Addiction Series

I tried to think of all the ways I could word it so no one took it the wrong way. I couldn’t really think of any way to say it except for how it happened. I went to the Dollar Store in the makeup section. There was a woman about my age shopping in the makeup section as well. I’m not the best with picking out makeup so she could tell I was struggling to make a choice. She gave me some makeup advice. She asked if I had a contact through Facebook if I had any more questions. I told her my name. She had this puzzled look on her face. She said that name sounded familiar. I told her I was also a photographer and most people around town know me for my addiction series I had worked on that was in the paper. Maybe she heard of me that way. Her mouth and eyes opened so wide and she just began to bawl in the middle of the dollar store. She said she has one of my pictures blown up on her wall as a reminder of what her past addiction was and since she saw that picture she reached out for help and hasn’t used since. She said it saved her life. I know my actual picture didn’t save her life. It grabbed her attention and caused her to look at the comments below the picture and noticed forms of help to reach out to. Tears started swelling in my eyes. As a photographer that was one of the biggest moments of my career. I could have made front of Vogue cover, I could have made Indiana’s photographer of the year, but nothing could ever complete my heart as a photographer as it did that day. Definitely an inspiration for me to keep putting out inspirational projects. They don’t make me any money but that is worth more then a dollar amount. I wanted to share to inspire others that it could just be one thing you do in life that could change somebody else’s world. Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. The very picture that helped save her life is the same picture I sat at my computer for forever staring ….contemplating if I should press the post button, afraid it would offend so many. There are so many dealing with these addictions. I can’t even imagine what hell they must be going through trying to quit. It’s so easy to judge right away and think……”it’s easy….just stop.” I’ve seen addictions like this do horrible horrible things to people. It breaks my heart into pieces. If anyone wants to post any helplines under this again in the comment section, please feel free. Who knows, you may save someones life.