Carpe Diem & Family
Had a really close call with a very very close family member today – as close as it gets. Could have been fatal – but turned out ok. Head traumas are so dangerous, and when mixed with internal bleeding can turn on a dime.
Any way. All is good. Everyone is fine. (Broken skulls excluded.)
Things have been incredibly busy for me over the past few weeks – and the outlook for things has been awesome. And just like that all could have come crashing down.
I’m being cryptic on purpose because I really don’t want to get into personal matters on a public forum.
The point of this post is simply to remind me (and you) to always keep an eye on what is important in life: family, friends – and all else is far secondary – if even on the radar. Be safe out there. Always make a point to “seize the day,” but make more of a point to spend as much time with your loved ones – no matter how crazy busy you are.
Being busy is a voluntary thing. So is spending time with family. Make a point of doing the latter.
Family and friends are all that matter in the end.
Peace.
(No probing comments please on this post.)
No probing questions necessary. It’s only good to know that everyone is, or will be, fine. Glad to hear that, at least, and your message of perspective is excellent.
Perhaps I’ll just print this one more thing and then go hang with a loved one myself. Or perhaps that one more print can wait…
I’m glad everything is ok! I as well recently had a close call with a family member and thankfully everything is going to be fine. I understand what you’re talking about and definitely am keeping that in the back of my head.
Take care,
Jesse
Good point, and unfortunately often overlooked.
How true. Read this book: “The Four Hour Workweek” by Timothy Ferriss. (No benefit to me.)
It is indeed good to remember to seize the day once in a while. Too bad something bad has to happen before we tend to realize that again.
Hey Vincent, sorry to hear about your relative, I’m glad he/ she is okay, good luck in the recovery stage.
You make a very good point, which can be easy to forget sometimes.
Never take anything in life for granted.
“Being busy is a voluntary thing. So is spending time with family. Make a point of doing the latter. ”
We heard so much about this point, yet understand so little. Thanks again Vince. Glad everything’s okay.
I am happy to see that somebody thinks almost like me; Vincent, congratulations for this post.
Too many people are too much inside their own world, and they forget why we live.
I absolutely don’t trust in family and friends, but I think we don’t live just to be busy or to work 20 hours a day.
I hope your relatives will be feel better soon.
Thanks for reminding us ! It’s so true … You think you know that this or that is _important_
And suddenly an event like this opens your eyes !
Peter
First, glad things are ok, next. EXCELLENT. Why Vincent, does it take something, a trigger, in our lives to remind us? Well, it does not matter, does it? As long as we get there, and “get it” then, we’ve arrived at something very comfortable and cool. Wishing you all such health and peace.
Tom and Jared
VL,
Thanks for sharing this. I appreciate not only your business posts, but your willingness to share slices of your personal life that impact us all on a very human level. God bless you and yours and please keep up with the incredible work.
Best,
Roger
VL,
Great show on Sunday. Will look forward to going over the disc when I get it. Had the 5D’s on order and was excited before the show now am crazy waiting. One question, as your video productions grow how will you deal with unions and Sag talent. Are you going to start your own production company?
c
When you’re not married with kids things are different, but now, as a father of two young children, hearing stories like this just makes my heart ache. Hopefully all is well on your side.
Life’s a roller-coaster, it twists and turns suddenly. You just have to take the good with the bad. Things Normally work out ok.
You couldn’t be more true about seizing the day, Never take life for granted! You don’t know what you have until its gone.
Anyway I wish them good luck with their recovery 🙂
Ed Stone Photography
http://www.dopeytree.com
Well put my friend. Hugs to whom ever got hurt and wish them well.
Totally agree! Life is short, even under the best of circumstances. Enjoy each day.
Glad you put a little reminder up of this…
I hope the recovery is swift and 100%…
Life, Love and Liberty… Photography captures the pursuit of all…
Adam Campbell Photography
Peace!
Just a quick note – as I step away from the computer to spend time with my family member (it was not my son or my wife btw – I decided to clear that up as I’ve had many calls from friends.) All is A OK – all the tests came back clear – and it’s just a matter of time before things heal. Thanks everyone for the kind words.
VINCENT
I just got back to NJ from spending 2 weeks in Mississippi to bury my father. He was a simple,but complex man and was a strong influence to me being a photographer.
I’m coming more and more to terms with the fact that one day, someone will be crying over me lying in a casket and hopefully reminiscing about the positive impact that I had on their lives. Everything else, career success, money, the latest fads, is relatively worthless.
Vincent,
My heart goes out to you and yours. You are so right about family and friends first. Everything else is truly secondary. Wishing you the best.
Nancy
Glad all is ok. I was in a terrible car accident 15 years ago and my best friend nearly died of head trauma. Thankfully she survived, but has no short term memory, and her walking ans speech is still very poor. We must remember to be thankful that we are healthy. I’m working hard to maintain a balance… family comes first!!
what if one does not have family or friends?
thoughtful post… glad to hear all is ok…
I hope for a swift and full recovery!
Glad to hear everything is OK – it’s crazy sometimes how tragedy or near-tragedy can quite swiftly cause one to re-align their priorities in life at the speed of light. Now that I have a family with two small children, stories like this remind me how precious life really is.
Hope all is well…
Andrew
Scary stuff – glad everyone is ok !
Vincent,
Glad to hear everyone is ok. I can totally relate to what you are saying as I am going through a similar experience right now, just times two. In the past week and a half, I’ve heard double news, so things came crashing down pretty fast.
It is tough hearing bad news, but as you say family and loved ones are what’s important at the end of day.
We try our best to do what we can for the ones we love, with open minds, and open hearts.
Vincent, thanks for sharing with us this life lesson. True. Glad to hear everyone is ok. My best wishes.
Pablo
Hey Vince-
Thanks alot for that post. There’s so much written and spoken about this industry, the art, the craft, technique and technical, that our very foundations are often forgotten in the blur of information on photography. My 8 month old boy took a tumble off of the bed a month back and even though there was no harm done, the sound of that thud on the floor and the reminder of what is always possible was the most frightening prospect that I couldn’t handle. I was shaken up for the rest of the day.
There’s very little that we write in reference to our families, nothing on how to find the delicate balance of sharing time between family and business. Its especially hard as a contract photographer, when the only time to make money is on somebody else’s schedule. Without a 9-5 gig, its even more important to protect our time with family. As much as we need to make money to support them, its even more important to be with them.
Sorry to here Vincent, I am glad that things seem to be ok though. You and yours will be in my thoughts and prayers
-John
Glad to hear things turn out well, you made a point we need to prioritize what is important in life such as family and friends, everything goes second.
Vincent,
I’m going to write this down and put it over my computer.
“Always make a point to “seize the day,” but make more of a point to spend as much time with your loved ones – no matter how crazy busy you are.
Being busy is a voluntary thing. So is spending time with family. Make a point of doing the latter.”
Thanks for the reminder.
-Bryan
I always keep an eye to my daughter. When I look at her an she is safe in good ealth I always think about my luck…
hi,
I’ve been checking your website lately, and the videos over at Canon. I am overwhelmed with your talent and expertise, and have extensively watched Reverie for inspiration and learning purposes. Now I’ve read your ‘close call’ message, and I would like to wish you and your loved ones all the best, and to thank you for sharing your wisdom with all your readers. Warm regards from Madrid, Spain.
Vincent,
My sincere apologies as i mistakenly commented in the post regarding the final cut studio, thinking that was still in the previous thread. Good to hear everyone is OK… My grandmother is in the process of passing away @ her home now, and despite the fact that she is 82, its still very painful, so your words are very true indeed.
Very relieved to hear that everything turned out ok. We were really worried here in DC when we heard what had happened. It would have been great to have seen you again at the Navy Memorial, but you are so right… family and friends must always be far ahead at the top of the list of priorities. Sometimes it’s too easy to get caught up in what you “have” to do, rather than what you “want” to do.
Take care, and all the best!
Richard
very
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Really good article and totally true
Vincent,
Peace to you too.
Was surfing 5D mkII (so gonna carpe me one!) stuff and wound up here. My day job is in funeral service. Deeply rewarding. I hear it every day: Can’t believe it’s been… Just saw him/her the other day. I often see the regret of having meant to go see someone for so long…too late. (My wife just plunked my 15 month old baby boy in my lap while she cooks.) Life is short, V, and your message has been very much on my mind lately. My boys are growing up too fast and my wife and I struggle to find time to just talk. Found out yesterday a high school friend died in Iraq. Roadside bomb. Short.
I can relate to Tim in NJ’s thoughts but I still have both my parents. I know I’m lucky. Glad I found this. Got much respect for your work.