as though their own style is single college guy where do I begin.

I begin by not worrying about style. By not worrying what mine is. To know that as long as I serve God, do His best, and walk His path every day. That is good enough.

So back to that insane courage quote. What do I do with it. Right now I don”t know. But my goal and mindset for the upcoming year is to live that way.

Also the very last scene after Benjamin say the 20 second quote. He comes face to face with his future love to be and speaks to her for the first time ever and it goes like this.

Why would a beautiful woman like you talk to a stranger like me? Why not?

You never know what is going to happen until you dive in. Until he spoke to her. He was insecure just like me sure but so what.  All he needed was 20 seconds of insane courage.

Here is to 20 seconds of insane courage today and every day in this new year.

Growing up in Texas I have many wonderful memories.  Memories of running in fields, exploring creeks, and enjoying the company of friends.

The Burns Family were one of the closest.  Carol and Margie were my second parents growing up.  I could always depend on them.  They still remain an important part of my life.  I just have so many memories of them and there children.  There is Lynette, Terry, Todd and Tony.  I love them all so much.

While home Margie and Carol celebrated there 50th wedding anniversay.  It speaks of one’s character in today’s world when someone spends 50 years together.  It affirms their dedication to each other.

I was a little nervous being that I had not seen so many of these faces in so many years.  In the end it was a wonderful time.  To see so many people celebrate Margie and Carol did my heart good.  Words can not express the gratitude I have in my life for being a part of there lives.