A door… I just wanted a door!
Before I get to the main course of this story, I need to rewind and explain how this project all started.
In my basement, I had a closet off the side of my laundry room next to my office that rarely got used. One day, I called my dad and asked for his thoughts about adding another door to the closet so I could access it from my office.
I was hoping for two outcomes from that conversation:
It would give my family another reason to visit me.
I wanted my dad to put a new door in the wall, because that’s what dads do, right?
The more we talked about the options and possibilities, the more excited I became about putting a door in the closet wall.
Then reality sank in. My family lived nearly 400 miles away, and I would have to wait. I don’t like waiting for things I want. I’m kind of impatient, and I wanted that door opening yesterday. So, with a few encouraging words and some advice from my dad telling me I could do it myself, I put my plan and vision into action.
Here’s what my office space looked like before. It was a mixture of a workout area, office, and computer room. It’s amazing how much you can collect over 10 years.
That same day, I started cutting a doorway into the closet. Little did I know, this was only the beginning of a much bigger project that I really hadn’t anticipated.
As I started opening the wall, I began reflecting on what I was actually doing and asked myself multiple times, “What the heck did I just get myself into?!”
Why did I really want a door in this wall? Could I do this on my own? Ugh, I had just created a giant mess.
That night, I lay in bed and had a crazy idea. Why not take the project a little further and open the wall completely so I could have a larger space for taking pictures? Wouldn’t it be cool to have a small photo studio for my boys right inside the house?! The next day, I completely changed the vision of my original plan.
I was going to turn my office into a photo studio. I wanted to create an environment that was inspiring, creative, and different so I could pursue my passion for photography.
From that moment on, I began planning and turning my vision into reality. Life is too short not to pursue what you love doing. It’s too short not to take chances, learn new things, and make mistakes.
For those who don’t know, my dad is an amazing carpenter. To this day, there’s always a project or idea being carefully crafted. My brothers and I are all very DIY-minded. If we see something, we often don’t buy it—we build it.
We grew up in a house that was always being worked on. We were constantly remodeling a room, tearing down a wall, or installing a floor. You name it, and we’ve probably done it. Looking back at some of these photographs, you could argue that we may have been born with hammers in our hands.
As for me, I never placed myself in the same skill bracket as my older brothers, and I still don’t. They could run circles around me with their skill sets. However, I’m always up for a challenge. As I stood there looking at that giant hole in the wall, I was determined to finish as much as I could before getting my boys back the following week.
When this project began, I was nervous. I was skeptical of my abilities, doubted myself, and repeatedly asked, “Joel, what did you just get yourself into?!” But as the pieces of the puzzle came together and my ideas began to unfold, my confidence grew.
I was doing things I never thought I could do on my own. I was literally creating the vision that had existed only inside my head.
If you want something, don’t only wish for it or dream about it. Just do it. I would rather try and fail 10 times—and be able to say I attempted something—than sit back and admit I was too afraid to try.
Life is about learning new things. It’s about taking chances. It’s about pushing yourself beyond what you thought was possible. If you never believe in yourself, you’ll never succeed.
I encountered several hurdles during this project that, a year earlier, I never would have believed I could overcome. I never thought I could move electrical outlets, install lights, frame walls, install flooring, or complete trim work on my own. Those possibilities never crossed my mind until I tried. I guess you could say that during my younger years, I really did pay attention and learn from the best.
Below are a few photographs of my photo studio coming together. It still isn’t 100 percent finished, but it has come a long way.
I wouldn’t have made it this far without the most important piece: family. Their words of encouragement, feedback, and guidance—along with the support of my friends—inspired me to continue doing what I do. Thank you.
As I wrap this up, I encourage you to make mistakes, try new things, and never give up on what makes you happy. Life is too short to say you never tried.