It’s funny, but I never thought that the first time I would be fired from a job would be so rewarding.
Wait. Allow me to explain.
Last week I was fired from my job as a lead server at a restaurant in an upscale retirement community. Yes, that’s where I’ve been hiding for the last year and a half.
It was a year and a half of some of the most physically and emotionally exhausting work of my short life. Most nights the only thing I’d be able to do when I got home was sit in silence for about 20 minutes until I mustered up the energy to finally take my dog on a walk.
It completely drained my motivation to do anything. I photographed a few things here and there when I had a little free time, but otherwise I became a recluse.
Luckily for me, a few weeks ago, I was contacted by Willamette Week to shoot some photos for their restaurant guide, including what was to be their “Restaurant of the Year.” In order to meet my deadline, I found myself taking some time off at my day job. The highlight of my week was definitely waking up at 4am to meet Rodney Muirhead, so I could photograph him smoking meats at 5am. The energy I got from doing what I love again was enough to push me through the next few hours at my day job, leave early, and return to Podnah’s Pit that night to photograph the dining room.
Flash forward 3 weeks later. Three weeks of no real photographing. Three weeks of the same daily grind I had become accustomed to over the last year and a half, but was now finally fed up with. “We’re letting you go” was the most invigorating phrase my now ex-boss could have uttered. It was the swift kick in the ass I needed to get back to what I love to do.
Suck it, Russellville Park.
