A bolt out of nowhere

Two days ago, after the conclusion of an insane week, I decided I needed to chill out by myself.

I parked my dad's car at Fort Mason and walked along the Marina Green, shoulders down and finally enjoying being home, albeit briefly since I was due to fly back to Arizona the very next day.

I spotted a sliver of beach and walked along it, ready to practice some black & white / sepia photography with the Golden Gate Bridge looming in the background.

As I knelt and was pressing the shutter, this little kid bolted out of nowhere, running past me as his mom chased him with her own camera.

I thought where I was in my head these days: Life's been crazy. Work's been nuts. I have no time. Mental and physical fitness have taken a back seat. Quite a few stressors abound, to say the least.

But I think this kid put it all into perspective:

Why worry?

In one way, I wish I was this young again, getting the simplest high just from running along a beach, not even noticing some random guy with his camera sitting right before him.

But in another way, I realize it's not too late now to pick myself up. I'm still too young to be completely cynical and beaten with life. Nor do I have it even remotely as bad as billions of other people who are worse off than I am.

It's time to put life back into an upswing.

So cheers, kid. For reminding me to loosen up. And also being part of one of my favorite pictures I've taken thus far.