Enjoy Nature

I heard on TV this morning that looking at trees and flowers increases mental clarity, even if it's just looking at them in pictures.  So, next time you're having a spell of brain fog, just get outside and enjoy nature's bounty or, at least, look at a beautiful picture of nature.  It'll increase your thinking ability and productivity.  I also heard that spending a few minutes on sites such as Facebook can increase your ability to focus when you return to work.  Of course, they added that you should remember to return to work after just a few minutes.  Otherwise, you may have trouble with your employer.  Or, if you're self-employed, like me, you may not get anything done.

I hope you have a wonderful and productive day.  Don't forget to spend some time enjoying nature.  You'll be glad you did.

A Better World

Have you improved someone's day today?  Have you made someone's life a little brighter? Have you made someone feel important?  Think how much better the world would be if each of us tried to do that each day.  You may be thinking "I don't have time." or "I don't know what to do."  Well, if you think about it, you probably have a friend or family member who would appreciate it if you spent 5 minutes talking to them on the phone or stopped by for a short visit.  Or perhaps the checker at the grocery store would feel better if you just smiled at her.  If someone is having a bad day, something as simple as a smile or a kind word can make them feel like there is hope, that life isn't so bad, after all.   Often the simplest things can make someone feel better & turn their day around.  So, join me in trying to make at least one person feel better each day.  And, while we're at it, let's not forget that those closest to us need those positive vibes each day too.  For now,  I hope these flowers improve your day.  :-)

Good vs Evil

A Native American was talking to his grandson about how he felt.

He said:
"I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart.
One wolf is the vengeful, angry, violent one.
The other wolf is the loving, compassionate one."

The grandson asked him,
"Which wolf will win the fight in your heart?"

The grandfather answered,
"The one I feed."

Native American parable

We all have internal struggles.  Whether the good or the bad wins out, depends on which one we focus on and which one we "feed".

Happiness

"Look at the trees, look at the birds, look at the clouds, look at the stars . . . . and if you have eyes you will be able to see that the whole existence is joyful. Everything is simply happy. Trees are happy for no reason; they are not going to become prime ministers or presidents and they are not going to become rich and they will never have any bank balance. Look at the flowers - happy for no reason. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are." Osho (1931-1990) India,USA

It's too bad that we can't just be happy for no reason. Why can't we? Do we just make things more complicated than they need to be? Do we constantly strive to have more, to do more or to be more? Do we complicate our lives unnecessarily and, as a result, cause unhappiness and dissatisfaction? Perhaps we need to examine our lives and determine if we're causing ourselves unnecessary unhappiness and stress. If we are, maybe we need to work on being a little more like the flowers, the birds and the trees, and be satisfied with what we have. Does that mean we shouldn't strive to do better and shouldn't have goals? No, it just means that we need to determine what's important to us and do the things that will help us achieve those goals instead of stressing about those things that aren't important.

Rings & Flowers

Wedding rings and flowers. They just seem to go together, like the bride and the groom. I shot a wedding last week-end and thought the rings looked nice amid the bridal bouquet. Hope you enjoy the colors.

Simplicity

Sometimes the simple things make the best photographs. As you go through life, take time to enjoy them.

Simple things bring beauty to our world.

No Limits

Your limits are defined by the agreement you've made about what's possible. Change that agreement and you can dissolve all limits. By: Dr. Wayne Dyer

This is a photo I've had for several months, but hadn't messed with until a few days ago. I downloaded a trial version of Snap Art and applied the oil painting option. I thought it gave the picture an interesting texture. You'll probably need to click on the picture to see the details. What do you think!