What is PASSION?
Being passionate about something, to me, is anything that you would be willing to do, at your expense, without being compensated for it. There is a saying that goes something like this..."When you are employed in that which you love (are passionate about), you will not work a day in your life." EVERYONE has been blessed with at least ONE gift/talent. Some have been blessed with multiple talents. It is my belief that when we operate within the talents which God has given us, using it to unselfishly uplift humanity, we will be blessed in return and will excel exceedingly. I will admit that I have tried many occupations throughout the years...multilevel marketing, sales, cashier, truck driver, auto detailing, nursing and the list goes on and on AND ON. However, with all of my adventurous journeys, I have discovered five specific ambitions that I have remained actively involved in both commercially and /or personally for over 30+ years. Below you will find shared dialog on how my discoveries got started and how they have progressed into what has become known today as my PASSIONS.
Writing
Most people that I meet today find it very difficult to believe that I am or was ever shy. I think I even surprise myself sometimes as to how outgoing I can be. The only explanation I can find is that the love for what I enjoy doing is greater than the fear of doing it in front of people. Just about everything I enjoy doing demands me to take center stage. Go figure! Performing my writings is one of the activities which has me battling stage fright. I first started writing poetry at the age of nine. I recall going into the kitchen where my Mom was and telling her, "I'm bored!" She instructed me go into the adjacent dining room, sit down and write her a poem. I did. Once completed, I took the poem and gave it to my Mom. I proceeded to tell her that I was bored again. She then responded, "Go write your Dad a poem." I went back and wrote one for my Dad also. I went back to my Mom and gave her the poem I had written for my Dad. I decided to keep my mouth shut as I was sure that she had already prepared who would be the next person I could write a poem for. I'm not sure how long her list of individuals was, but I wasn't interested in finding out either. Since then, I have successfully invented my own source of "anti-boredom". I continued to write poetry on my own. I would write and throw my poems away. Writing became my 'silent therapist'. I still find it therapeutic. It wasn't until I was in college and a friend of mine read a poem that I had written and asked to read more. I didn't have much to show her. I had never really seen my writings as something others could relate to, therefore the poetry I had written often found its way to the garbage can. She asked me to write a poem so that she could give it to her "then" boyfriend. We talked a while about different aspects of what she had on her mind...thoughts, feelings, desires, etc. I wrote a poem for her as if I was writing it from her perspective. It came out well. She enjoyed it and there, my writing took a new turn. Needless to say, I stopped throwing away my writings. Many years later, while residing in Greensboro, NC, I visited a coffee house and heard some of the most remarkable spoken word recited by various artists. I left that night determined to give that form of poetry a shot. My first attempt at the art of spoken word produced 'The Man That I Am' (which can be found on the MEDIA page on this website). I have performed that piece at various venues throughout the years. I STILL get weak at the knees from fright every time I perform it. You can find more of my poetry, prose, spoken word and blogs on the BLOG tab on this website. Later this fall, I will be releasing a compilation of poetry, prose and personal perspectives in a book titled 'The Inner Voice'. Copies of this book can be purchased on this website by clicking on the BUY tab.
Travel
I have always been fascinated by the many different cultures, languages, architectures and landscapes that exists. I was born and raised on the islands of Bermuda. For many years I believed that people were naturally friendly, spoke to strangers, were family orientated, and ALL beach waters were transparent with pink and white sand accompanied by rich landscapes of assorted trees, flowers and bushes. I also thought that everyone had somewhere to live and those that didn't work, just didn't want to. I WAS WRONG! I began attending boarding school at the age of fourteen. Sharing my space with different students from around the world opened my eyes and expanded my mind beyond what I thought was even possible. I am a sponge for knowledge and welcome experiences when it comes to witnessing the diversity of all living creatures. I have laughed, cried, been in awe, been heartbroken from things I've seen and immensely blessed just from embracing the opportunity of helping others when able. Love and kindness are universal languages. I never tire of traveling. I've never been one attracted to 'tourist hotspots'. I prefer to experience living life as the natives of an area...be it washing clothes in the river, dressing in a completely foreign outfit while sitting on the floor to eat collectively with a family or operating with all the modern conveniences our society has to offer. I embrace it ALL. I know I have only experienced a fraction of life's diversity, but even in my limited experience, it has taught me that there is beauty in simplicity. True happiness comes from from having a zeal for life and embracing the blessings that come our way each and every day. I have learned not to take life, people and blessings for granted. As unique as every individual is from the next, we ALL have one thing in common and that is to love and be loved in return. I am reminded of that every time I travel outside the comforts of my own home. As I write, the song 'Love In Any Language' (sung by Sandi Patti) comes to mind. I have performed it many times and each time that song speaks to me.
Music
At the age of five I first started showing an interest in playing the piano. I started taking piano lessons soon after. My sister, four years my senior, had been taking piano lessons for a while. I initially started started playing by ear by picking out music I had heard. I learned with such relative ease that I surpassed my sister's level of playing with only of a fraction of the time invested to learn how to play the same thing. My sister got discouraged and decided to abandon her efforts of learning how to play the piano. My parents enrolled me in piano lessons and I was eager to do so. I remember going through a series of piano teachers over the years and eventually got frustrated and lost interest in taking piano lessons and in playing the instrument. I did not immediately stop playing the piano when I ceased taking lessons. I had learned the piano well enough to play for my local church service almost every week. Eventually I did stop playing the piano. I became interested in playing the trombone after seeing a student play it in a visiting band at a church revival. I played the trombone and xylophone in the high school band. In college I played the baritone. I majored in music education in college. I chose the piano to be the instrument I majored in and voice as my minor instrument. My music advisor suggested I reverse the concentration on the instruments I had chosen as I appeared to be excelling in voice moreso than piano. I resisted the recommendation for a while but eventually gave in. To this day I sing more than I play the piano. While attending college I participated in Pro-Musica (the elite group of voice majors and gifted vocalist), the general choir, Ecos de Amor (Echoes of Love, a local vocal group spearheaded by a friend of mine and me), and Sparkles of Joy (a gospel duo whose name was later changed to Simply His many years later). I traveled and sang with Pro-Musica throughout Puerto Rico, the east coast of the United States and in Canada. I traveled and performed locally (Puerto Rico) with the gospel group Ecos de Amor and throughout the caribbean and southern United States with the duo, Sparkles of Joy. I embarked upon a solo career post the Sparkles of Joy/Simply His days. I continue to perform as a soloist. Currently, I am teaching myself how to play the saxophone. The piano, saxophone and human voice have always and continues to be my favorites instruments. For future performances, recordings and projects, click on the tab, EVENTS.
Graphic Arts
During my Sophomore year in high school I participated in a work/study program. I was assigned to work in the academy print shop. This is when I was first introduced to the printing industry world. I fell in love with the whole process. In the typesetting department we entered and processed all text using the CompuGraphic Jr. Changing fonts meant manually changing the font strip from the machine and replacing it with the font of choice. We then cut the printed sheet of texts and stripped it to the negatives. From there we placed it on the camera glass, shot and developed the metal plate that was then placed on the offset printing press for duplication. Man, have we come a LONG way or what?! No matter where I found myself in the world...Bermuda, Puerto Rico or the United States, I ended up working in a print shop. Years later I learned that there is a difference between a 'printer' and 'press operator', but that's a completely different story. In August of 1994, I took a leap of faith and started working for myself. What started out as Simons' Graphic Arts on my Tandy computer in my dining room has grown to what has now become Urban Graphix & Printing. Samples of my work can be seen on HERE and our website, www.UrbanGraphix.net.
Photography
My very first camera was a Pentax K1000. My parents purchased it for me my freshman year in high school. I became one of the school's photographers at the age of fourteen. This was at a time when film was the only option. Digital DSLR was years away. I learned how to develop black and white film and photographs during this time. Throughout high school and college I held a spot as one of the school's photographers. I currently own a Canon 40D and focus primarily on doing head shots, portraits, and model portfolios. Occasionally I dabble into other areas of photography such as nature and landscape, pets/animals, sports and wedding photography. For samples and services, click HERE or visit us at www.SimonsStudios.net.