When following your passion, be sure never to forget your responsibilities.

Sometimes, just sometimes, it is easy to become totally entrenched in your particular hobby. In the case of photography, this might mean going out on shoots, meeting other photographers or sitting in front of the computer organising, manipulating and printing your images.

Time can melt away and what can seem a short and essential period if input for yourself, can appear a lifetime to your loved ones. Children need mums and dads and partners need care and attention.

Your nearest and dearest want you to enjoy your hobby but they also need you too. If they see their parents or partners so engrossed in their interest then it can put a strain on any relationship.

And, it is downright selfish!

Think about it the other way around. Would you wish to wake up knowing that for the rest of the day, your partner was going to be immersed in his or her own hobby to the exclusion and detriment of yourself?

No. So dont do it yourself. You will only foster your reputation for self-interest and narrow-mindedness.

And we all need a release to freshen our minds and to broaden our scope.

And to nurture those other special relationships.