Yesterday was 24 hours ago…

…but today is now!

One of the blogs I read on a daily basis is…The Pilgrim’s Chronicles.  

Bill is a very talented photographer, a devoted husband, a proud grandfather…you get the idea, I could go on and on about this man.  But when it boils down to it, he is just that, a man who loves the Lord

His blog is undoubtedly one of the most satisfying reads I have each and every day.  Well, yesterdays entry was truly meaningful to me.  It asked the question, “How Good Are You?” 

Now, initially I thought about photography.  My mind went back to that first photo I posted on FLICKR.  It is Hazard Cave up on the Cumberland Plateau.

Then my mind raced to one of the last photos I posted of Nashville.  I could definitely see that I was better than before.  My skill has grown, I look at things differently than I did back then.  I feel more confident with my abilities.

But then something smacked me hard in the face.  No,   it was  not a frying pan thrown by my wife, it was God.  In the deep, dark recesses of my mind and heart a question arose…”Do you love Me, more than you did yesterday?”

WOW!  A journey of extreme proportions!  Whatever road my life takes, whatever mountains I must climb, I want to answer the question with a resounding YES!  I love God more today than I did yesterday!  And tomorrow…even more!

PEACE!

Stepping out…

…of my comfort zone that is!

The comfort zone is a behavioral state within which a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviors to deliver a steady level of performance, usually without a sense of risk (Alasdair A. K. White "From Comfort Zone to Performance Management.

That’s what I did recently at the Walk From Obesity.  Normally I would just take pictures behind the scenes.  I guess my nephew said it best when he described me a camera carrying sniper, never knowing when I would jump out from behind a tree and said…”gotcha!”

Well, at the Walk this last week, I decided to step out from behind that tree figuratively.  I put myself out there for different people and groups.  If they wanted a group shot, or a portrait shot, I was there.  Now of course, I did this all free of charge.  I’m not to the point that I want to charge, I don’t feel like I’m that good yet!

But what a feeling it was to make myself available!  To say, “Here I am, follow the skinny bald guy with the camera”.  It was weird, but exhilarating at the same time. 

Just another plus to losing weight!  What else can I say?  If I had not lost weight, I probably would still be behind that tree waiting to pull the trigger and shoot ya! 

Have a great day!

Been a while!

Yeah, it’s been quite a while since I visited my old friend here. My dad even said I better attend to Bald-Is-Beautiful, or he was going to stop reading! What’s up with that?

You know, this blog has been a very good partner in my weight loss journey. It has been there for the good times and the bad. It never pointed fingers when I put a little weight back on. Not once did B-I-B laugh at me and say “I told ya!” So, why have I forsaken thee?

LIFE! That’s the answer, LIFE! Capital letters and all…LIFE! You see, since I have had my weight loss surgery, I have been presented with a new beginning. A do over if you will. A chance to do all things that I never could.

My wife and I have been married for 13 years. In that time, we went on a few vacations. Granted, most of them were in state. In fact, all of them were in state except for 1! This year alone, we have been to Florida and Texas on family vacations. We have remodeled our house from top to bottom. We’ve been able to do things that I never would have even attempted before. This brings me to an idea I want to share.

I’m thinking of taking Bald-Is-Beautiful in a new direction. B-I-B will always be my baby, my outlet for me and me alone. But B-I-B will start to change over the next few months. I am seriously thinking of trying my hand a professional photography. Don’t laugh at me, not just yet anyway.

In the past several years, I have really gotten into taking photos. I love the thrill of chasing the light, looking for that one shot that just makes it all worth while. And I think I’ve done pretty good at finding them. I have several people in my life that keep urging me in this direction. Not pushing me mind you, just urging me to take a serious look at it.

I have 2 or 3 photo shoots set up right now for very dear friends. They want me , can you believe that, to shoot their family portraits. So, we will see what happens with them, and then go on from there!

You can take this to the bank though (this is for my Dad and FIL)…I won’t be quitting my day job any time soon!

BIB Photography is just another chapter in my life. Or better yet…another road in my “Journey of Extreme Proportions”!

C Ya!

Walk From Obesity 2009

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Happy Fathers Day 2009

Wow, it's almost like I need a special occasion to update my blog! As promised, NO EXCUSES!

Today is Fathers Day 2009, and all I can say is Thank You to my Dad, and my Father-in-Law! They are the most influential men is my life. I can only hope that I turn out to be half the men that they are!

So, in tribute to Dad's everywhere...

DAD, I Love You! There's not enough words in the world to say Thanks for all you have ever done for me! For the firm hand when I needed it, for the compassion and integrity that is who you are, and to being the best supporter a person could ever have! You have been there during the worst of times, but also the best of times. You were there as I grew into the man I am today. You were there when I became a husband, when I became a provider, and when I became a father. I am who I am today, because of the example you have set for me in life!

Once again Dad, I Love You!

A walk in the ...

What a beautiful weekend we have had here in Tennessee! Yesterday morn, I was awakened by a cute little cardinal siting outside my window whistling, "Wake up Scott, come and take my picture".

As much as I wanted to sleep, I got up and went outside. I did sleep in though, I did not get up until 5:00!

At that point, I knew I needed to go somewhere, I just did not know where! Then I remembered all the hoopla on TV this week about Bells Bend and the Maytown community!

So off I went, with camera and protein coffee in hand.

When I found the park, the sun had not yet risen. Fog covered the area, and I thought the morning would be a total waste! Little did I know!

The sun finally rose and I could see the dew on the spiderwebs. What a magical experience! Majestic is the only word I could use to describe what was surrounding me!

To be surrounded by a symphony of praise from the areas inhabitants was refreshing! No one was worried about weight loss or regain. No one was complaining about their fellow co-workers. No one was complaining period. Well, maybe this one guy who found me intruding on his domain.

I guess the best thing that came out of yesterday was the refreshing spirit that only nature can bring. Oh yeah, I did get lost and my trusty pedometer said I walked 4.5 miles over the hills and through the woods to grandmothers house I went! I definitly could not do that a year and a half ago!

Click here for the entire set of photos:

Bells Bend

Have a great day!

Perceptions!

When you look at the following picture, what do you see?

Do you see white dots, or black dots? Or do you see both?

Now, when you look at this before and after picture, what do you see?

Do you see a guy who has lost a lot of weight? Do you think this guy is the perfect weight loss patient? Maybe you see someone who is eating all the right things. Someone who puts a lot of thought into what he eats? I see something totally different than you...I promise!

Visual perception is something that all of us suffer from. In the first picture with the black squares, did you know there are only white circles. The black ones are tricks, that our minds eye plays on us!

The same can be said by my picture!

You see someone who has lost a lot of weight. You see someone who thinks about what goes in my pouch. I only wish that were true! You see, I have gained a few pounds back. Like I said a few weeks ago, I’m happy where I’m at, but I have to be very careful!

In the past few months, old habits have re-surfaced. From what I’m hearing from friends, this is happening to them as well! The bad thing is, they are afraid to seek some help. They’ re afraid that people would point their finger and say, “See, I told you so”. The problem is, they are right! And the really unfortunate aspect is, the people pointing fingers are the ones who should know better! Friends who have had weight loss surgery themselves!

Support is something we all need. We need it when we are climbing that mountain of weight loss, but we also need it when we have crashed in the valley below! We need support to cheer us on, but also to build us up!

Right now, I need support and prayers to help me stay on the straight and narrow. I’ve not come to far to just give up and head in the wrong direction! I guess what I’m really trying to say is this…the next time Charlie Rich starts singing “Behind Closed Doors”, I need to open that door quickly! I don’t need to be a perception puzzle, my life needs to be an open book! No more hiding behind closed doors and eating junk!

I think it's time to be honest, I need an accountability partner! Any takers?