It’s never too late; musings on life and change…

Peter Evanchuck

Perhaps whoever said, “There’s a time and a place for everything,” had folks like Hélène and me in mind.

When cancer and finances slowed us down our wild, world travels changed into documenting those days rather than living new adventurous ones.

Watching those who use their smart phones to find out where the local bar or mall may be then using their GPS to point out every yard of their movement on that very unadventurous journey isn’t very life-learning or self-learning; “no surprises” seems to be the icon of modern thinking which, of course, leads to nothingness—or perhaps substance abuse to “feel alive.” As far-fetched as my theory may be, over the past years I’ve observed a common change in the idea of building courage through chance-taking and spontaneous living.

I know that so many of us oldies like to reminisce about how great the “good old days” were; probably because they remind us of our youthful exuberance and energy to live life fully. Of course seldom do we see the future as the “good old new days” except when we get a chance and have the courage to move boldly where we have never gone before.

When I fell victim to cancer Hélène and I started reviewing our life. I had to slow down and rethink what I wanted my new life to become, so I stirred the pot.

I revived my passion for creating image and sound documenting the beautiful and exciting life we have lived. It started with photography and art creations and then moved into moving image using digital media instead of film. The new days became our old days and we love this new/old way of living.

Never give up. Age is no excuse to surf the couch and fear reality. Our recent documentaries complete our trilogy of docs on mental illness and poverty. In Sane and Poetry of Payne have garnered international awards and prestige. A recent invitation to the important Venice, Rome and Moscow Festivals to receive their awards had to be set aside since cancer keeps me close to home.