So last Friday I had the chance to go to the Maximum Adobe Photoshop Tour in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was amazing! I went to one last year in Los Angeles that was spotlighting Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and had a great time at that one as well.

For those who don’t know much about these conferences, they are day long (or sometimes weekend-long) classes where the top Photoshop professionals like Scott Kelby, Matt Kloskowski ,or in the case of last Friday, Dave Cross, come and teach us how to best utilize or expand our practice with this amazing software. Each conference includes a workbook where they describe in detail everything that they teach so those that attend can practice later, a CD with goodies and all the images they use to demonstrate,

I learned so much about how to make my work go more smoothly. I can’t wait to try out all the new things I learned!

I will start of by saying that this blog will probably have very little to do with photography, if anything at all. I would apologize for that, except that I feel that what I have to say is more important than photography.

The topic of helping others and making sure that other people are cared for has been a major talking and discussing point for myself and some of my friends the past couple of weeks. I want to bring a few different conversations together, because although they were discussed at separate times and not connected to each other at the time, they are the same thing.

Let's start with this: Dictionary.com has defined SERVICE as "an act of helpful activity; help; aid: to do someone a service." There are actually 37 different definitions listed, but this is the definition that I wish to talk about.

1) I'm sure the majority of people who read this will have heard about the tragedy of the Haiti earthquakes. It is devastating what happened there, and what is still happening there. These people need as much help, as much service, as we can give them.

2) Another point that has been brought up is the health care in the United States. People claim that they don't want or need to pay extra taxes so that others can have affordable health care. I disagree with all my heart. There are people dying, and in more pain than necessary because they can't afford to go to the doctors. I could expand more on this, but I think that is enough to say at this time.

3) My third point is probably the most general. We need to give service to others. That counts in so many ways: giving money to people who need it, such as those in Haiti; giving a little more of our paycheck so that EVERYONE can live a happier and healthier life; and giving of our time. It seems that the latter has been everywhere I go lately; from "random" thoughts coming into my head, to Disneyland's offer for a one day admission for free if you give one day of service, to the website I was looking at tonight for a location for portrait session: The Utah State Hospital, which has a beautiful garden and theater area available for photography sessions for a small permit charge. As I was searching this website for more information, there was a link for volunteer opportunities. It caught my eye. There are so many people that need our help. Disneyland has pages and pages of service opportunities listed on their website with a geographical search. There are 109 listings for places that need volunteers in the Orem/Provo area. And those are just the ones approved by Disneyland for their program.

I believe that we vastly underestimate the good that can come from the service we give, not only for those we are serving, but for ourselves. If there is anything in your life that you are having difficulties with, try to find some time to help someone else. You'd be amazed at how you can be blessed when you try to improve someone else's life instead of just thinking about your own. The opportunities are out there, and if you can't find them, let me know and I'd be happy to point some out. Give up an hour a week of TV, video games, or even *dare I say it* Facebook/Myspace. Take your family or friends with you; make it a group activity. We have to watch out for each other. Its our responsibility to stop being so selfish and care for others. Everyone has something to give. Even me. Time is not something I'm lacking in right now, and while I hope that is not always the case, I know that I can and will give some of my time to help others. And I greatly thank all those who are already living this way and giving in the ways that they can to improve the lives of others; for I have felt the love of people who have served me and I will be eternally grateful to them. The only way I can think to pay them back is to turn around and serve someone else. Its the only way I can begin to be deserving of all that I've been blessed with.

I challenge you all to serve someone else this week in whichever capacity you can. Remember, Service is "an act of helpful activity." Not one of us is incapable of doing just that.

I wish you all the best!