Blog

Here Now

This morning I was considering what a blessing it is to be alive Here, Now in this beautiful place. The greens of summer are delighting me with their vibrant lushness. Everywhere I look, it seems, I see green.  Over the course of the summer the greens will change. Colors may fade or deepen. Leaves will become tattered and torn. But now everything still looks fresh and new. It occurs to me that watching the seasons closely is a way to learn about the seasons of our own lives. Nature teaches us about birth and death and all the stages in Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Soften, Be Simple

In my work as a photographer I sometimes get seduced by wanting my photographs to be liked and to be judged as beautiful and meaningful by others.  But lately I’ve been thinking about how pleasing others is a good way to lose myself. So I tell myself as I begin to work… Soften, Be Simple… Do what you love. See the beauty in ordinary life. Share that beauty with others. That’s all that matters. I realized that I had things in my head not like what I had been taught – not like what I had seen – shapes and Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

New Answers to Old Questions

I’ve spent the past week binge watching the Apple TV series, Ted Lasso. Sometimes I was laughing and crying during a single episode of this amazing comedy series. All in all I simply enjoyed the heck out of this irreverent series so full of heart and soul. I was truly amazed that a series centered around a professional soccer sports team could engage my interest so fully. But it felt like it was full of New Answers to Old Questions about life, love, meaning,  sexual identity, mental health, and more. I had heard about Apple’s Ted Lasso series, though just Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Swan Songs and Other Nature Notes

The trumpeter swan cygnets at Lake Camelot Park hatched yesterday. I went to the park without my camera yesterday (of course, just my luck) thinking that I wanted to walk around the entire lake. When I arrived at the park yesterday I saw a gathering of people on the boardwalk near the swan nest with cameras in hand. And I was able to see the newly hatched cygnets. What a gift! Today I went back to the park after the morning rain ended. And this time I took my camera and long lens plus lens extender. I found the swan Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Befriending Life

I’ve learned a lot about life and its transience in this past year. And as I consider how quickly everything changes I’ve begun thinking a lot about Befriending Life, by simply being grateful, awake, and aware of moments and days of grace and beauty. That includes allowing myself to grieve when I experience the loss of someone or something which is near and dear to me and also extending love and compassion to everyone around me. Everyone experiences loss or trauma of one kind or another. Who knows what is going on inside of the people we meet, even the Read more…

By Marilyn, ago