If not now, then when?

For most of this year, I've been taking an online course with Kim Klassen called Beyond Layers. Working with Kim is always such a treat and I've been following her blog regularly for a couple of years now. It was in one of the class posts that she asked us this question: If not now, then when? The idea being that we could make all kinds of excuses for not doing something. Or we can just do it.

Wow! Did those words resonate with me!! It was about this time that registration for Shutter Sisters Oasis opened. Last year's camp sold out in hours but I was too fearful to move that quickly. The agonizing question was: To go ... or not to go? Doing something like this is soooo far outside my comfort zone that it's laughable. I came up with all kinds of reasons why I shouldn't go, three of the main ones were:

1. I'm not much of a "joiner", I actually enjoy my own company, I don't require lots of people and activity around me to be happy. In fact, when I first encounter new situations, I tend to shrink inside myself a little bit, I become very quiet. Once I get a feel for things, it gets better but it doesn't often come easily.
2. The next hurdle is the idea of traveling across country alone. You see, I do not, repeat, do not, like to travel alone. Nor do I like to leave my home and family, I'm pretty much a homebody. When I travel, I like to have somebody in my family with me. Yeah ... I know ... what a baby.
3. Last, but not least, there is the matter of my hearing loss. I wearing hearing aids in both ears but still sometimes have trouble holding my own in group conversations. This might in some way account for my reticence in groups. It brings out the introvert in me.

If not now, then when?

But ... last year Terri went to Camp Shutter Sisters and couldn't stop talking about it. Really! And there was something deep inside me that really, really wanted to make this happen, to meet people I've come to know online. Still ... there were all these reasons why I shouldn't go ...

If not now, then when?

Finally I summoned up the courage and registered. It was done. There was no turning back. As you read this, I'm in Palm Spring, California, along with Deanna, Leigh, Linda, Stephanie and Terri and some eighty other photographers. Sadly, the other four members of our FOL team ... Carol, Claudia, Judy and Kim ... were not able to join us.  ... *sniff, sniff* ... We miss you gals!

As I write this, prior to my departure, I'm still scared spitless, probably more scared than excited. Right now I'm trying to figure out what in the world possessed me to think I should do this. What was I thinking?

If not now, then when?

Something tells me that some of you are right there with me in trying to overcome obstacles, real or imagined that often times keep us from stepping outside our comfort zones. We don't allow ourselves to even try, we're too timid. How about it? Is there some dream, some aspiration you've long held but have been too timid to try?

If not now, then when?

Be sure to continue posting your wonderful sunshine and shadow photos on our Flickr page. It seems that our work improves with each month. I'm so glad you're here to share this experience with us.