Courage

The most courageous thing I have ever done in my life happened a few years ago. I was 24 years old, and I wanted to be an Electrical Engineer, I was in the 10th semesters and finishing my thesis. My whole family had great expectations for my future as a professional. They always said that i was very smart and that I would have a bright future as an engineer. As a matter of fact, I come from a family of engineers. My father is a Mechanical Engineer, my mother is a Mechanical Engineer and my brother is a Mechanical Engineer, so they expected that I would become an engineer too.

The Way. © Carlos Ocando.

At that moment I felt empty and lost. I didn’t like my work during my internship, and I felt that I would have to work on something that I didn’t enjoy or like. During that time I started to read several inspirational books, one quote from a Wayne Dyer’s book really moved me. It said: “Don’t die with your music still in you”, I also felt very inspired by the Conversations with God series written by Neale Donald Walsh.

Infinite. @ Carlos Ocando.

I became inspired to focus my energy, thoughts, and efforts on becoming what I really wanted to be and do. Recently my heart felt moved by nature, art and photography. So I decided to take the most scary and risky thing I have ever done in my life. I decided to become a Professional Fine Art Photographer. Every body was against me at the beginning, I felt a lot of pressure and stress, but with the support of my now wife I kept going.

Gift. @ Carlos Ocando.

I started to buy books, tutorials and got my hand in every photography book I could find. I started to work as a photographer for a magazine covering small events,  and participated in some photography contests with photos of nature. Eventually I won the respect of a few master photographers, and one of them offered me the opportunity to work with him and to teach me how to accomplish my goal. Since then I have a number of awards, and I’m represented by some galleries including in NYC. Everyday I thank God for the gift of my life and that I have had the courage to make that decision and be who I am today. If you have an idea, a dream or something that you want to do, and feel that is important for you don’t abandon it. Follow your heart and your bliss and don’t the naysayers to make you give up. You can do it my friend, YOU CAN DO IT…

Carlos

Faith

What is faith?, that’s a question a lot of people keep asking to themselves and to religion leaders, they will all tell you that faith is believing every word in their book of preference (Bible, Quran, etc…), this is a concept that is difficult for me to accept, how can I believe something that happened 2000+ years ago? (please don’t take this personal, I respect every religion and belief system). There is also the part that I must believe in something blindly, so for a long time I had no faith, I only believed in what I could touch, smell, hear and of course see. 

Looking beyond the tangible. © Carlos Ocando.

I’m writing about all this because I have had some problems with my faith in the course of my life, right now I can tell you that I have faith, I have shown myself that affirmations, believing before seeing works!, even in the moments where I feel more disconnected from the universe and the peace of the now. A good example is something that happened to me yesterday, I felt a little down and went to the park to take some photos and relax, after a few minutes I came a cross with a wooden bridge going over a bayou, and at the end of the bridge there was a something that looked like a jar.

“Keep seeking, God is there for you NO MATTER WHAT”.© Carlos Ocando.

So when I start to walk the bridge I can see words written in the sides and on the floor, there was one that captured my attention: “Keep seeking, God is there for you NO MATTER WHAT”. In that moment I understood what real faith is, it means that God (or the universe, Buddha, Jesus or any name you want to give it) is with us, is there to cover your back, to be with you in the most difficult times, and the not so difficult, he (she?) is always with us, inside of us, around us, is the energy that moves everything and gives us what we ask (even bad stuff). I felt lighter and very moved even a few tears came out, but they weren’t tears of sadness those were tears of joy, everything looked magnificent and holly, and every message I read really moved me in a good way, I kept walking till I reached the end of the bridge, at the end I saw this…

“God listens!, prayer is Powerful”. © Carlos Ocando.

It was a jar full of chalk so every stranger passing by could write their own words, it was a very special day for me, and after all this time I understand what faith is, every moment that I needed it I have received a surprising answer from our dear friend, the only difference is that yesterday I was open to this beautiful message. I hope some day I can get to meet the beautiful people who made all this, and they are reading this I thank you from the deepest part of myself. Thank you!

Carlos