Mango Tree

I came across a song while editing today, Mango Tree, sung by Angus & Julie Stone ('07). It brought me back to Africa. "I wish I had a mango tree in my backyard, with you standing next to me, take the picture." Mango trees were abundant in the village we were in, kids would climb up them just to get some to share with us, also mangos were given to us as a sign of thankfulness, left and right. Life was oddly a lot easier for that time in Bulike. My heart was at ease and I was more than invested in these people and capturing images that could possibly help out their future and others going to Africa. Let alone, these images help me get by day by day, looking at their smiles and watching videos, hearing their voices and hoping to never forget the joy and love they gave me.

Now though, I am far into reality being back in America. Doctors at my hand when I am feeling sick, friends and family by my side when I need to talk, food in excessive amounts yet I have nothing to eat.

I have found it hard to want to take photos, to get out and shoot, let alone come back home and edit photos. Maybe it is because I took so many and had to edit them all and I just need a break, but I am going through a rough patch with photography. It is discouraging to not shoot as much as I want so when I get in these ruts, I fall hard from my passion and love for it. I had to physically force myself off of the sofa today, put on mascara so I felt like a human and head up to my desk to edit. I don't want to feel forced.

But, for a second, I felt more than encouraged hearing this song that I had never heard before that brought back so many memories and love. So, here is a video that I have posted before on Instagram, but this is the full version. Let's all do a little bit of what we love everyday so it never feels like another task we have to do. Let's all remember why we ever fell in love with our passions. What are some ways that you get out of ruts in whatever passion you have?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRd1VoGp2es