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Subtle Beauty

November’s Subtle Beauty

Quote of the day: “Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.” ― Anne Frank We have been blessed with a very mild stretch of weather for Minnesota in mid-November, emphasizing the subtle beauty of late fall. Today I went to French Regional Park to walk by the lake. I found amazing color and beauty everywhere I looked, even though I typically think of November as a dreary, gray month. I see color and beauty more since I’ve taken up photography. It also helped that the sun was out and the day bright. On my walk today, I was Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Gratitude for the Dance of Life

Quote of the day: “There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.” ― Martha Graham Last week I purchased an upgrade to Adobe Lightroom 4 after reading several reviews about how good the improvements to it were. This week it arrived and I have been in picture editing heaven! I love it when something exceeds my expectations and the Lightroom 4 Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Crossing Thresholds – Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

Quote of the day:“Never have I found the limits of the photographic potential. Every horizon, upon being reached, reveals another beckoning in the distance. Always, I am on the threshold.” —  W. Eugene Smith If you are learning, growing, and changing, you are always crossing thresholds into something new. That something can be as momentous as a new job or role (like becoming a husband or wife or parent or grandparent). Or it can be as mundane as taking a new route to work. You grow through building your skills, connecting with others, and challenging your bodies and brains.  Through mastering Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Embracing Vulnerability

Quote of the day: “When things are shaky and nothing is working, we might realize that we are on the verge of something. We might realize that this is a very vulnerable and tender place, and that tenderness can go either way. We can shut down and feel resentful or we can touch in on that throbbing quality.” ― Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart: Heartfelt Advice for Hard Times For the past two weeks, I’ve felt a rising tide of angst, a sense of things falling apart. Shadows of doubt surrounded my photography, my business, and my planned walk-about in Hawaii this Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

November Gratitude and Bliss

Quote of the day: “Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life This week I have gratitude for so much. Even as I looked forward with trepidation to the results of the elections, I remembered to be grateful for the privilege of voting. Here in Minnesota, we voted on two amendments that I strongly opposed. One was the “Marriage Amendment” which would have limited the definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman. The other was a voter ID requirement. Both Read more…

By Marilyn, ago