Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Afraid... We Fade


When did we, when did we get so careful?
When did we, when did we lose ourselves?
Afraid... we fade.
We fade out.

-- Matt Nathanson in his song "Love Comes Tumbling Down"

This quote is from the bridge in my favorite song off Matt Nathanson's new album, Modern Love. These words have just stuck with me... "Afraid... we fade." 


So true, isn't it? When we are afraid of something, we shrink back. Hide. We stick to the tried and true, which over time becomes the boring and predictable. And we slowly, bit by bit, disappear.

As I've worked through some of my feelings around moving back to Oregon, photography, creative inspiration and blogging, I've realized I've been afraid. Afraid I wouldn't find photographic inspiration. Afraid I would lose my stream of creative ideas. Afraid I wouldn't have anything interesting to write or show. Afraid I would lose my blog readers.

So today as I debated on whether or not to post another crab pot photo, as I heard in my head, "Who would want to see another photo of crab pots," this song reminded me to just get over my silly fears and get on with it. Do what I love, write and share what interests me, as I always have. When did I get so careful? Why is this so hard? I seem to have to re-learn this concept over and over again.


"Afraid... we fade. We fade out." 



Posted by Kat Sloma at 7:19 AM
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

21 comments:

  1. BrendaAugust 23, 2011 at 8:09 AM

    Kat,
    This post certainly resonated with me. I feel like I have to teach myself this lesson every single day. Thanks for sharing your fears and your crab pots :)

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  2. DianaAugust 23, 2011 at 8:13 AM

    I agree that fearlessness has to keep being relearned. (for me, too) Taking small steps takes energy and letting fear take over halts any progress forward. We have to remember how far we've come from even 1 year ago. Stop those negative thoughts and say to ourselves, "I don't have time for this." Thanks for reminder...

    Love your posts on your scooter...you look great!

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  3. seablueleeAugust 23, 2011 at 8:14 AM

    Kat, this is why I love your blog. It's about so much more than photography. I may not be all that interested in crab pots, but I'm always interested in what you have to say. Please keep sharing whatever's on your heart and mind. Some days you're as good as a therapist, and always a lot more fun! :-)
    ~Lee

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  4. RitaAugust 23, 2011 at 9:07 AM

    Just remember that the people in Italy probably wondered why anyone would want to take pictures of old windows and bikes that were so very ordinary to them--LOL!

    Your wonderful photos are just an extension of you--your eye--what you see--how you see. We come to see what you have seen and hear what you think and feel. We come because of you. :):)

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  5. BecsAugust 23, 2011 at 9:23 AM

    Hi Kat, thank you for sharing this, you've expressed it so well. This is a lesson I have to relearn a lot too. Becsx
    ps I love crab pots :)

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  6. UnknownAugust 23, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    Photography drew me to your blog...your honesty keeps me coming back. Fear does paralyze and then we begin to fade. Fortunately, we can reverse the fading and renew ourselves. New chapters in life mean new challenges and that is a wonderful process.
    Thank you for introducing me to Matt Nathanson. I'd never heard him before and love his style and this song.

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  7. foxysueAugust 23, 2011 at 9:40 AM

    It does you good to hear that someone who has done so much and come so far still has a little doubt, it's the human touch, the vulnerable, that speaks and connects....

    Sue x

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  8. ginaAugust 23, 2011 at 3:12 PM

    Yep, you hit a chord here....being fearful is something we all have to fight. It does get easier as you age because you realize you want to make the most of the time left. Better to take the risk than live with regret. I love your crab pot and your reflections.

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  9. leanne can blogAugust 23, 2011 at 4:08 PM

    Great thoughts Kat. And i really like your crab pots!

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  10. AnonymousAugust 23, 2011 at 4:50 PM

    its hard.. to live fearlessly. Its confronting those fears head on and being the only one left standing. Its knowing that your faith is bigger than your fear.. living fearlessly should be every persons mantra, because you never know where that will take you. And you can post whatever you like, as many crabpots as you like, cause you know we will keep coming back for more!

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  11. Lisa GordonAugust 23, 2011 at 5:02 PM

    It's beautiful Kat!
    Just go with it!! :-)

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  12. TalibahAugust 23, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    I love your authenticity and I am looking forward to seeing what you love, what interest you!!

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  13. Christine E-EAugust 23, 2011 at 5:07 PM

    ha! ha! I never even noticed that you were posting pictures of crabpots two days in a row!
    I only noticed the colors, shapes & detail... We return because of your honesty & down-to-earth personality. You talk to us, answer our emails --- you're like a best friend!
    The only thing I fear is breaking a finger so I can't take pictures. Even when I was on crutches (January - May 2011) I could still maneuver around, sit down and take pictures while in a stationary spot...

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  14. Simon August 23, 2011 at 6:40 PM

    I like seeing more crab pot pics. Isn't it wonderful how a line in a song can speak to you? I too worry about inspiration, finding something new in the same old, when uninspired going the safe route. Great reminder to stretch. Thanks.

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  15. smiles, SharonAugust 23, 2011 at 7:37 PM

    You have received many thoughtful replies to your query, would you lose your inspiration, your readers, your creativity? I think these are very valid questions. They are normal to ponder and wonder about. Most of us have been there in one form or another. People are drawn to those who are authentic, honest, sympathetic, caring, and have ideas they maybe wouldn't have thought of...you are such a person. Your creative muse will just seek greater heights. Your following will expand...your hard work will assure you of these things. Don't think too hard...you have much to handle right now...your work, family, putting your home together, your classes, your desire to paint...it is a lot. Good thing you have that scooter to get you around on. It was a fearless thing to get on that scooter...just keep that upper most in your mind. All is well. smiles: sharon

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  16. JamieAugust 23, 2011 at 7:52 PM

    Love his music - thanks for introducing me to him

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  17. Karen @ Pieces of ContentmentAugust 23, 2011 at 8:08 PM

    You summed it up well, fear can certainly hold us back, but we're not to live in fear! As you say....."Do what I love, write and share what interests me, as I always have." Being true to yourself, then you will have a passion and others will be drawn to that.

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  18. radish38August 23, 2011 at 9:08 PM

    Anyone can take good pictures in Europe, I did it myself. The real trick is taking photos with the familiar, and plain and dowdy. I get sick of these photograph books which are in Africa, or Asia, and so foreign. Taking a photo in your own kitchen is the hard part. And I am fearful all the time that I am taking something too trivial.

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  19. Angie WillisAugust 24, 2011 at 12:14 AM

    Never be afraid of a crab pot. That's what I say :-)

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  20. GillyAugust 24, 2011 at 3:15 AM

    I think we all feel fear a lot of the time and about a lot of things, and we have this idea that there are all these successful, competent people out there who never feel that way. It isn't true, of course, but often the scariest thing is simply to allow ourselves to be who we really are. I like this quote from e e cummings:

    "To be nobody but myself – in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make me somebody else – means to fight the hardest battle any human can fight, and never stop fighting."

    A lot of people give up that fight, and I think that's terribly sad. The world desperately needs people who don't give up that struggle to be themselves.

    Here's another quote that I like:

    "People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognise: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child – our own two eyes. All is a miracle."
    Thich Nhat Hanh

    Your lobsterpots - and your other photos - are helping to show people what a miracle everything is, even something quite mundane. This is a lovely post, and a very honest one too.

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  21. {furi kuri} travelsAugust 29, 2011 at 4:57 AM

    What an amazing quote! Wow, K this is *exactly* what I needed to hear today! The past few days those same fears have been eating me up as well and it's so inspiring and encouraging to know that I'm not alone! Fear is something that affects all of us, but really at the end of the day, it's action it's forging ahead that silences the fear. Thank you for being brave, for pushing through, and for sharing.

    p.s. I LOVE this photo but then again I'm kinda in love with all of your photos :)

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