January 2011

“When I’m ready to make a photograph, I think I quite obviously see in my minds eye something that is not literally there in the true meaning of the word. I’m interested in something which is built up from within, rather than just extracted from without.” Ansel Adams

Even when I don’t mean for it to, what I see in my minds eye, how I am perceiving the world around me in that specific moment, shows up in the images that I take.

The darkness within doesn’t necessarily mean something bad.

Sometimes it is simply time for me to look inside myself for a bit….

P.S. A special shout out to all my friends who are participating in day 11 of the V7N 30 Day Blog Challenge. I know you can do it!

No matter how easy going we are, most of us need to blow off a little steam now and then. Perhaps we are a bit frustrated with a project, or maybe we are just overtired and feel the overwhelming urge to throw something because we just can’t get it to work.

Okay, so I admit it. I have a few keyboards around that may or may not be in several pieces from unceremoniously tossing them. (smirk)

Afterwards though, I always end up feeling a bit disappointed in myself because it means I lost my temper. If only for a moment, I was not in control of my emotions.

Why didn’t I walk away from it before it reached that point of no return?

As always, I am a work in progress.

I say that because I am currently typing on a keyboard that is…

ummmmm…

kinda missing a foot so it’s a bit, shall we say, crooked right now?

So after spouting off for a bit to a friend that knows just to grin and tease it out of me, I remembered how important it is to know how I respond to certain things, and to use techniques that help me get past those moments.

Why?

Because life is just way too short to fuss over the little stuff.

So here I am, at 10:30 at night reminding myself of a few things.

Never miss enjoying the sunset. Walk outside and live in that moment.

Take time to walk every single day just for fun, not for training.

Stop for a moment and hold one of my cats. Listen to their purr.

And never let a day pass without bringing a smile to someone’s face.

So I wonder if they sell disposable keyboards? 🙂

P.S. A special shout out to all my friends who are participating in day nine of the V7N 30 Day Blog Challenge. I know you can do it!

Although I don’t have a clue why, I am addicted to quotes. My top 10 list of favorite quotes is constantly changing, perhaps because our lives are continuously evolving. These are ones that I am especially partial to right now, in this moment…

When you have come to the edge of all light that you know and are about to drop off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: there will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught how to fly.” Patrick Overton

You made Mrs. March feel like she could see again. You made Ford believe he was part of something. You give out hope like it was candy in your pocket.” The Postman

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” Anais Nin

Learning how to be still, to really be still and let life happen – that stillness becomes a radiance.” Morgan Freeman

I have a “carpe diem” mug and, truthfully, at six in the morning the words do not make me want to seize the day. They make me want to slap a dead poet.” Joanne Sherman

For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, ‘It might have been’.” John Greenleaf Whittie

Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Abraham Lincoln

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain

When the world says, “Give up” Hope whispers, “Give it one more try.” Carolyn Agrimis

You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.” Henry David Thoreau

I would love to hear your favorite quotes, ones that touch something inside of you…

P.S. A special shout out to all my friends who are participating in day eight of the V7N 30 Day Blog Challenge. I know you can do it!

Remember when we were young and spent HOURS riding bikes and never got tired? Why is it that now we call it exercise and dread it as if we were fixin’ to have a root canal?

Why is it that people only discuss food when I am starving to death?

Is there really an “off” button on a computer? Have you ever seen it?

Little girls played house and had every possible toy to do it with. Remember your Suzy Bake Oven? Toy vacuum? Toy shopping cart? Do you remember begging your mama to help with the dishes because you were a big girl now? Why do we wish we were doing anything but housework now?

When did we stop watching Saturday morning cartoons?

In our youth, hot summer days found many of us running through the sprinklers and screaming with delight when the water hit us. So why is it we freak out and run from a few rain drops now?

What is it about Sundays that makes me want to curl up on the couch and just vegetate?

Can you remember the last time you got a “real” letter in your mailbox?

Is there any better feeling in the world than that moment after a long hard day when you crawl in the shower, tilt your head back and feel the water running through your hair?

Why do we smile when we see a little frog jumping, but scream when we see a spider?

Is there any better smell than the smell of bread baking in the oven?

How did I get so lucky to have such wonderful friends?

P.S. A special shout out to all my friends who are participating in day seven of the V7N 30 Day Blog Challenge. I know you can do it!