Back in Laos, while some Canadians was sipping Lao beer, I said I wanted to become a photographer.
What happened?
Fast forward five months: still unemployed, but I recently volunteered as a videographer for an all-day beach event. Even though I didn’t get paid, I loved every second of it. When I excitedly shared the experience with my mum, her response was classic:
I shared my experiences with my mum, telling her how excited I was. Her response was,
“When can you turn these skills into money?”, she said.
The rationale behind it
I wasn’t surprised by her dispiriting answer. I wasn’t surprised by her dispiriting answer, but it got me thinking. My logic is simple: once you monetize your interest, the dynamic changes.
Plus, as a novice, I know I need more “miles” behind the lens to build my credibility.
To quiet her doubts, I told her I would need extra money to attend professional photography training and buy some professional but expensive equipment. Once she heard that, she shut up😅.
A small Discovery
After this small incident, I also reflected on the importance of making money with my interest. And I discovered a strange logic.
If my dream is to be a photographer, what is the actual “dream”? Is it the reward (money/fame), or the action itself?
After chewing on this for a day, I knew the answer – what truly matters to me is the activity itself, not the reward💰. Being able to help people take photos and record videos are enough to make me happy, and money does not matter. Appreciation from others can become a motivation, but the process itself is the core of my dream.
Shift in attitude
This shift has changed how I view all my ambitions. I used to want to be a writer to earn a living, but now I realize I just love expressing ideas and emotions through words. I don’t need the awards or the validation.
I call this true love❤️.
PS: I will make money from something that is not my interest, hahaha.
What do you think of this idea? Feel free to share your thoughts and drop a comment below!
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