jordan.ellis.

dylanhammphoto:

What If…

This series chronicles and articulates my biggest fear, a fear that is currently happening all around me, which is the cyclical progression of those who put aside ambitions, dreams, and adventure in order to attain comfort and safety - usually at the expense of the latter.

    Throughout life, we are conditioned through the teachings of our parents. We are taught from young to stay safe. Babies are in a safety zone for 9 months before birth, and after are heavily monitored by their parents. Right from the start we are taught that safety is the number one priority. We continue to grow from that foundation.

    From then on we second guess ourselves, keep from new interactions, and miss great opportunities because of that subconscious search for this ideal lifestyle. From avoiding eye contact in the streets, or hallways at school, to settling down with your first love, to avoid the potential of aloneness and being unloved. From first having dreams, but a parental roof over your head, to being that parent trying to keep your kids safe from the world. From being self conscious of your body as a teen, to keeping a 9-5 cubical job to pay the bills. All ages are socially conditioned to maintain that “American Dream” mentality that we all know and love.

    I want to break free from this. I have been living this mentality my whole life, and I need a change. What if I stepped off this soft, tender, safe, trusted piece of grass. What if I didn’t need that grass.

    This project chronicles the progression of human ambition for dreams through social conditioning/necessity etc., until it has been extinguished and the end result is merely regret – my biggest fear. A fear which I refuse to succumb to.

(via daniellestinson)