It's Your Life - Live It!

I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.  I don't know who wrote this, but I saw it on Facebook today and thought it was worth sharing.

Are you living the life you want?   Are you proud of what you're doing?  Do you wish things were different?  Do you think you can do a better job?   Only you are in control of those things.  Only you can change your life and make it want YOU want.  If you're not living a life you're proud of, only you can make a difference.   If you're not happy with the way things are, why not start making changes today that will give you the life you were meant to live?  Until you do, nothing will change.  So, if you need to make changes, start making them today.  Live the life you want.  Don't settle for anything less! 

I wish these things for you and hope you have a wonderful day.

The Ocean

"The Ocean: A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man -  who has no gills."
Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914), USA

Interesting!

Meditation

"An ancient master said.
The mountains, the rivers, the whole earth,
the entire array of phenomena are all oneself.
If you can absorb the essence of this message,
there are no activities outside of meditation:
you dress in meditation & eat in meditation;
you walk, stand, sit and lie down in meditation;
you preserve and think in meditation;
you experience joy, anger, sadness,
and happiness in meditation."
Muso (1275-1351, (Japen)

This goes way beyond what I think of as meditation but, perhaps, if we're in-tune with ourselves, we are always meditating to some extent.  I don't know.  What do you think?

The Sandhills of Yellowstone

Sometimes something as simple as a sandhill crane sitting on a nest in the middle of a pond can convey a sense of peace and joy.   Although we'd seen sandhills in Yellowstone before, I enjoyed watching this pair more than the others.  Perhaps it was because they were in such a beautiful setting,  because they were so interesting or because they looked so peaceful.  The female remained on the nest while the male dug in the shallow pond to get more debris for the nest.  He then flew over to the side of the pond to look for food for his mate.   Based on what we'd seen in other nests, it was too early for their eggs to have hatched, due to the extreme cold weather in Yellowstone this spring, but soon there will be little sandhill cranes running through the grass.  I wish we were going to be there to see them, but we had to return home to our normal lives.  Oh well, it was fun while it lasted and I guess all good things must come to an end.  Visit http://carolynfox.photoshelter.com/ to see more new pictures.

I hope you enjoy the sandhills and have a wonderful day.

Yellowstone Traffic Jam

Yes, they even have traffic jams in Yellowstone.  They're usually caused by bison who think they have a right to walk down the middle of the street.  Since we're invading their space, I think they're probably right & that we just have to wait until they decide to move.  It does slow things down, though, because you really don't want to pass them.  They can be onery and are apt to ram your vehicle if you get too close. 

If you want to see Yellowstone up close and personal, join one of my workshops this year.  We'll have a great time.  Send me a message if you're interested.  :-)

Glacier Reflections

I recently licensed this photo from a RM site that I submit to.  Wish I knew what publication it was going to be in, but I guess that's the life of a stock photographer.  LOL!  By the way, if you see this picture somewhere, please let me know.  I'd love to know wherre it's going to be used.  In the meantime, though, I'll just enjoy the check.  LOL!

What is life?

"What is life? It is the flash of the firefly in the night. It is the breath of the buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow that runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset." Chief Crowfoot (1830-1890) his last words, Canada

Bison often stand next to hot pools in Yellowstone to warm themselves. Using a long lens allows photographers to get good images without endangering themselves or the animals. Unfortunately, people are injured every year because they ignore the guidelines regarding maintaining appropriate distances from the wildlife. Bison may look like they're slow and sluggish, but they can move very quickly when they want to. Always remember that they're wild animals & animals are unpredictable. They can be quiet and calm one minute and denting the side of your truck the next minute. Enjoy the wildlife when you visit Yellowstone, or any wildlife area, but be safe.

Being Together

"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Staying together is success." Henry Ford

Being together isn't always easy. There are compromises to be made and you don't always get your way. It may seem like you're always giving instead of getting, but perhaps that's just your perception of the situation. The other person may feel the same way. The rewards of staying together may sometimes seem elusive, but if you work at it, they can also be oh so sweet.

Live Every Minute

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." Mahatma Gandhi

My mom didn't live as if she was going to die the next day, but she certainly learned as if she was going to live forever. She was constantly reading, listening to informational shows on the radio, watching documentaries on TV, etc. She started emailing when she was close to 80 and was still making greeting cards, on the computer, for friends who needed a cheerful note, when she was 83 years old. She wasn't content to just sit and watch the world go by. She was constantly absorbing knowledge and sharing that knowledge with others. And, most importantly, she didn't merely exist for the 84 years that she was on this earth. She lived every minute of it.

Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously!

"I am writing my life to laugh at myself, and I am succeeding." Giacomo Casanova

How can we take ourselves too seriously, when we all started out wandering around like this cute little boy with the sandy drawers? Yes, life can get difficult and stressful. But, if we take ourselves too seriously, and can't laugh at ourselves, it has a tremendous influence on our attitude and, therefore, on our capability to handle the situations that confront us. So, when you start to feel like life is dragging you down, and you're spending too much time with a frown on your face, just think about this little guy with the sandy drawers and maybe it'll put a smile on your face. It's ok to take your job seriously, and do the best job you can, but don't take yourself too seriously. Life is short. Enjoy it.

Human History

"The course of human history is determined, not by what happens in the skies, but by what takes place in our hearts." Sir Arthur Keith

As we remember the events of Sept. 11th, once again, lets think about this quote & what it means to us. Our history is filled with good events and very sad ones. All we can do is remember lost loved ones & use memories of the good times to carry us forward. I hope you have a nice day.