When a family member passed away earlier this year, it really got me thinking about how little we get to know the people we truly care about. Especially those that we connect with through some form of the internet, whether social media or otherwise.
Many of us live completely different lives in different places, myself included. If you want to hear about sneakers from me, you find me @SNEAKERHISTORY, if you want to hear about cars, @ARTIMOTIV, and so on and so on. Not only are the nuances of my passions oftentimes catered to different audiences, the algorithms further divide “me” into creating different accounts in an effort to find like-minded nerds like me.
The thing that’s consistent across all of those things is me, but if i posted every thought or thing that I have an interest in on one singular account, nobody that shares my passions would ever find me. The power of connecting with people comes from the stories that only the nerdiest of a niche can relate to.
But that’s the thing, isn’t it? The stories.
After hearing the stories of my relative’s former coworkers, and how she had such a profound impact on so many people’s lives, I started to think about how I would be celebrated when my time on earth comes to an end. In fact, I started carrying my cameras with me a lot more frequently, and as time has gone on, I’ve been documenting a lot more of my life.
Then I started to think about the friends and family that I know right now, and how little I truly know them.
While some of those loved ones I know a great deal about, I want to know the little things that I can only learn by experiencing life with them…the jokes that are shared with coworkers, the films that force them to fight back the tears, and the conversations over meals that might take things a bit too far by societal standards.
Of course, I can’t possibly experience all of these things with the people that I love. There just isn’t enough time.
As I get older, the passing of each friend or family member, makes me think to myself…
“Damn, I wish they had a YouTube channel with a bunch of silly memories for all for us to revisit.”
So, while I might not have time to spend with all of those that I wish I could, the one thing I can do is encourage everyone to capture more of those moments for their friends and family.
If this resonates with you, check out the last handful of videos on my YouTube channel. I hope I can inspire you to hit record and start uploading. Those that love you will appreciate it and those that don’t know you will get the chance to.
-Nick
✌️ + ❤️ + 🌯
