One yes can change everything.
My goal on this day of photographing strangers was to take photos of 5 awesome humans. After almost 2 hours of walking around in a new city in a different country, with no photos of strangers, I was ready to give up.
Things didn’t go as I had hoped. I was stuck. And the longer I was stuck, the more I convinced myself to give up.
I let so many awesome strangers walk right by me. I was imagining people rejecting me without even speaking to them. I convinced myself they would say no and watched dozens and dozens of people walk away.
The moment I was about to quit, I sat down on a bench and heard a voice whisper:
“Most people quit right before something interesting is about to happen. Shoot the damn ball, Darius.”
Then I looked up and saw this super interesting dude, who would be my first yes in this new city.
The rest of the day I spiralled into a winning streak. I felt like I was flying.
This isn’t groundbreaking; it’s just basic math. If there are zero attempts, there are zero failures.
You can’t miss a basketball shot if you never shoot.
Let alone win a game. Or have fun playing.
I was even ready for more people to say no. And that felt totally okay. Shooting and missing are just a part of the game.
This video actually starts with a gem of a human at the counter saying no thanks, then suggesting I photograph her co-worker and friend Val.
I needed that NO to bring me one step closer to my next YES.
In this example I was only seconds away.
Sometimes it’s not that immediate. But what if there’s a yes out there waiting for you?
Are you willing to shoot your shot and let go of the damn ball?
Love,
D
PS: Music by Kina. This epic song is called Get To The Moon.
PPS: To see more from my No Strangers Art series you can follow me on TikTok or Instagram.
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