• journaling,  quotes,  Self-portraits,  writing/reading

    Give it now…

    One of the things I know about writing is this: spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it, all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book or for another book; give it, give it all, give it now. The impulse to save something good for a better place later is the signal to spend it now. Something more will arise for later, something better. These things fill from behind, from beneath, like well water. Similarly, the impulse to keep to yourself what you have learned is not only shameful, it is destructive. Anything you do not give freely and abundantly becomes lost to you. You open your safe and find ashes.

    Annie Dillard, The Writing Life

    As I was journaling at Mugs yesterday morning i noticed the lighting was perfect for a photo that symbolizes my journaling. So I asked one my barista, to take this image. Jess volunteered and this what she gave me. I like it.

    I’ve journaled for years and feel that the past five years have been the most productive. I don’t mean that in quantity but in the quality of my writing. Every time I put pen to paper I find unexpected words. I’ve uncovered truths and lies I’ve told myself for years. My journals have help me dig deeper into my soul helpsing me to know myself more while hopefully being a better human being. I am learning to put into words how I see the gift of this natural world I live in. I also am learning to put into words the gift of this inner landscape of myself.

    Finishing up laundry then some reading, walking and photography. It is overcast but warm.

  • Humor,  Self-portraits

    Words of Wisdom

    Oh, that's whats' wrong.
    Oh, that’s whats’ wrong.

    Every once in a while a bad day will raise it’s silly head. Nothing seems to go right. The brain is just not running on all cylinders, randomly sputtering unintelligible words, drawing strange looks from your favorite barista. I’ll give and example. All of a sudden you face a situation where you press the shutter button on your camera and nothing happens. You make a gasp for air as if your life is about to end. Your pulse rate and blood pressure just rocketed. You look at the camera turning it around to see whats wrong and it fires. You let our a sigh of relief as you realized it was on the self-timer mode.  A photographer error. Well, I’m here to help with my words of wisdom. There are a couple of things we need to look at on those bad days.

    First, check your socks. We are now able to buy socks that are made for right and left feet. They put these little “R’s” and “L’s” on them to help. It is a known fact the day could be off kilter if those socks are on the incorrect feet. You may also notice is a slight limp, unable to keep your balance or walk in a straight line. Check it out. Second, is your shorts. Nothing can mess up the day more than having your shorts inside out. Let me tell you it happens to the best of us. A primary symptom with this is the inability to sit comfortably for any period of time. Or you could have them on backwards. You will have the same symptom with this situation. You may encounter an embarrassing time if standing in front of a public urinal. Now, if you have them both on backwards and inside out you might as well just go back to bed and start all over. Hope this helps the next time you have a bad day.

  • Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  quotes,  Self-portraits,  sunsets

    A Time for Contemplation

    Taking in the Sunset

    It is light that reveals, light that obscures, light that communicates. It is light I “listen” to. The light late in the day has a distinct quality, as it fades toward the darkness of evening. After sunset there is a gentle leaving of the light, the air begins to still, and a quiet descends. I see magic in the quiet light of dusk. I feel quite, yet intense energy in the natural elements of our habitat. A sense of magic prevails. A sense of mystery. It is a time for contemplation, for listening – a time for making photographs. 

    John Sexton

    Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

  • Self-portraits

    Dreamer

    Dreamer

    “One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon- instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our window today.” – Dale Carnegie

    Many of our dreams, and those we’ve yet to see, take us to some other place and time. We are no longer present except in body. But just dreaming about them will not give them birth. It is our responsibility to take action and make them reality. Whatever fearful steps we take will reveal the roses.

  • Self-portraits

    Need a Haircut

    Peaceful

    “Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it. ”
    ― M. Scott Peck

    There are times I find tension building up in my shoulders and the back of my neck. I think they call it “being up tight.” Major warning signs that something is amiss in my life. When I notice the tension one of the first things I do is focus on my breathing. I then look to see what’s going on within me. Am I not dealing with people and situations in a healthy way? What am I avoiding? Am I not getting enough sleep? Am I faltering in my routines: quiet, solitude, eating and exercise, meditation and prayer? Then I realize I’ve not taken any photographs for the past two days. Duh! Setup the tripod and press the shutter until symptoms go away. That’ll take care of the tension.