This is my favorite image of the year. I love the soft colors and the grace of the tree reflections in the water. This image makes me feel peaceful
At the end of each year I review the images I made during the year and pick my favorite 12 photographs. Despite the fact that I made fewer images this year than usual, I still had a hard time picking my favorites. In the end I chose images that made me feel something. They weren’t always technically sharp. Some were experimental abstract images. Others were simple nature photos taken through the windows of my house. But they all brought me a good feelings like peace, joy, acceptance, or gratitude.
I think it’s a helpful practice to review the past year, give thanks for all of your blessings, and notice what was difficult or easy during the year. You won’t find me making New Year’s resolutions. But you will find me thinking about what word I’d like to focus on during the coming year.
For 2020 my word is actually a phrase —
Be Here Now
While I’m hoping that I will be able to spend more time hiking in the woods during 2020 and doing a little traveling, one never knows what life has in store for us. I try to embrace whatever is happening. The phrase “Be here now,” is especially meaningful to me right now because one of the writers I have admired, Ram Dass, recently died. One of his books is titled Be Here Now.
“Early in the journey you wonder how long the journey will take and whether you will make it in this lifetime. Later you will see that where you are going is HERE and you will arrive NOW…so you stop asking.”
― Be Here Now
We spent New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day mostly resting and still recovering from a flu-like bug (not sure if it was influenza or not but whatever it is it’s wicked). Fortunately as Jon sunk into being ill I am slowly recovering, still coughing and blowing my nose but no longer running a fever or feeling like I’ve just been run over by a semi truck. I went to the grocery store today to pick up some needed supplies but otherwise I’ve been reading and mostly taking it easy.
This was not what we planned to be doing this week. Like everyone else, we always hope NOT to get sick and to be able to make plans and keep them. We had hoped to spend time with our grandkids while they were on vacation, playing games and making art projects.
Illness, when it comes, obliterates plans. Moment to moment I realize that I am not in control of my life. All I can do is to Be Here Now, responding to whatever life brings me.
How about you? What’s your aspiration for 2020?
May you walk in beauty.
Here are the rest of my 12 favorite photos of 2019
A composite image of amaryllis flowers in various stages of blooming makes me feel happy.
Simple joy in this vase of pink tulips
This abstract tree image was my attempt to express how I love the electric greens of early spring.
Simply being here now — saw the robin outside the window and later saw the worms in it’s beak. Made me smile.
Whenever I see birds soaring overhead my heart soars with them. Simple uplifting joy!
This white iris in it’s elegant simplicity brings me a feeling of peace and stillness
Dahlia petals dancing makes me feel full of bubbly joy.
Long and winding path in my beloved north woods, the place my soul feels is home.
Kayaking on Medicine Lake at sunset brings me a sense of peace
A wild altar in the north woods reminds me of the cycles of life
Tree across the street from my house at sunrise fills me with it’s beauty.
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