In 2007, I moved to Fort Worth, TX. For the first eight months I worked for the weekends, when I’d jump in my 300ZX and race down I-35, (safely) two and a half hours away from my destination: friends, family and places in Austin, TX.
My spirits lifted each time I came home. I didn’t have to be doing anything special, I was just happy to be surrounded by nature, music and of course, familiar faces.
I eventually grew to love Fort Worth, made tons of friends that I will always cherish, and fostered a sincere appreciation for Billy Bob’s Texas. You really can’t find anything like it anywhere else. The following two years were spent learning to love the community I was a part of, and visiting home just occasionally, instead of all the time.
In November 2009, a welcome job change came my way. I was suddenly faced with a decision: choose to stay in DFW, or move back to Austin.
It alarmed me how undecided I was. In many ways I had grown to be a new person in North Texas, had many friends I did not want to leave and several aspects of both Dallas and Fort Worth left to explore. Would a triumphant return to Austin be everything I thought it would be and more? Was it a fantasy in my mind that would quickly evaporate as soon as responsibilities set in? Even worse still, would the photography business I’d successful built in DFW come to a screeching halt in a creative, competitive city like Austin where everywhere you turn there is another photographer? Torn, I really didn’t know what to do.
After spending time with my colleagues in Austin the choice seemed obvious. I have always made it a priority to surround myself with successful people, and these folks embodied everything I wanted to be and more. I was eager to learn from my managers and colleagues and knew the best place to foster this growth was right smack dab in the middle of the Live Music Capital of the World.
That was a little over a year ago. Moving back to Austin was the right decision. This Valentine’s Day, with messages of love, appreciation and friendship swirling around us, I stopped to think about what I care about the most. There’s so much, but here’s a small snapshot:
- The city for which I have unrequited love
- My wonderful roommates
- Anne’s cat, and my fourth roommate, Potamus
- A challenging, thrilling career
- My close relationship with my family
- My neighborhood
- The ability and privilege to photograph happy, beautiful people
- Live music, especially Alpha Rev
- You! My wonderful readers who I appreciate so very much
Happy Valentine’s Day, friends. If you haven’t yet found what or the place that makes you tick, I encourage you to relentlessly pursue it until it is yours.
