Letter From The Editor [May]

I am a lanky hipster-looking dude to begin with, but I am being spread entirely way too thin as of late. I have so many ideas and plans for not only Fuel Your Photography, but for my own photography businesses and life, in general. I want to accomplish so many things, and yet here I am, writing you all from a hotel room in Colorado Springs.

What am I doing in Colorado? Aren’t I from Washington, DC? Well, as you may or may not know, I am a “social media specialist” for the United States Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment, and when I’m not playing on Facebook and Twitter all day, I am traveling to Walter Reed Army Hospital to meet with Marines who are rehabilitating from their injuries and learning how to integrate back into civilian life. It’s been such an emotional and inspirational journey thus far, but the best part is the finish line, where some of these Marines go on to participate in the Warrior Games – a series of athletic events that pits all of the branches of the military against one another to compete for the gold medal.

Their stories have been phenomenal. Their attitudes are consistently positive and upbeat, ready to take on any challenge. Most of these Marines are participating in multiple events – from volleyball to wheelchair basketball, and from track & field to swimming. Have you ever seen a person with no legs competitively swim laps against able-bodied athletes? And WIN? I have.

This week is their training camp and the games take place May 16th – 21st. I will be here to cover all of it and meet with these athletes, and while I have so many things I’d like to accomplish, being here just feels right, as if everything I have been through has led me to this point to where nothing else matters except observing these Marines challenge themselves to be the best in their event. And it makes me wonder, what the hell am I doing complaining about being spread too thin?

Here are athletes who have never competed in some of these events before and take to it with ease. Some have competed nationally and participated on USA Olympic teams, but are continuously making improvements to their craft to make sure they’re better than they were in the qualifiers. They are so motivated to be the best that it’s addicting. You can’t help but be motivated yourself. Now, for me, most of that motivation is lost as I attempt to wake up at 6am to accompany them to the training facilities, but we’re taking baby steps with me here, people. Baby steps.

The one thing that I’m worried about is not being able to accomplish the things I want to with FYP, and I hope our readership doesn’t suffer as I am out here every day to photograph these athletes. Fortunately for me, I have such a fantastic team of writers that are willing to step up for me and help get their articles to me in a timely fashion so that all I have to do is read it over and press “publish.” I hate pulling teeth, so I’m thankful that these guys won’t require me to make them toothless.

We have a lot of great articles planned for you this month, and while I may have to put some of the previous plans I was working on on the back burner temporarily, I think it will be to your benefit that the details get worked out and we don’t rush to it for the sake of doing something. I feel like you will truly enjoy some of the plans I have, especially because I want to showcase you. There has been a lot of great work submitted to us through our Weekend Photo Focus columns, and it makes me want to create opportunities for some of you out there who may not normally have the chance to get some exposure. We shall see if I can pull it off – I’m a busy man.

Maybe I’m not being spread too thin. If these Marines can participate in multiple events with no problem, I have to be able to keep all the balls in the air, too, right? One of the Marines has a tattoo on his left forearm that has a handicapped symbol on it, and written around the symbol are the words “Disability is a State of Mind.” Maybe I just need to snap out of it and realize that I’m only spread thin in my head – I can accomplish whatever I want to if I put my mind to it.

And so can you.

Until next time,

- Patrick
Your Fearless Leader