Look and Listen

Are you looking at the world or just seeing it?  Do you really listen to music or just hear it?

Does this sound crazy?  If so, just think about it for a minute, because it makes sense.  When you walk around, your eyes are open, so you're naturally going to SEE things, but are you really looking?  Assumming your ears work, you are going to hear sounds, but are you really listening?   Are you looking at the details of a flower or noticing how the light brings out the brilliant colors of a simple object?  Are you noticing the variety of colors in a sunset or the reflections in a puddle of water?   If  not, you're missing the joy and the  wonder of the world around you.

When you hear music, are you listening to the beat or to the sounds of the different musical instruments?  Do you hear the nuances of the musical score or notice the compleities of the chords or do you merely HEAR the music?  If you truly listen, you'll notice these things and the music will be more enjoyable and more meaningful to you.

Just for today, try really looking at your world and really listening to the music you hear and to the sounds of nature.  You'll probably be surprised at how much more you enjoy your day.

New Opportunities

Every day brings us a new opportunity to start over.  Yesterday is gone and you can't change it.  You can, however, make changes in your life today that will improve your life in the future.  So, take a few minutes to evaluate how your life is going, determine what changes you need to make to improve it and start making those changes today. Life is too short to procrastinate about doing the important things.  Once a day is gone, it's gone and you can't get it back.  Make each day be your best day and start now.

This picture was taken at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park a few years ago.  Every time we go there it looks different.  It's effected by many things, such as the weather, how dry the air is, how well the hot springs are working, the passage ot time, etc.  What things are effecting your life?  What things are making you change?  Are you changing for the better or sliding backwards?  What changes do you need to make to ensure that your life is going in the right direction?   This natural wonder has no control over what happens to it, but you do.  Each day when you get up, remember that this is the first day of the rest of your life and that what you do, and how you think, does have an impact on the rest of your life.  So, put a smile on your face and have a wonderful and productive day.

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.

At The Water Hole

"We return to old water holes for more than water, we return because friends and dreams are there to meet us."  An old African saying

Isn't it true that we return to places where friends and family members are there to greet us and to nourish our souls?   We need those connections in our lives, those ties that bind us to the past and give us strength to face the future. 

Now for a photo tip.  I used a Topaz plug-in to get the painterly look in this photo.  If you've never tried these plug-ins, they're a lot of fun and fairly inexpensive.  Just go to topaz.com and try the plug-ins free for 30 days.  If you like them, you can buy them after that.  If not, at least you'll have fun playing with them for awhile.

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.  :-)

I Am

"I am the dust of the sunlight, I am the ball of the sun.
I am the mist of morning, the breath of evening.
I am the spark in the stone, the gleam of gold in the metal.
The rose and the nightingale drunk with its fragrance.
I am the chain of being, the circle of the spheres,
The scale of creation, the rise and the fall.
I am what is and what is not . . . .
I am the soul in all.
Jalil al-Din Rumi (1207-1273), Persia

Courage

"Whatever you do, you need courage.
Whatever course you decide upon,
there is always someone to tell you
that you are wrong.
There are always difficulties arising
that tempt you to believe that your
critics are right.
To map out a course of action and follow
it to the end requires some of the same
courage that a soldier needs.
Peace has its victories, but it takes brave
men and women to win them."
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), USA

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".

Superior or Inferior?

"The fact that man knows right from wrong proves his intellectual superiority to the other creatures; but the fact that he can do wrong proves his moral inferiority to any creatures that cannot." Mark Twain (1835-1910), USA

Is man superior to other animals?  Does the fact that he can make decisions and then still do wrong make him inferior?   Mark Twain was always good about giving us things to think about.  What's your opinion?

The Art of Photography

"I want to expose people to nature and wilderness and wildlife, and make a difference, but also do it in a way that has all the elements of what we consider traditional art: the creativity, the composition, the light, design, texture, whatever it might be, and the moment."  Conor Risch
I found this quote in PDN Magazine yesterday and thought it was worth sharing.  All of the things Conor mentions are important to good photography.  You can take pictures of a scene, but without the proper lighting it's not going to be as dramatic as it would be otherwise.  The same thing applies to "capturing the moment" when you're photographing wildlife or people.  You can take wonderful pictures, but if your subject is not doing something interesting, it's just not going to have the impact that you want. So, be patient, wait for the right light, compose creatively and capture the moment.

Have a great day and Happy Shooting!

The Simple Beauty of Nature

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God.  Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simply beauty of nature."  Anne Frank (1929-1945), Netherlands.

If you ever feel like things are too crazy and that your life is spinning out of control, find a beautiful spot outside where you can relax and commune with nature.  It will help to put things back into perspective and rejuvenate your soul.

I wish you a day filled with beauty, love and inspiration.

To alter or not to alter - That is the question

Colors can look quite different depending on the light and the time of the day we visit an area.  Sometimes, however, we can't be at a spot at the ideal time.  So, what do we do?   Do we just leave the picture the way it was taken or do we change it?   I guess purists would say that we should leave it the way it was taken, that we shouldn't mess with nature.   Although there is some validity in that point of view, I like to keep the original version and then see what I can do with the colors in PhotoShop.  The bottom version shows what the scene looked like, with a little lightening & a little color correction for too much blue.  The top version was modified to show how the colors would have looked if I'd taken the picture earlier in the day.  I like this one best because the colors are more like what I think of when I envision "fall colors".  Which do you prefer?

Sunrise Over Nebraska Sandhills

This was my favorite morning while we were in Nebraska.  The sky was absolutely beautiful as the sun came up.  It provided a nice background for the sandhill cranes that were hanging out on the sandbars before flying to the cornfields for a day of eating.  Unfortunately, the wind was blowing the other way and, between that and the noisy Canadian geese and snow geese down river, we couldn't hear them talking.  On the previous day, however, we had been in a blind and heard them talking quite well.  They're very noisy, but we enjoyed it.  Have a great week-end.  If you enjoy this blog, please leave a comment once in awhile, so I'll know that someone actually reads it.  Thanks!

Tomorrow is not Promised

One day a woman's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning,
in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning
that sometimes there isn't "anymore".

No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together,
no more phone calls just to chat, no more "just one minute."

Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away,
never to return before we can say good-bye, say "I love you."

So while we have it, it's best we love it, care for it, fix it when it's broken and
heal it when it's sick.

This is true for marriage..... and children with bad report cards, aging parents
and grandparents, dogs with bad hips, and old cars.
We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away
or a sister-in-law after divorce.
There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what.

Life is important, like people we know who are special.
And so, we keep them close!

Suppose one morning you never wake up, do all your friends know you love them?

Let every one of your friends and family members know you love them.
Even if you think they don't love you back.

Live today, because tomorrow is not promised.

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.  :-)

Light

"Light is not so much something that reveals, as it is itself, a revelation." James Turrell (b.1943), USA

Meditation

"Meditation is a time of quiet when the mind is free from its attachment to the hysterical ravings of a world gone mad.  It is a silence in which the spirit of God can enter us and work His divine alchemy upon us."  Marianne Williamson

Enjoy Nature

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, alone or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God.  Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature."  Anne Frank (1929-1945)  Netherlands

Little Flower

"They tell us that plants are not like man immortal, but are perishable, soul-less. I think that is something that we know absolutely nothing about." John Muir (1838-1914) Scotland/USA


What do you think? Are plants soul-less? Are they just put on this earth to give us nourishment or enjoyment for a brief period of time and then are gone? What happens to them after they dry up and become part of the soil? Are they just gone or do they live on in the substance that they become a part of? How do we know what happens to anything, human, animal or plant after it's served it's purpose here? Faith and religion guide us in some regards, but perhaps not in others. I think John Muir's quote is probably correct. There are just some things that we know nothing about.

Sunset on Kauai

"With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thurnderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Alligiance?" Jay Leno

Well said, Jay! If you don't want to say the word God, then don't say it, but don't expect it to be removed simply because you don't believe in God or don't want it there. It's not abusing your rights by leaving it in, but it is abusing ours by being forced to remove it. If you don't like it, just do what the kids do these days, and put your hands over your ears and say, blah, blah, blah.