My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, spirituality and asking deep questions.
“The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are. The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty ‘yes’ to your adventure.”
Joseph Campbell
I like his suggestion that “being who you are” is a privilege. Because for me, I was never truly happy with my life when trying to be who or what society suggested I be. Life is becoming more of an adventure each day, even at this age, as I say “yes” in becoming me. It is a privilege! Hope everyone stays cool and safe today.
What is the duty of humans? If gifts and responsibilities are one, then asking “What is our responsibility?” is the same as asking “What is our gift?” It is said that only humans have the capacity for gratitude. This is among our gifts.
Robin Wall Kimmerer
Sometime during the night flashes of lightning and thunder filled my room and raindrops tapped against my window. Not sure I slept very well after that. As I lay there I realized how few sunrises I see this time of the year. Daylight savings now has the sun rising a bit too early for this older body. I was unable to return to the land of dreams and deciding not to fight it, I threw the covers off about 4:03 am and began the day.
When I arrived at Pineridge Natural Area it was a warm 68 degrees according to my car’s dashboard. A refreshing and gentle breeze caressed my face as I sat on the bench to journal. A few light clouds hovered just above the eastern horizon offering a mix of pink and silver that eventually gave way to an orange sunrise. Darker clouds rose above the mountains in the west, hinting of possible rain later today. A baby cottontail nibbles on leaves near me and Magpies chatter endlessly. After a while I took the camera for a walk, looking with the child’s eye. Before leaving, I rubbed sagebrush between my fingers, wanting to carry its scent with me into the day. I felt a rush of gratitude flow through me. I then headed for the coffee shop, hoping to share this gratitude with others. It’s been a good but early start to this day. Hope you have a great Monday!
“To love a place is not enough. We must find ways to heal it.”
Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass:
It was nothing spectacular but I happened to catch a glimpse of the sun breaking through the clouds just before dropping below the horizon. I had to stop and in fact I need to stop more often because I don’t want to miss anymore of these gifts of nature. As I stepped out of the car I took in the fragrance of summer, that smell of fresh cut hay. I stood there and let it sink into my memory senses. I can still smell it this morning!
The difference between confusion and ‘don’t know’ is that confusion can only see one way out and that way is blocked, while ‘don’t know’ is open to miracles and insights.
Joyce Rupp
The years of my life spent in confusion were often based on the presumption that I knew and if I didn’t know, I could quickly find out or fake it. Today I am willing to admit there are many more things I don’t know than I know, or think I think I know. So much more enjoyable to ask questions and be open to miracles and insights. Know what I mean?
I stopped and photographed these double rainbows a couple weeks ago on my drive back from Red Feather Lakes. Again, more of nature’s beautiful work of art to enjoy!
Usually when you listen to some statement, you hear it as a kind of echo of yourself. You are actually listening to your own opinion. If it agrees with your opinion, you may accept it, but if it does not, you will reject it or you may not really hear It. That is one danger when you listen to someone.
Shunryu Suzuki: Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
Happy 4th.
Form is certainty. All nature knows this, and we have no greater adviser. Clouds have forms, porous and shape-shifting, bumptious, fleecy. They are what clouds need to be, to be clouds. See a flock of them come, on the sled of the wind, all kneeling above the blue sea….How can we ever stop looking? How can we ever turn away?
Mary Oliver, Upstream
I love landscapes. I love them because of the experience they offer. Experiencing the landscape, letting it touch me is different than looking at any photo, even when it’s my photo. Landscapes are visually and spiritually never the same. That’s true second by second, hour by hour, and day by day. Wind reshapes clouds constantly, the light changes colors, the weather can alter the hues and saturation within a few seconds, and blowing dust causes the light to change.
And time alters the landscape as aging trees fall, or a flood creates a ravine that was not there last week. What does all this transformation of landscapes mean? What can I learn from watching and participating? I’m sure some get bored with landscapes. I wonder is that because we only glance at a scene rather than sit with them, letting them touch us at a deeper level? I find that when I don’t connect with a scene I can be out of touch with the reality of the world around me. Who knows, maybe the landscape is offering this love thing.