I’ve been a passionate amateur photographer for many years and get a lot of enjoyment from great photography, which I share with you here on a regular basis.

It’s such a potent medium – a single shot can become an interactive story, based on your own background and feelings about what you see. It’s also one of the few times that evoked feelings of sadness can actually be a “beautiful” experience, reminding us of the fragility of life; the hopes and wishes we hold dear; the basics of humanity that tie us all together.

As you lose yourself in these images -- if only for a moment – what fervent wishes rise to the surface? What do you truly need that you don’t already have?

There are no right or wrong answers here.

But I’d like to challenge you to consider what’s most important in your life, especially during this time of global strife over the basic foodstuffs, skyrocketing prices, the faltering health care system (at least if you’re in the U.S.)… The list goes on.

Do you cling to old habits, even as they prove themselves unsustainable; even if they cause you sleepless nights and financial difficulties? Are you willing to simplify your life to be able to better deal with the rising complexities and problems of the daily modern world?

What are you willing to let go of, in order to make your life easier, less stressful, more manageable and healthier? What are your priorities?

I will not give you any of my own recommendations here, for a change. Only questions. To answer them is up to you. This is the power of great photography -- to shift your perception and break the status quo of your internal commentary.

Taking some time out now and then, simply to reflect on your life, is the only way to ensure you end up where you want to go.

Where are you headed?