Daily Photo Tour - Passion, Persistence, and Yellow Lights

"I'm tellin' you, man, every third blink is slower." It's true. And it's sort of a life lesson. The older I get the more I realize it's important to stop and reflect on life. It's good to slow down and realize where you are. I mean, it's horrifying to think that we only get one chance at this whole life thing. That's why every moment is so precious. Think about it for a second. There is no yesterday, only now, and the hope for tomorrow. We can only take yesterday's wisdom and apply it to the present in a way that prepares our future for success. Whatever that success might be, I believe it's different for everyone, but it comes from the same source, passion.

I used to believe that success was graduating with a Bachelor's Degree, landing that sweet job, and getting married. I figured, when I finally get there I'll be happy. That's a dangerous statement. "When I finally _______ I will be happy." You fill in the blank. It's different for everyone. But, more often then not, life works itself out in a way that teaches you a greater lesson than just being happy. What do you value? Where do you find self worth? In what setting, what activity do you feel the most productive? That's passion. It's made up of a mix of intuitive skill and talent, a touch of joy, and a ton of persistence. If you could weigh out the ingredients, the larger portion would be persistence. Without it, your passion will fade, and you'll slowly forget why you were placed on this planet in the first place.

Persistence in your passion will always remind you where you excel. It will show you how much you've grown, and it will tell you where you need to improve. Sometimes it's difficult to keep going, in whatever the task may be. But you just know when things are clickin'. When everything falls into place and in that moment you feel like you are doing exactly what you are supposed to be doing, that is when you have purpose.

For me, I've realized that the magnitude of my persistence has been quite modest recently. I haven't been giving my passions the best effort. And, remembering that this life is a one time deal always accelerates my energy into giving it my all and seeing my full potential. I've been reminded more recently of hopes and dreams that I once had. Things that faded so slowly as time went on. I don't know if I will ever reach those goals, but I'm going to be joyful and persistent the entire journey. I'm definitely excited to see what adventures are in store.

Daily Photo Tour - The Filters Were Hung by the Diner With Care

Nothing says Happy Holidays like assorted filters and neon... to a car anyway.

Daily Photo Tour - A Place to Feel at Home

It's Sunday night. Monday is almost here. When the sun rises, I shall embark on what I expect will be an interesting week. It will be the last one with my employer of seven years. Soon I will be at a different school district. I'm excited. I'm pensive. I am bittersweetly retrospective. At 27, if I break down the numbers, I've spent a little more than 25% of my life here. The feeling is surreal. The change has come swiftly. It feels like a dream.

A very dear friend was sharing with me yesterday evening the importance of time, how it's the most valuable thing we have and how we can choose to give it to others. We can use it to show people that they are worth something, that they're accepted and loved. It's something I take for granted because I'm blessed to have some really amazing people in my life that make me feel those things on a consistent basis.

As I sat down with this picture earlier, none of this was on my mind. It was just me and Radiator Springs and I was wishing I was there. Then the word "Cozy" really started standing out. It's the perfect word for this place. Radiator Springs is one of those places with its priorities set right, where folks are accepted and valued. That acceptance, which leads to feeling cozy, can give you a place to feel at home, no matter where you are.

My new job means moving. Not real far but far enough to feel unfamiliar. Far enough for me to consider new ways to give my time to the people I love, people who won't be a few minutes away. Far enough that I expect I will meet new people to give my time to and people who will give of their time to me. I know that good things are in store. I know that God loves me and has good plans for me and that makes me feel cozy. When I wake from this surreality, there will be a new place to feel at home.

Daily Photo Tour - Flo's V8 Cafe

One of the most striking areas of Cars Land is Flo's V8 Cafe. It is one of the most vibrant pieces of architecture I have ever seen. The authenticity of the entire land is very impressive, and Flo's Cafe is definitely at the top of the list. You can't help but stare at the abundant amount of neon that makes this building so extraordinary.

Daily Photo Tour - Grease Lighting

Some days of shooting pictures at the Disneyland Resort are about telling a story. Some are about meandering to see what catches your eye. Other days are about finding light. This picture was a result of the latter. The glow on just about everything in Cars Land during the late afternoon is stunning.

On a side note, naming each picture is kind of a process in itself. Sometimes you have a thought about an image when you take it and sometimes you don't have a clue. I often try to find a title that is amusing and clever (at least to myself...) Tonight I thought of naming my picture "Grease. Monkey Not Included". Chuckling at myself, I proudly asked Michaela, "What do you think I'm going to name this?" She replied, "I don't know, 'Grease Lighting'?" After a brief moment of watching my popped balloon fly about the room, I knew she'd won and gladly claimed her thought for my own! Now off to do the hand jive...

Daily Photo Tour - The Glow at Flo's

I was a bit of a skeptic back when I first heard there was a whole land being built for Cars. I had seen the movie once but hadn't connected with it at the time. I grew up right off of Route 66 between Victorville and Barstow with a pretty poor outlook of my hometown and its surroundings. That's not to say that I didn't love the old buildings along the road, the unique people, the rusty signs, I did. But I grew up feeling it was inferior and almost ashamed to answer the question, "Where are you from?"

The announcement of Cars Land piqued my interest and I sat back down to watch the movie. The second go round was a different experience entirely. I found myself deeply moved with some sort of approval to appreciate the beauty and stories I grew up immersed in. In some way it made me feel more whole, more free.

Yesterday we stepped into Cars Land for the first time. Almost ninety minutes from where I grew up, I felt like I was home. There is an authenticity to this place that cannot verbally be conveyed, it has to be experienced. It's impossible to miss the love that has gone into this new land. I didn't want to leave and was more than content to spend most of the day there.

To everyone who had a part to play in this, thank you from the bottom of my heart. In Cars Land life really is a dream.