Finding Something You Want to Do - and Doing It

A U B R I E 

 You know, some people do the same thing day after day and don't ever chase their dream; I'm pretty sad that the American Dream has kind of died out and become lost in our generation! But it can still happen. Tonight, I want to give you all a piece of advice:

Find something you want to do - and do it!

I've spend this entire weekend in SLC working. But my "work" has really been play. Who's to say that work has to be boring? This weekend has been one of the most enjoyable I've had in a very long time - and it has all been work related.

Over the past two days I've been able to shoot with a fantastic model named Aubrie and churn out some stunning photos depicting one of my best friend's hard work - clothing. The both of us have spent a lot of time typing away on our laptops, contacting people, advertising, and interacting with people all over the valley doing what
we love.

You see, this weekend has been all about work, yet this weekend has been nothing but play. I can't even begin to describe how thankful I am to have such a great and dynamic job and amazing people to work with. There's nothing like collaborating with your best friends, getting to know amazing girls, and having a support group spanning multiple states.

If you have a dream, I urge you to chase it. Do what you can to achieve it. I promise it's worth it! I'm living my dream right now, and the more work I put into it, the closer I get to my end goal. A little effort goes a long way. But you need to start now. Go have an adventure! Make life interesting.

Find something you want to do - and do it! It's adventure time.

Taking the Higher Road

Bad things happen. That's just a fact of life. The key is to not point too many fingers, not start a big fight, and to not carry it with you any longer than you have to. The fact is, any of those things will just make you - and the people around you - miserable.

The other night something inappropriate happened in my hometown. Being out of town on business, I only caught all of it on twitter. While the thing that happened was definitely serious and definitely one group of people's fault, there was absolutely no reason to fill everybody's twitter feeds with negativity. Sure, it was "their" fault because of what happened. But the "victims" who decided to spread stuff all over twitter or yell at the other people are just as much to blame. Nobody wants to have to deal with people arguing over something where there really isn't an argument.

Moving on, when somebody disagrees with something you say - that's okay! But if you disagree with someone you have to politely let them know why. There is no point in arguing when the other person has no idea what they've done wrong. People always do things for a reason. Be sure to not let reasons get lost. Reason, a cool head, and a forgiving heart will take you a long way in life.

Just remember to take the higher road. If someone has wronged you, forgive them. If something bad happens, leave it in the past. If something in the past hurts, don't bring it up again because there is nothing you can do to change the past. Forgive, forget, and be happy. Take the higher road.

Love, Peace, and Happiness,
Griff

Adventure Time

"It's adventure time!"

It is often said that life is a journey. I agree with this completely. But life can be so much more than just a journey. It can be an adventure; by adventure I don't mean that life can be full of dragons, one-ring-to-rule-them-alls, castles, knights, and such... What I mean by that is that there is absolutely no reason to live your life in a way that is monotonous, boring, depriving, or lacking. There's always a silver lining or a positive thing to be found. There's always a laugh to be had or a smile to be shared!

Earlier today a friend and I got a bit turned around in a parking deck in Salt Lake City. And by that I actually mean we couldn't find our car for an hour. Though it was stressful, there were definitely laughs had and smiles shared. That mostly occurred when we couldn't find the outside of a set of elevators (that's a good story, but for another time).

Don't get bogged down in the stress and rush of the journey part of life. Get lost in the amazing adventure that life can be.

Peace, Love, and Happiness,
Griff

A Message through the Song of a Little Girl

Apologies for the lack of posts recently. I've been trying to juggle a hundred different things in my life. Someone sent this my way today while I was working and I thought it appropriate to repost on this blog.
Please enjoy and remember to help those less fortunate than you! Click Here.

Love, Peace, and Happiness,
-Griff

The Bottom Line

"Your search is over!" -S3:E13

Life is full of ups and downs. It's full of positive and negative things. When you pick up a camera, you have a whole world you can photograph, but when you actually take the picture, you're only focusing on one part of it. Photographers always make sure that they focus on the right thing - otherwise, it's not a good picture.

Just as with photography, there's more than one thing we can focus on in life. But like getting a good photograph, the key to a happy life is to focus on the right thing. Don't focus on all of the wrong and negativity in the world. Focus on the positive! I promise that your life can be so much better if you focus on the positive. Every once in a while ask yourself, "What are some good things happening right now?" Recognize the little things like when someone holds the door open for you. Recognize the big things like when someone pays you a big compliment, or you get a raise, or something else good happens.

And that's just it. The search is over. The bottom line. Focus on the Positive.

Love, peace, and happiness,
Griff

You're Not Alone

Feeling alone. It's something we've all felt before. It's not fun. But what do you do?

In the past year I've had my best male friend move to Russia, my best female friend move to Kansas, and most of my other friends move elsewhere because they've gone off to college or on missions for our church. I've always been the oldest in my class so I've always fit in better with the class above me. While that didn't used to be an issue, now that their graduating time has come and gone, it leaves me with a year of loneliness where they're gone and I'm stuck here. Overall the last six months have been pretty depressing and lonely. But you know what? I'm not alone.

None of us are. I promise there are hundreds of people out there just like you and me. You can't always tell when someone might be one of the lonely people - but trust me - they're out there. I think that we could all do a little good by befriending someone around us. Get out there and make a friend! Show someone around the school, help a coworker at work, talk to the person you sit down next to at the bar, ask how someone's day is going. There are far too many ways for us all to interact with each other to be wasted on staring at our computer screens all day. 

If we can all just interact we wouldn't feel so alone. Let's not fill the world with tiny glowing screens, let's fill it with hope, love and dreams. Face it - you're not alone. There are hundreds and thousands of lonely people right beside you.

What do you do? Go.

Love, peace, and happiness,
Griff

A Compliment a Day Keeps Depression Away

Today's post - a quick thought - comes to you mobile.
 
Does everyone count as your "peer?"
Do you feel good when someone compliments you?
Do you like feeling good about yourself?
Does it feel good knowing you made a difference?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions (and you should have!) then you need to be sure you compliment someone every single day - more than once if you can! A simple "You look nice!" or "You're so great!" can really turn someone's day around. I would explain more, but there isn't much more to say. Bottom line:

You can make a difference, and you should. So be sure to start handing out compliments where they're deserved! Let's spread a little aloha around the world.

Peace, love, and happiness,
Griff

The Reading Road

The following was written for my English 101.1004 class. I thought I might share it with you to remind you all how great reading can be! Please feel free to share a link, but please don't copy. Thanks all!

---

            Gripping. That is exactly the word I would use to describe my first reading experiences. It’s something so fundamental that we all learn it – some of us quickly, some of us more slowly. But it doesn’t just happen. Who better to help me learn such a fundamental skill than the most fundamental person in my life? Early on my mom taught me to read. I started with the basics. We’ve all been there - learning the alphabet, the different sounds the letters make, how they work together, and those pesky exceptions where a letter unexpectedly changes its sound. It’s a thrilling experience! When I learned to read it opened up a whole new world for me.

            My mom is an incredibly important person in my life. She has always loved to read, and I say she has done well by teaching me to love it as well. I remember the first “big book” that I decided to dive into. Now I know that Rowling’s writing isn’t for everyone, but it was for my mom. When I was in second grade I cracked open J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. That book was such an adventure for me! It was as smarting as that first dive into a frigid pool – the kind that knocks the air out of you. I’ll not hesitate to admit that just like getting your breath back I kind of struggled through it, but it was fantastic. I loved every one of the characters, the twists in the plot, and the constant urge to know just what was going to happen next.

            But what happened next? I was inspired to keep reading, and reading, and learning all that I could. That’s what reading is! The whole process of reading and writing is how we share ideas – and oh the ideas that I’ve heard. Reading isn’t only about learning though. Literature is an art. It just so happens that art is another thing that I’m very interested in. I went from enjoying stories to appreciating the art of reading and writing. To this day I still appreciate it.

            Some of my mom’s favorite books are either classics, or based in the same time periods as many classics. Because of this, some of my favorite books include Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol, and Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice. Yes, these are all very advanced works of art and are very hard to read, but they all paint a picture more vivid than fresh ink splattered on a waiting canvas.

            There is no doubt in my mind that I owe my love of reading to my mom. I have cherished the journey on the path that I’ve tread thus far, and I look forward to the adventure yet ahead. So in the words of J.R.R. Tolkien,

            The Road goes ever on and on

            Down from the door where it began.

            Now far ahead the Road has gone,

            And I must follow, if I can,

            Pursuing it with eager feet,

            Until it joins some larger way

            Where many paths and errands meet.

            And whither then? I cannot say.

---

Peace, love, and happiness,

-Griff

A Helping Hand

Do you know what you have? Do you know what I have? Do you know what every single one of us has? Struggles. We all have struggles. Whether it be something small, like you didn't have time to grab milk at the store today, or it be something much bigger like your finances, an addiction, self-esteem, or anything else - there's hope.

Lately I have been working hard to meet a deadline on a huge project that could quite possibly affect me for the remainder of my life. I had put out a call for help on social media, and reached out to young men in a local church group to come and help the project along. I was devastated when the turnout was dismal. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the couple of people who helped me the other morning, but with such small numbers we were skating on thin ice. Needless to say, I was at maximum stress level and pretty discouraged. But remember, I said there's hope!

Later that night some of my buddies were going to team up and get a game of Zombies going, and wanted me to join. I said that I couldn't come because I was still working on my project. The next text message I got was from one of them and it just said, "Be there in five..." Not only did he show up, but brought one of my other best friends with him. Between the three of us and my father, we were able to complete the project in a matter of a few hours. 

Sure, they could have just gone and played the game (and they probably would have done wicked well too), but instead they gave up their night to come help speed along my project and take some of the stress off my heavy-laden shoulders. Whether they know it or not, that simple act of lending a hand made all the difference.

So there it is, out in the open. We all have struggles. We all can help. So let's all lend a helping hand and make this world a better place. 

Love, peace, and happiness,
Griff

The Good in Everyone

Hi all. Tonight's post partly comes to you mobile, so please pardon any typos. I often see people do things, and hear other people say something to the effect of, "Oh what a horrible person!" While I totally understand where they're coming from, it's not right. Now I'll admit, I've done it to. We all have. Sometimes you really do wonder just what kind of person could do, well, whatever it is in that situation. But is that really what we should be doing? Judging? No.

I believe there is good in everyone! In fact, I don't even believe in bad people. "What a horrible person!" Nope. I believe in good people and good people only. Granted, just because someone has good in them doesn't mean they don't have the ability to make a bad decision. So the moral of the story for tonight is this: Don't believe in bad people. There are only good people, and some of them unfortunately choose to make some bad decisions. But there is good in everyone. We just have to choose to see it. 

Every day I see that so many of us are so caught up in picking out specks of dust dotting other people's lives that they can't see the huge stick in their own life. If we would spend less time judging others and looking for the good in them, we could all be a lot happier. 

Just remember, nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes.
Just remember, there is good in everybody.
Just remember, it's our job to find it.

Love, peace, and happiness,
-Griff

It's All About Your Attitude

"It's all in your head." Most of us would say 'Riiiiight..." But it really is. Consider your attitude. Sure, bad things happen, sticky situations will find you. But that doesn't mean it has to be worse than it actually is. Sometimes a bad situation can be made a bit less awful my changing your attitude. You don't want to work today? Hey, you have a job and you're making money. That's a blessing that not everyone gets to have.

Photo "Trapped." © Griffeth Barker 2013 All Rights Reserved.

So let's take that and apply it to all our lives. Cut out the negativity. Look on the bright side! A little good mojo goes a long way. Spread the word, make people happy. Be happy.

Love, peace, and happiness,
-Griff

Shine On

"Illumination." © Griffeth Barker 2012

The world can seem to be a dark place sometimes, but it doesn't have to be that way!

Every single one of us, including you, has unique talents and abilities. We all have good qualities that people like and are useful in society. If we could all remember that we have those skills and share them, the world would be a more incredible place to live!

If every single one of us shares our abilities and we all help each other out, there are fewer problems, hassles, and way less negativity. And we don't support negativity, do we? Nope, we sure don't.

So don't hide your talents away. Don't bury them underground. Show everyone what you can do, and always be happy to help someone in need!

Love, peace, and happiness,
-Griff

Speaking of Blessings...Living a Dream

Kelsey Kimber

Hannah Wright

For those of you who don't know, I work locally as a photographer in my area. As a high school student, I've been so blessed to have this job and the money it provides. Not only that, but I work with the best people ever. I work with the most beautiful women, the gnarliest dudes, and the cutest couples in the world. So, thank
you to you all. Because tonight,
this hippy is thankful for all of you and all of your support.
Peace, love, and happiness,

-Griff





http://www.facebook.com/GriffethBarkerPhotography/
http://griffethbarkerphotography.blogspot.com/

Count Your Blessings

Tonight's thought is simple. It isn't specific to any religion, race, lifestyle, or anything of the sort. It's not just for cool kids, it's not just for nerds. It's not complicated. It's as simple as this: Count your blessings.

I think that it is far too often that we get wrapped up in our lives, in the business, in the problems, struggles, and day-to-day grind that gets so many people down. I know I get caught up in it once in a while. We have to remember that there's always something for us to be thankful for! 

The other night I was headed out to pick up a new bed I had gotten to replace my crappy old mattress. There was a mistake in the process and I ended up not getting a new bed that night. I was in a pretty foul mood because I had already moved my old set out and cleaned out my room. As I sat fuming in a relatively empty room, I realized that I should be thankful - for a couple of reasons. First of all, I still had a house to sleep in. Second, I had the money to even buy a new bed because my old one was a piece of junk. And third, I had had a bed and was going to have a bed.

I realize that there are people out there who don't have homes right now. I realize that there are places in the world where your bed is in the dirt, or a pile of branches, or hay. I realized that I really didn't have a right to complain when I had so much to be thankful for.

So the moral of the story? Count your blessings. If you do, your life will be better! Don't focus on what's going wrong or what you don't have! Focus on the positive and be thankful for the things you do have. Good mojo. Spread it around!

Peace, love, and happiness,
-Griff

If You're Feeling Down...

...eat a banana. It'll help more than you think. Don't ask questions. Just do it!

Peace, love, and happiness,
-Griff

When Times Get Tough

I think that it's only fair that I'm honest with you. Staying positive is not always an easy thing to do. In fact, it's not an easy thing to do - BUT it does get easier over time.

I was having a pretty great weekend in Idaho and everything was going swell. But something got thrown off somehow when I got home. Suddenly everything started to go wrong. And I mean everything. On top of everything going on my internet decided to not work (then again, that's not all that surprising. Everyone in the Elko area knows that the internet sucks from frontier).

I know it sounds kind of dumb, but you know what it's like when everything piles on top of everything else and soon you're up to your neck in a pile of crap that you're not sure what to do with. But you know what? The important thing is to remember that there is always someone in a worse situation than you. Now I know that may sound depressing, but I'd like to remind you that there's always something to be happy about in every situation. So even though my day ended badly, at the end of it all, I'm sleeping in an air conditioned house with running water, food, a family, some friends, and so much more. 

Don't take things for granted. Remember to remember the positive. See the bright side. And help others to do the same. 

Peace, love, and happiness,
-Griff

A Life Lesson

There are many life lessons that we all learn one way or another. Sometime it's the easy way. Sometimes not so much. This time it was the hard way for me; luckily it didn't have any severe repercussions. 

I was out and about whilst on my trip to Idaho to take Romney to EFY when I saw a fantastic photo opportunity. But I didn't bring my camera on the trip! It was really unfortunate, but then I realized something.

Sometimes it's a good thing to just take a step back from life and experience it for what it really is, face value. I was in a beautiful place and I'm so glad that I got to experience it for real, instead of through the lens.

Don't get me wrong! I love shooting! I thrive inside the lens, and I love what I do. But note-to-self: Don't get so caught up in life that you forget to experience the little things, like a sunset.

Love, peace, and happiness,
-Griff

Doing Something Good in the World

Staying Positive: Spread the Word!

The other day I was in our local WalMart picking up a gaming headset (which by the way, was quite over priced for what it was really worth) and I was standing in line to check out when I just kind of stopped and looked around. 

"What kind of world do we live in?" I asked myself. And really think about this.

I was standing in line ready to pay way too much money for an item that I didn't really need. There was a couple in line arguing, and the guy was not treating that woman with respect. There was a mother yelling at her children, who quite frankly weren't doing anything wrong. They were just being children. Every single person in that line was concerned with themselves and their overpriced shopping list and they didn't seem to care about much else.

All of this led me to realize that we are all too content with the way the world is. So many people are "existing" but so few of us are actually "living." It's the same old grind day in and day out. So many people aren't happy, they're just content. Some people aren't even that! And it really is a sad thing to realize.

WAIT WHAT? I thought this was all about staying focused on the positive??? Well, it is. I'm here to tell you that there are good people doing good things. A prime example of this is one of my best bros Alan. He's got his own clothing company that promotes acts of kindness. So don't wait! Fate is in OUR hands. Start the movement, share the message. Get a shirt at www.randcomacts.storenvy.com.

Smile! Keep your chin up and help other people do the same. Love, peace, and happiness,
Griff

Staying Focused

Let's face it, we all have troubles focusing at times. That's a fact of life. As a photographer, I have to have my focus set on my subject at all times, every shot. If I throw the photo even the least bit out of focus, the picture isn't worth anything. The color can be gorgeous, the model fabulous, the lighting ethereal, the composition pleasing, BUT if the focus is off, it's still not worth anything. 

A while back, I realized that this concept doesn't only apply to my work as a photographer, but to everything in life. Seriously, anything you want to do or accomplish, can be made easier and more enjoyable if you just stay focused.

We all have rough days, rough patches, or hard times. But a very wise friend of mine taught me that we can't be focused on all the negative things in our lives. If we do that, we're basically condemning ourselves to failure. So, the solution? Focus. There's a setting on cameras called "aperture." The aperture is the size of the hole that the light comes through before it hits the film or sensor. The wider the aperture, or bigger the hole, the more light will come into the lens. Another effect of opening your aperture is a shallow depth of field, meaning only a very small portion of your photo will be in focus at a time. This analogy is perfect for what I'd like to tell you all.

Focus on one thing, and one thing only - the positive. Shallow depth of field. If you cut out all of the negativity and bad mojo out of your life, life itself will be lighter and you'll be happier!

Who doesn't want to be happy? I hope that you'll find what you're looking for in my following posts. Feeling down? Don't. Let me help you. Let's help everyone else.

Peace, love, and happiness,
Griff