It’s very hard to choose just one passion and give it your full attention for the rest of your life.
Since I was five, my life has been a whirlwind of passions and hobbies: taekwondo, piano, guitar, ukulele, singing, theater, tennis, speed skating, climbing, photography, languages (just English besides Spanish my mother tongue, though), cinema, writing, adventure, and the thrill of the extreme. Some have come and gone, others have overlapped, often leading to burnout—but never boredom.
Choosing a single passion to dedicate all my focus to? Impossible. High-functioning ADHD keeps my mind in constant motion. I crave variety. I need more—always more.
This personality trait, seemingly addictive, is both a blessing and a curse. There’s no middle ground.
In the creative context, it fuels me. Adventure photography, for example, isn’t just about capturing images—it’s about chasing significant moments. Every shot is a new challenge, a fresh obsession that burns bright and fast before giving way to the next.
Finding Balance in Chaos
Managing my ADHD-driven creativity is a constant balancing act. Productivity doesn’t come naturally—it’s a system I’ve built to trick my brain into staying on track. Music, coffee, movement, or even stepping away for a breather helps me recalibrate. Yet, amidst all the chaos, what truly grounds me is storytelling.
Photography, journaling, and filmmaking have become my anchors. They allow me to externalize my ideas, sift through mental clutter, and refocus on what truly matters. Journaling verbalizes my thoughts, transforming scattered fragments into coherent stories. It’s not just a practice—it’s a ritual that helps me connect with my inner self.
Photography and adventure, on the other hand, pull me out of my head and into the world. In Vancouver, far from my native Ecuador, I’ve found solace in nature. Hiking through towering forests, scaling mountains, or breathing in the crisp air of the Pacific Northwest reminds me that staying grounded means reconnecting with nature.
Lessons from the Mountains
Hiking and mountaineering teach patience, humility, and resilience. Climbing active volcanoes in Ecuador or trekking at 5,000 meters above sea level demands physical and mental strength. Every step requires presence. In those moments, there’s no room for distraction—just the raw essence of being alive.
Adventure humbles you. It strips away ego, leaving only the raw challenge of pushing forward. The wilderness doesn’t care about your plans or your past. It’s about survival, respect, and reconnecting with something greater than yourself.
Capturing the Moment & Embracing the Messiness
Photography, for me, is more than a visual art—it’s a medium for storytelling. Each photograph is a frozen chapter, whether it’s a volcanic summit or a serene forest trail. Through the lens, I rediscover my love for the world, for adventure, and ultimately, for life itself.
While I still struggle to focus on a single passion, I’ve learned that I don’t have to. My journey isn’t about narrowing down—it’s about embracing all of it. Adventure, creativity, and chaos are my constant companions, and through photography, I’ve found a way to tell my story, one frame at a time.
