Are you drowning?

Yesterday I pulled a poor woman from the surf, wide eyed and frightened. She’d been tipped off her boogie board and was clutching it weirdly from upside down, like a beached turtle. She was terrified to let go lest she drown, and waves crashed over her face as she strained to keep it above water.

Here’s the thing. People swam and dived in the waves around her and the lifeguards were oblivious. She was so terrified she couldn’t even move her limbs, so I dragged her, coughing and spluttering, closer to the shore, and finally convinced her to put her feet down.

It’s so easy to drown, even in reasonably shallow water, especially if you don’t believe you can swim. Panic and fear take over and paralyse you. Waves hit you and knock you back down.

And not everyone can see you’re drowning if you don’t ask for help.

You might not be in the ocean but it can feel like it sometimes.

Maybe you’re overwhelmed, stuck, or feel like you’re drowning in everything required to succeed as a photographer.

Maybe this year already feels like it’s too hard and you’re clutching at that boogie board, upside down where you’ll no doubt get a face full of surf.

I see you. It’s my special skill. (You’re welcome boogie board lady).

Marketing, meetings, producing, delivering, fitting in personal work….the never ending circle that is your life (let alone family, house and all the complexities of a goddamn pandemic which has been an ever-present threat and reality for the last 2 years) can absolutely be overwhelming sometimes, especially at the beginning of the year.

So today, the first day of February, and the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New year- the year of the Water Tiger- I want to extend a helping hand to you.

The Tiger’s strength, courage and ability to exorcise evil is thought to bring prosperity, and my goodness we need as much of all of that as possible.

The Water aspect apparently introduces open-mindedness.

Delia Lin, from the department of Chinese Studies at Melbourne University, says “people believe that in the Year of the Tiger, you’ve got the opportunity to renew everything … particularly your energy, your strength.”

So let’s renew. Next week I’ll be hosting a free workshop to help you get clarity, focus and direction in the face of all the change we’ve seen the last 2 years as well as a touch of courage and strength to get through.

Meanwhile, Gōng xǐ fā cái !

(Footnote: I have been lucky to have spent lots of time working in South East Asia over the last 20 years, and there is so much to learn from their vast and rich cultures. You can read some stories from my agent days, working as a photo rep in China, Singapore and Hong Kong here)