And I love my work because whether it involves passing a maple syrup farm on a bike ride in New England or walking by women farming in Malawi, my camera gives me an excuse to stop and ask what they are doing. And people are wonderful! They always want to share their stories. Of course you can do this, too, but the truth is, I am actually a bit shy, and for me, my camera is a wonderful excuse to be brave when I might otherwise hide.
My advice is that you don't have to become a professional storyteller in order to be an explorer in life. Be curious, ask the silly questions, let your imagination run wild and lead you wonderful places. And don't be afraid of making mistakes or "looking silly." These are all key parts of the life of a traveler. I had no idea how to use a toilet in Gujurat, India, how to eat from a communal plate with my family in Malawi, how to be respectful at a temple in the high Mustang of Nepal, or how to be a good party guest in Sicily, but I learned by trying, laughing at my mistakes, and being humble. Mistakes are how we learn--they are good.
A secret a lot of adults won't tell you is that adults actually try to recapture the wisdom we had when we were younger. When I was a designer, I worked with other artists and designers, scientists and business people, teaching them how to play and explore. I encouraged them to be curious and to make mistakes, because they had forgotten how to simply be brave and playful. This kind of exploration is actually so important in business and in life. You already are more of an explorer than you may have thought! You already are curious, and you have an awful lot of wisdom. As you learn, don't ever lose the wisdom of your curiosity! That is what makes you an explorer.
