Jorge Antonio Garnica aka JAnthony

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This is My Story. My History. 

I am principally an Artist.
I do this stuff out of a lifelong love for photography, a profound appreciation of the 'feminine mystique' and a quest for personal and artistic growth. This is a welcome and decided change from what I have done for most of my career. I want to develop as a photographer and a person, and to express my vision and ambition to find beauty, serenity and peace in this lifetime. I enjoy meeting new people and I deeply appreciate the female sensibility. This adventure in pursuit of beautiful images, a clear vision and refined technical skills is a balm to the sores wrought by tragedy, war, torment and  heartbreak. It soothes and feeds the soul. And that, my friends, is what it's all about. 

Growing up in a migrant community my Grandfather would take me out early in the morning to plant seeds, he would tell me, as we quietly planted, you never have to yell at the field or seed or force anything. You just plant seeds. Quietly do your part.
Keep it simple.
God, the Universe and Earth will produce what it needs to produce for you.
Plant good seeds today. 

It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.

Someone told me once, don't just aspire to make a living, aspire to make a difference.

I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona to migrant working parents. 

I am the second eldest of five children, one sister and 3 brothers. 

As a child all I knew was to work and survive. Picking cotton, onions, radishes, watermelons and oranges, whatever was in season. We would move around a lot for work. 

School was for the rich white kids and I was neither rich nor white. 

One day some lady and the police showed up at our camp trailer and few days later I was enrolled in school. 

I remember the cold water fountain, a comfortable chair, desk, a cooler that pushed out fresh air, clean bathrooms, a ticket that gave me food in a cafeteria, a nice lady teacher that taught me to believe mostly in myself. 

It was amazing! I learned so much by surrounding myself with learners, teachers, students, dreamers, creators, passionate people, I stayed in school until completing my doctorate later on. Growing up in Phoenix, I didn't realize it was hot and we were poor, it just was. 

As a Scorpio, I learned a lot through personal experiences. 

I am dad to an amazing daughter. 

Some call me Coach, Pastor, Mentor, Teacher, Friend, Brother, Uncle. 

I call myself a student of life, a passer by. An influencer. A small light. 

My strength is helping others believe mostly in themselves by illuminating the answers right in front of them to get to the next step and move on. 

Life is an evolution of becoming. 

I believe at the end of the day, it's not about the possessions or what you accomplished.
It's about lifting others up.
Who did you make better?
What did you give back?
What did you improve? 

The best thing you can do for a person is to inspire them. That's the best currency you can offer: inspiration. So, when a person can rely on you for that, that empowers them in every realm of their life. Being inspired. It empowers them in their relationships, in their business, in their art, in their creativity. It empowers them because without inspiration, you're dry.” Just wanted to say thanks for all the times you’ve offered inspiration my friend. 

I believe it is God who inspires us to put together words and sounds, colors placement to make a picture for us to understand each other.  

They say when we pray we are in spirit, then inspired, then become inspiring. 

It's called "Inspirato," the enlightened one. 

Walking through this world I decided very early on, just to accept life unconditionally; I never expected it to do anything special for me, yet I seemed to accomplish far more than I had ever hoped. Most of the time it just happened to me without me ever seeking it.
Learning to appreciate what I have before time makes me appreciate what I had.
To stop allowing negative and toxic people in my head. Raise the rent by raising my standards and kick them out!

Smile and let everyone know that today, a lot wiser than yesterday.

I know what I bring to the table so trust me when I say I can eat alone.
I know the things I am passionate about are not random, they are a calling. 

I am in competition with no one.
I run my own race.
I have no desire to play the game of being better than anyone, in any way, shape or form.
I just aim to improve, to be better than I was before.
That's me and I'm free. 

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let us down, probably will.
You'll have your heart broken and you'll break others' hearts.
You'll fight with your best friend or maybe even fall in love with them, and you'll cry because time is flying by.
So take too many pictures, laugh too much, forgive freely, and love like you've never been hurt.
Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, no second chances.
You just have to live life to the fullest, tell someone what they mean to you and tell someone off, speak out, dance in the pouring rain, hold someone's hand, comfort a friend, fall asleep watching the sun come up, stay up late, be a flirt, and smile until your face hurts.
Don't be afraid to take chances or fall in love and most of all, live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness you can never get back.
Don't be bitter just get better. 

I am grateful for my "exes"; ex-bosses, ex-employers, ex-friends, ex-lovers because they were part of forcing me in the direction in which I am supposed to be going now.

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, they serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are and who you want to become.
You never know who these people may be: your neighbor, child, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger who, when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.
And sometimes things happen to you and at the time they seem painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential strength, will power, or heart. 

Never do the envy, jealous, and insecure stuff.
Be the hustler, the well wisher and the go-getter.
Finding your passion isn't about careers and money.
It's about finding your authentic self; the one you buried under other people's needs. So by doing what you love, you inspire and awaken the hearts and minds of others. The things you are passionate about are not random, they are your calling. And if you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not people or objects. 

Make the rest of your life the best of your life. In a world where you can be anything.
Be kind.

If having things turn out the way you wanted them too is the measure of a successful life then some would say that I'm a failure.
The important thing is not to be bitter over life's disappointments. Learn to let go of the past. And recognize everyday won't be sunny. And when you find yourself lost in the darkness of despair...remember, it's only in the darkest part of the night will you see the stars needed to guide your way back home.
So don't be afraid to make mistakes. To stumble and fall.
Because most of the time the greatest rewards come from the things that scare us the most. Maybe you'll get everything you wished for. Maybe you'll get more than you could have ever imagined.
Who knows where life will take you. 

The road is long. And in the end...the journey is the destination.

Go and grow. Be grateful.
Don't ask for life to get easier but for you to be better.
Die trying.

As you start to change so will the things change around you.

May today be your life changing day.

Cheers to new beginnings. 

Cheers to becoming the best version of you! 

#LifeIsABeautifulDistraction