How photography keeps me grounded (and other anecdotal life tips)
When the world is heavy or life is busy, there are a few things that have helped keep me level: time with fam, things to look forward to, and photography. What about you?
Each week I try to think about what I did in the last week or so that’s brought me joy or helped me feel like I have some semblance of control in my world. This week it turns out that photography and my to-do list have been my two crutches as we settle back into the reality of our current world. I’m not a cheesy person and I hate cliches, but the whole concept of art feeding the soul was spot on this week. So that’s what I want to share today.
Also, if anyone is interested I’m going to start a group chat that will include lots of secret plans. Let me know if you want in on it… Totally kidding. OMG. I’ll share my thoughts on the state of our states below, but I just wanted to start with a note expressing the need for hypocrisy to matter and that caring for humans is supposed to be the function of government. So if you read nothing else from me today, know that those two things are a big issue. Now, here’s what’s happening in our world:
7 weeks left of school
4 trips in the next two months
4 new travel partners to share
and a whole lot of articles on our websites
I enjoy writing so very much and this week the kids have joined me with it. Elliott has been writing his own recaps of our week in Fairbanks doing all the Alaskan winter things, and Oliver has been working on a website he’s built, all about his favorite places. Seeing the kids getting into the same sort of activities that I love brings me so much joy. And no, I haven’t even prompted their dive into writing and I even try to mitigate it, so that’s how I know they truly like it.
Okay, let’s get to the meat of the week.
New Blog Articles to Share
I often talk about how I’ve bitten off more than I can chew when it comes to running travel blogs and writing content about how others can enjoy the things that we’ve experienced. My to-do list has become my constant companion and it’s helping me get my ADHD brain under control and feeling good. Here’s what’s new this week:
Universal’s Sapphire Falls Resort - with Epic Universe opening soon I’ve started finishing articles that I wrote a while ago and I’ve been updating Universal content on 2TravelDads.com
On MyAlohaTrip.com:
Camping in Haleakala National Park - did you know that you can have a camping trip in Hawaii?
The Pacific 19 Kona - really great and affordable hotel in Kailua-Kona
Wailua River and Fern Grotto on Kauai - a great tour or cruise ship excursion that’s really pretty and goes through some movie filming spots
Waterfall Swimming at Kulaniapia Falls in Hilo - beautiful, big waterfall for swimming located on the Big Island
On MyAlaskaTrip.com:
Staying at Borealis Basecamp - we got to stay in an igloo and watch the Northern Lights through our ceiling and hangout with reindeer.
Open North American Championships - watching the dogsled mushers for this competition was awesome and the kids loved it (me too)
Pike’s Waterfront Lodge - what a fun, kitschy Alaskan gem of a hotel; a cool Fairbanks option if you’re looking for one
Dogsledding with Basecamp Adventures - I’m so glad our family go to experience mushing together. And we fell in love with sled dog puppies.
University of Alaska’s Museum of the North - whether you’re visiting Fairbanks in summer or winter, their exhibits do a beautiful job telling the stories of AK
Once I’m all caught up on Alaska and Hawaii I’ll finish publish my huge stack of articles from the Florida Keys, St Augustine and Maine. I have written so many Maine articles but I just don’t have enough time to get everything published. Ugh. Good times though. Thank goodness for my to-do list!
Current State of the States - Scary Times, not gonna lie
I thought the worst thing I was going to talk about this week was the ridiculous and shameful text message thread about attacking Yemen, but I’ve got something more close to home. You know how a lot of people said we were all over reacting and how Project 2025 and such wasn’t actually going to happen, or if it did that it wouldn’t be a big deal. Well, it’s happening at the Federal and State levels and a lot of things are a big deal.
The most recent thing that is quite jarring is actually from Utah this week: Utah has outlawed Pride flags. That’s right. Pride flags are a symbol of diversity, acceptance, statements of safe spaces, and at the most basic level, a act that falls under Freedom of Speech. Yes, that’s now banned in Utah. Y’all said the LGBTQ community was safe with *rump coming back into power, but all the minor players and state-level officials are coming for us, and they’re starting with the most harmless and simple element of our community. Freedom of Speech is one of the first things to go in a fascist regime and it’s starting out small. And it’s a direct attack on our family.
I talk about things in terms of our family because people tend to not be able to picture a greater good, but they can understand when it’s something that is just a narrow group. So while there are millions of LGBTQ Americans that read this piece of news and shuddered, our family read it and immediately went to the place of fearing for our own ability to speak out or even openly exist as we are. It’s a domino effect, so don’t let anyone downplay the severity of banning Pride flags. It starts in just one state, but if it’s not challenged or if it holds up in court, other states and then the nation will follow suit.
Don’t let things like this happen and you just watch and wonder why it’s important.
Florida Special Election THIS WEEK
The world is watching Florida this week as we hold a special election to fill two US House of Representative seats. Gay Valimont and Josh Weil. If we can elect them that will shift control of the US House away from the Trump loyalists and dramatically shift what happens in the coming years. Josh Weil’s election aches for me… because the voting district is literally at the border of our neighborhood; not our town, but like a few streets away from our house, so we don’t get to vote for him.
I feel like electing Gay Valimont and Josh Weil has the power to bring a blast of hope and energy back to, not just Florida, but the whole country. This is a moment that can determine the security of our country, the future of all of our rights, the future of education from coast to coast, and so much more. If you’re here in Florida and are in one of the two election districts, US House Districts 1 and 6, please please please get out and vote on Tuesday!!!!!
District 6 - Daytona to St Augustine and then west across Ocala National Forest
District 1 - Gulf Coast to from the Alabama border/Pensacola to Santa Rosa Beach
Photography and Creativity to get me Through
I know that as an adult it can be difficult to maintain a hobby or find a creative outlet unless it’s a part of your occupation, so I’m really lucky in that way. Even with creative avenues being a part of my work, there are still times that I it feels like I’m just going through the motions of what I need to do to publish articles. In the last week I’ve been taking time to enjoy my photography. I’ve been jumping into my photo folders and organizing them, I’ve been editing, and I’m actually working on using some of my more specialize landscape and wildlife photography.
I’m actively using small photography projects as moments to reset my brain and regain my focus. When I am distracted by the outside world and its collapse, I find a set of photos that speak to the moment and I work on them, editing and moving them into active projects. When I am stuck in the technical monotony of running websites and the internet working differently everyday, I grab a few photos to work on. Something about breaking up the noise has really got me into a good flow and I’ve been able to control myself more.
I used to do this with painting, but then as I got better, I became more of a perfectionist which wasn’t helpful and created a new, noisy spiral to break. So that’s why I’m so glad that I have relaunched myself into taking my photography into a creative zone. Sometimes I do it with my writing too, but that tends to escalate into other issues. Good times. Anyways, I hope this is a helpful think to anyone else who has this sort of distraction and struggle.
That’s everything for today. Next week I’m heading to the Florida Keys for a work trip and it’s going to be a blast. We’re working with Flamingo Adventures who is the authorized concessioner for Everglades National Park, Casa Morada Resort for a quiet stay during the trip, Lazy Dog Adventures for exploring the backwaters of Key West, and the Key West Attractions Association to write about some cool museums and activities in the city. It’s going to be a blast (cuz all my work trips are)!
Thank you for following along on our adventures. I always love the emails and message we get throughout the week on here, on the blog and in our Instagram message box. You guys are awesome and I love getting to interact with y’all!
Have a great week, stay healthy and safe, and happy travels!