Life's essence is impermanence. The things we cherish, cling to, and obsess over are fleeting flames, soon to be extinguished. We face a choice: cling to the ashes of the past or embrace the death of what was and accept the birth of what is to come.

I have lived a rich and diverse life, seemingly made up of many different existences. I have been a poor boy raised by a single mother, an average student to patient teachers, a failed tradesman to a frustrated employer, a budding opinionated filmmaker and out of his depth, a lacklustre husband to an exceptional wife, a missing father to a yearning daughter and finally, an internationally acclaimed Director and Photographer, a threat I never saw forming on the horizon.

As I have grown, I have come to realise that each of these lives were mere moments, passing to make way for the next. Every experience, from crushing sadness to boundless joy, was a lesson that forged a path, teaching me that my thoughts and actions always lead to the next chapter.

However, I became deeply attached to the notion that what I did defined who I was. My persona became my reality, a common but perilous illusion. As my career and identity began to fade, I clung desperately to my past self and its privileges. I was blind to the fact that this passing was paving the way for something new and exciting, something that would fill the void in my chest, calm my mind, and allow life's journey to unfold for my benefit.