Coming Back to the Light

by Dotti

It’s happened to all of us, hasn’t it? The dreaded creative drought. That time when you just don’t feel inspired, can’t think of what to create, don’t even want to try.

After several months of just such a drought, the most profound I’ve ever experienced, I’m beginning to climb out of the dark hole. It’s true that there are many valid reasons for why this happened to me but I won’t enumerate them here. Except for my holiday mug series in December, my camera has been mostly idle, my brain in neutral, my search for the light non-existent since last November.

What to do?

The new year came and went. January crawled along. February followed. All this while, my new Project Life album sat on the work table. Empty. There were no sparks to get me started. Even though I can’t stand to fall behind in a project, I was inert. And so it sat. I did, too.

Then finally, a couple of weeks ago, as I lay in bed just before getting up, I had a firm talk with myself. I told myself that if I didn’t pick up the camera and start shooting today, I might never do so again. It didn’t matter if the photos were good, it didn’t matter if the light was stunning, it didn’t matter what I shot. I just had to shoot. I had to point my camera at something and compose a photo and click the shutter button.

So I did. It did help that we were having a wee bit of false spring weather and the yard was bursting with yellow goodness and brave crocus after a very grey, dreary January. Still I felt really rusty. I was rusty! Nevertheless, I pushed the shutter a few times that day. And the next. And most every day after that.

When I uploaded to Lightroom, I rejected a lot of my photos. That’s okay. The whole purpose was just to get back into the habit of doing this again, of re-training my eye to see things, to look for details, to find the wonder in the world around me. It was always there, I was just ignoring it.

A week ago today, on March 13, I finally started assembling my Project Life album for 2017. Because of the late start, I’m doing a new format this year, monthly instead of weekly. January and February were lean (and challenging) months. I saw no reason to emphasize that. I just briefly told the story and moved along. March is still a work in progress but it is lighter, brighter and happier than January and February.

So that’s how life is, friends. It’s not always sweetness and light and happiness. Life happens. It’s not always pretty. There’s no sugar coating it. It is what it is. When this happens, we just have to put on our big girl panties and tough it out.

In other words - just do it.

Word of Intent

by Leigh

Connect

verb

     bring together or into contact so that a real or notional link is established

     join together so as to provide access and communication

     to establish communication between

     to join, link or fasten together; unite or bind

And so it begins....another year....a fresh 365.  For the last few years I have chosen a word of intent rather than setting myself up for failure by setting a resolution.  I use my word to guide my daily photo meditations that I post on Instagram (#loveleeokc_connect2017)  

My words in past years:

2014 BE

2015 FOCUS

2016 SIMPLIFY

I take some time to think about what intention I would like to set for the new year.  Sometimes it comes to me right away while other times it needs to mull around in my brain and on my heart before my intuition kicks me and says...that's it! that's your word!

This is one of the years that I'm going with the first word that came to me.  And that word is connect.

There are so many ways for me to apply it in my life.  I want to connect with others.  I want to connect with my body, mind and spirit. I want to connect with my camera.  I want to connect with nature.

I intend to connect with others by putting down the devices and listening earnestly to what they are saying.  I want to have genuine conversations. I want to invite a friend for coffee to talk about what's on our hearts and minds.  I want to cook a meal together with my children without the distraction of iphone or television.  I want to go to dinner with my husband on a regular basis so we can have real conversation and not just a "hello, how was your day?" in passing.

I intend to connect with my body, mind and spirit through meditation, movement and giving my body whole and natural foods.  

I intend to connect with my camera by continuing my one little word instagrams, taking some online classes, and working to build up my Stocksy port. 

I intend to connect with nature by getting outside everyday and engaging all five senses to keep me grounded.

How about you?  Have you chosen a word for the new year?  I invite you to share your word with us in the comments, on Instagram or on our Facebook page or by posting your photo in our Flickr pool.

Present and Accounted For

by Kelly

'Here.'

That's what I used say in school during role call.  'Here' meant I was present.  In my seat.  I was accounted for.

These days, 'here' is something I say to myself.  'Here' means that I am present in any given moment. On difficult days, I am here.  I acknowledge the darkness and give thanks to the light.

On days when lack of sleep or too much media or a to-do list that won't quit sends my head spinning, I can push the pause button.  I can breathe.  I am here.  I am present.

In happy moments, I can let the joy wash over me.  I can receive the gift.  I can relish in wonder and thanksgiving.

I am so grateful for my camera.  I am so grateful for the gift of photography that anchors me in the present moment. I am so grateful for a community of kindred souls to share it with.

I am here.

Love, Kelly

Both Bitter and Sweet

by Kelly

Over the weekend, I was at the garden center picking up a couple of flats of pansies for my garden.  And on my way to check out, I couldn’t help but notice the bright, red berries of the bittersweet vines they had for sale.  Which of course I had to put in my basket as well.

Thank you in advance for not asking me how much I spent on this bittersweet vine.  And if you live in the northeast, thank you also for not telling me how bittersweet grows wild along the roadside.

At any rate, I was excited to get home to photograph this bunch of bittersweet.  The vermillion berries against the bright, golden seed pods are such a classic fall color combination and the berries themselves are extremely photogenic.  Not to mention the enjoyment factor from having a few minutes to “play” on Sunday.

I got curious about where bittersweet gets its name so I did a bit of research.  Bittersweet, or more specifically Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), is a climbing, perennial, woody vine that grows in northern and eastern parts of North America.  A native to Eastern Asia, it was introduced to the US in the mid-1800’s where it has spread throughout the region. Small green flowers in the spring give way to the distinctive red seeds in the fall which, along with the rest of the plant, are poisonous to humans and other animals.  In addition, Oriental bittersweet is considered an invasive species for the way its aggressive growth smothers and strangles other native, herbaceous plants, shrubs, and/or trees.

It seems to me this aggressive vine is quite aptly named…beauty with a dark side.  I mean isn’t that the basic definition of bittersweet?

I’ve been pondering this for a couple of days.  And because I am a self-described chocoholic, whenever I think of something bittersweet, I instantly think of chocolate…dark chocolate is my favorite.  Less sweet than most, bittersweet chocolate has a complex flavor with a fruity, almost earthy quality.  It is an acquired taste, for sure, but I find it to be a deep, rich, satisfying experience.

Similarly, the older I get, the more I am learning to appreciate the ‘bitter’ and complexities in my own life.  The dark and difficult days living side-by-side with the sweetness of joy and delight.  Because the dark days teach us lessons that we might not otherwise learn.  The difficult days stretch our faith and give us an opportunity to grow in wisdom.  The bitter softens our hearts and moves us to be more empathetic and compassionate.

As we move closer to November, the month traditionally set aside for gratitude, I want to keep this mind…the blessings in my life, both bitter and sweet.

Until next time,

Kelly

Art...The Sacred Transaction

by Kelly

"Art is an act of the soul, not the intellect....a sacred transaction..." ~Julia Cameron

A sacred transaction.  An intimate conversation.  A dialog between the artist and observer.  This is how I have come to think of my photography...my Art.  And this is why I felt so violated when I learned that one of my images had been used without my permission in a creative lifestyle publication.

Yesterday I was able to speak to the editor of the publication.  She was incredible gracious, and I believe, profoundly embarrassed.  She listened to my frustration and exasperation attentively and sincerely apologized for the oversight. In addition, the editor promised to look into the situation to make sure it doesn't happen again.

I truly do not believe that this was intentional act of theft.  But whether image stealing is done with malicious intent of trying to pass off someone else's art as your own, or it's a case of laziness and not wanting to go through the proper channels to get consent, in either case, using a person's image without his/her permission is wrong.  Period.

Recently, another blogger I follow reported that someone had stolen a photo of her beloved dog (who had died back in the fall) from her Instagram account and used it to create an internet meme.  She was rightfully furious and found the account who hijacked her photo.  In her IG post sharing the story, the overwhelming majority of those commenting were voicing their support for her rights and ownership of the photo in question.  But there were a few dissenters....their comments were along the line of, "what's the big deal...it's a silly picture your dog...you put it out there...it's your own fault." And this is what I find to be so troubling...the idea that once you put something out on the internet it is fair game and available for public use.

But I get it....thievery, violation, outrage...it sounds so melodramatic.  And in my case, it's a photo of my coffee cup, some garden blooms, and a couple of old books on my kitchen table.  This is not high-art.  This photo will never grace the wall of prestigious art galleries.  But it's the not the point.  It's my photograph...it's my art.  From inception to execution, I created every facet of this photograph.  And it's profoundly personal.

For example, I doubt if this publication knew or cared that I grew these flowers in my front garden.  That I tended to them for an entire year.  And what a source of pure joy it was to have flowers blooming in February while both of my parents were very ill - my dad just getting released from the hospital after a bout of pneumonia and my mom still battling a wicked virus.  They don't know how these hellebores touched my weary soul and lifted my spirits.  And I doubt if they knew or cared that I have been practicing calligraphy for two years - that the act of creating this simple tag was a quiet moment of real connection for me.  And those books? They were purchased when I was out 'junkin' with mom a couple of years ago on a brighter, happier day.  The wooden spools a gift from my BFF so many years ago - they had belonged to her beloved grandmother.  And sitting there in the sunshine at my kitchen table...one of the sunniest spots in my house during some of my darkest, most anxious days.  

My photo isn't just a random collection of props to me.  This is my life...this is my Art.

For me Art starts with an initial inspiration that I invite into life.  Such as hellebores.  Then based on my interests and passions (in this case a love of gardening, photography, and calligraphy), inspiration will eventually evolve into ideas.  These ideas will get filtered through my world view and life experiences.  And after enough incubation time, an image will start to take shape according to my sensibilities and creative vision.  Finally, new Art is made.... something original and brand new is sent out into the world.

Art comes in - Art comes out.  And in the process, it heals and touches both the Artist and the observer.  This is the sacred transaction.

No doubt, Art means a lot of things to a lot of people.  But I have to come think of true Art as an expression of the soul.  Art is personal - or at least I believe it should be.  And in my case, I create Art from 1) a deep-seated need to find inspiration, joy, and magic in my ordinary life and 2) a profound desire to uplift others by putting beauty, love, and light into a sometimes dark and cruel world.  Again, that's why having someone steal my photograph and publish it without my knowledge and consent feels like a violation.

This is not the first time we've discussed this issue.  I'm specifically thinking of Leigh and a photo of her children being passed around the internet without her consent. And sadly, I'm afraid it won't be the last....whether it's one of us contributing to FOL or you, our kindreds, who continue to make brave, bold, beautiful, personal, inspiring Art.  So just for the record, I am putting this out here into the inter webs one more time...the practice of taking Art without permission is NOT okay.  It's a personal violation.

As I wrap up this post, I would just like to thank all of my friends/artists who offered words of encouragement and support as I navigated this issue.  And that's the real irony here...because I have found that true artists are as kind as they are generous.   Gracious individuals who are happy to share their art with the world...all they ask in return is integrity, honesty, and respect.

I would love to get your feedback about this issue.  Please share with us any issue you've had with image theft and how you were able to fight back and/or move on.

Until next time.

Kelly

P.S.  One last note...although it is stated in our Flickr overview, please remember that by adding your photos to our group you are granting us permission to use your photo in our weekly Focus on You feature.  Thank you to all of you who continue to share your beautiful Art with us.

One Thing, One Time

by Carol

You all know that I have a habit of listening to podcasts. Like  a good book, a good podcast can just take me away into thought. I often listen to them as I fall asleep, or when I am sleepless. I have recently discovered a wonderful one. Dear Sugar Radio is a podcast that resulted from a Portland, Oregon public radio show that features Steve Almond (essayist and short story writer) and Cheryl Strayed ( author of the recent novel Wild, among others.) In it each week they take on letters from readers asking for help with problems, Ann Landers style.  Well, I want to say Ann Landers style - but these two people are so empathetic, well spoken, intelligent and forthcoming, that their advice becomes more like a study of humanity. Each episode I have listened to is better than the previous one, covering all topics. Since they are both writers, they include thoughts beautifully expressed, quotes from literature, life lessons generously shared, and lots of kindness and intention. I'm hooked.

In recent years, I have made progress on diminishing my natural leaning towards worrying. When my daughter recently traveled to Paris right after the attacks, I actually succeeded ( for the most part) in not worrying when she was there. I simply decided that it was out of my control, and not worth putting my energy into. Can I do this all the time now? No, I can't - but I definitely felt like I took a huge step forward. So I was drawn to a recent episode of this podcast where the listener questioned how he could stop dwelling on things. He and those in his life recognized that his habit of dwelling was not good for him, but he didn't know how to stop. 

Steve took the first shot at it, suggesting that the things we dwell on in life are important because they have real meaning for us.  He said "when you see things in your suggestion box over and over again," those are the very things you should be "thinking about, making art about, seeing a therapist about," or simply doing whatever you have to do to discover their meaning in your life. He maintained that children are not the least embarrassed to dwell on things and will ask the same question, read the same book, over and over again until they have mastered an idea. He believes we are socialized ( or I would say "busyed" out of ) such intense consideration.

Cheryl then agreed but added a further  thought. She said while she often seeks the roots of things in order to solve them, she also recognizes that there are times when you must make an effort to just stop being "that you." She suggests that it is impossible to do that completely - and we shouldn't ask that of ourselves. There are certain aspects of our personalities that are really deep parts of us and will always be there. However, if we seek to lessen certain things, we can make changes little by little. The first step is awareness - becoming truly conscious of what you are doing in the moment ( there is that intention that we are always seeking again!) But then she suggests this wonderful idea - "doing one thing different - one time". ..."When you do it one time, it gives you the ability to do it one more time." Allow yourself to consciously enjoy "that one moment when you improved your character...for that is what change is made of." 

So I am proud of myself for putting the worry away that one time. I am sure I will begin to worry about something again soon - old habits die hard , and a predisposition to worry is in my bones, I'm afraid. But it's also true that  I now feel capable of putting it away. The next time I start to worry, I am going to consciously remember that recent experience, and I will intentionally review in my mind the idea that it is out of my hands, and that life will go on no matter what transpires. If the worst happens, I will have to find a way to deal with it - what else can I do? And if it doesn't - then what a waste of time all that worrying would have been! And I will put my energies into thinking about the roots of my predisposition, meditating on it, making art about it  - keeping myself busy with creative thoughts rather than destructive ones - putting myself "in the way of beauty." Worriers among us - want to join me?

" There is a sunrise and a sunset every day, and you can choose to be there for it - you can put yourself in the way of beauty."



(Cheryl Strayed quoting her mother's favorite saying)

Little Victories in the Game of Life

by Kelly

My husband and I went to the University of Oklahoma football game this past weekend.

We've had season tickets for the past several years.  But if to be perfectly honest, my favorite part about going to the games has little to do with the actual game of football.  Rather, it is a toss-up between the flowers....right now the campus is beautifully dotted with mums in shades of crimson and cream (naturally).

And the my other favorite thing about the football games is watching the band.

What can I say - once a band geek, always a band geek.

My husband though...well that's a different story altogether.  Because Tripp loves the game of football and most especially, OU football.

The University of Oklahoma is a proud family legacy for Tripp and he's been going to OU football games as long as he can remember.  Tripp is Sooner born and Sooner bred - I swear the man bleeds crimson and cream - and watching a football game with him is always a learning experience for me.

Now I've watched enough football in my lifetime to understand the basic rules of the game.  But Tripp takes watching a game to a whole new level.  Even before the first kickoff, Tripp is already watching the players as they warm up.  He's looking to see who's injured and/or who hasn't suited up...already he's making mental notes. And then each time the players line up at the line of scrimmage, Tripp is paying keen attention to the formations.  He is analyzing the possible plays and coverage based on the players on the field.  He's looking for mismatches between the offensive and defensive packages.

Like most spectators, once the ball is snapped, I started watching to see where it winds up.  But not Tripp - he's watching the play unfold across the entire field.  He's looking to see if the running backs and receivers are blocking or running their routes. He's watching the defenders to see if they are rushing or hanging back.

I swear it's like he's watching a different game.  

Like I said, I'm no stranger to football, but I've never paid attention to all of the subtle details of the game.  Maybe it's because I've never actually played football or had a son who played football.  Or perhaps - and much more likely - I've never really been all that interested in the ins and outs of football to begin with.  But sitting next to Tripp at football games for all these years, and listening to him explain things to me, it's an entirely new experience.  And I enjoy watching the game through his eyes and learning see things in a new way.

I was thinking about this on the drive home Saturday....how paying attention to subtle details and seeing things differently can have a positive impact on a person's overall enjoyment of an activity. But I don't think this concept applies only to sports - I think it applies to life as well.

As photographers, I think we have a gift when it comes to paying attention.  As we continually hone our visual skills, we become more adept at noticing shapes, and lines, and textures, and patterns.

Through practice, we learn to notice subtle details.  We watch how the light moves through our homes and gardens....we see the sign of things to come.  We anticipate the change of seasons and notice the subtle signs of change often before anyone else does.

But I will go out on a limb here to say that as photographers we're not 'in it to win it'.  There's no scoreboard with winners and losers.  There's no big trophy waiting on us at the end of a winning season.

Instead, what we're gaining from all of this practice and observation is mindfulness.  Peace of mind when life feels overwhelming.  Calmness in the face of a never-ending to-do list.   Perspective on difficult days.

I would suggest that these are the triumphs - large and small - that we celebrate by paying attention and learning to see.  And I believe these simple joys are sweetest victories of all.


Until next time,

Kelly

New Year, New Beginning, New Intentions

by Leigh

Sometimes I dread a new year.  I start thinking about all the things I did wrong the previous year and I assume that I will repeat those same mistakes.  I look back and see patterns in my behavior and wonder how I can change those….or if I will be able to change those.  But then I decided that I needed to change my perspective.  I needed to see the new year in a….well, in a new way.  I've always seen the new year as just a continuation of the old...like a loop in my mind.  I recently read an article from Dr. Wayne Dyer about resolutions in the new year.  And here's what he said, 

"Forget about deciding on the first day of January how you will be conducting your life in September, some nine months later.  Any resolution that involves making decisions about future behaviors is a waste of time.  It also reinforces the self defeating notion of living in the future. For 2015, wouldn't you rather live in the present moment?"

A-ha! light bulb moment for me!  Each day is a fresh new beginning unlike the one prior and unlike the next one.  I have a fresh set of 24 hours in which to live...the only day like this one.  I can make a resolution that I will spend less time on social media this year and I will get myself more organized and I will workout six days a week, etc…But as Dr. Dyer points out we still have to live our lives just like everyone else: one day at a time.  He went on to say that, 

"You can only live minute to minute.  You can certainly use up your present moments thinking about what you'll be doing in the future, but that doesn't change the fact that you can only live in the now.  The important question to ask yourself is: How am I going to live in the present moment this year?"

Instead of spending my days thinking about my patterns in the past, I want to make changes so that I can live life to it's fullest.  RIGHT NOW!  I am going to do this by setting an intention...by choosing a word to guide me daily and that word is focus.   Yesterday my focus was on organization as I packed away Christmas and decluttered the house.  Today my focus is on business as I get back into my work routine at the office.  Tomorrow morning I will let my early morning thoughts dictate my focus for the day.

"Always let the new you make the decision, and then you'll be living in the present moment."

Have you picked your word for this year?

Be Our Guest - Kelly Kardos

It is my pleasure today to introduce our guest blogger, Kelly Kardos. Many of you know Kelly as I do, from Instagram where she comes across not only as a great photographer but a fun person, someone I’d love to meet up with ‘for real’ sometime.

Kelly’s style philosophy begins and ends, “where the little things make up the big picture.” This helps her slow down and pay attention to the little things that might otherwise be overlooked. Whether it’s behind her DSLR or her iPhone, Kelly likes her photos to tell a story, as if we didn’t have a written language. You can find her on Instagram  @kellykardos or on her personal blog.

What's In A Word?

[wurd] n. Simply put; one or more spoken sounds or written representations.

But nowhere in the definition does it mention to empower or enlighten. This is my third year choosing a word. Before that it just felt like making a New Years resolution. I was never good at those either, pretty much failing miserably before February.  I believe fate stepped in three years ago.

Before I chose the word “LIVE”, I questioned, researched and read -- a lot -- to try and understand what exactly it was I was trying to do. What I found was choosing a word is more of a philosophy and that seemed much easier to grasp than a bunch of restrictions I had always placed on myself. Then, unknowingly, I set myself up for failure.

I started by writing random words that seemed inspiring. It was like shopping and, hey -- I was good at that! I opened my heart and read each word one by one. Quietly to myself and awkwardly out loud letting each one dance and swirl on each breath I took. I mulled the words over through out my day. I was in a photography rut:  full of self-doubt, hesitant to try new things and forgetting to have fun -- THAT was a biggie. So my word had to have meaning and purpose.

One word kept leaping off the page at me -- LIVE. It felt good and I was excited. So, LIVE it was. I was going to climb out of that box I had put myself into. I hand stamped my new word onto a washer, attached a band and made a bracelet so every time I looked at it I’d be gently reminded to stay the course.

 But Fate was already intervening.

Soon after, tragedy struck … over and over again, the horrible, gut wrenching, life altering kind of tragedy. I learned what I was made of that year. I lived through more than any one person should ever have to in one lifetime, much less in 365 days. But I lived and fate knew I would need to rise above it all.

Last year my chosen word was “Breathe” -- a no brainer really. I needed to mourn my losses and heal my broken heart and soul. My husband, Frankie, ordered a beautiful necklace with my word and I wore it religiously every day. It was something tangible, touchable and oh, so relevant.

My word for 2015 is “Balance” and it seems to marry "Live"and "Breathe" together hand in hand -- especially coming out of a year of no self imposed demands. I will be practicing time management so I can enjoy the day as it’s meant to be enjoyed and still do what is necessary. Jewelry seemed only appropriate to guide me on my new path and failure is not in this year’s vocabulary. 

“Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away.

                                                                                                                     ~ Barbara de Angelis

Dotti, and all the beauties here at Focusing on Life, thank you for allowing me to share from my heart in this beautiful and sacred space for women to come and just be … in community and spirit.

                                                                                                                                                            Kelly

The Next Step

by Carol

Sacred Heart Church, Galveston, TX

Fall is slowly moving into winter and I'm doing more photography reading than I've done for a while. An article in Lenswork, written by Guy Tal recently caught my attention. The article is about capturing timeless moments with photography. But , if I am understanding him correctly, his point is that in order to capture timeless moments - you need time.  He likens his love affair with the process to an actual love affair. One that begins with "mindless lust," - snapping everything you see - that evolves into a "deeper and more nuanced familiarity and mutual respect." Your appreciation of  subject increases with an "on-going care and attention."

Think of the Ansel Adams quote (my teacher's favorite) that "chance favors the prepared mind." It's why photographic series can be so much more involving than one great shot. While our goal is always for an image to tell a story, a series of images tells a larger portion of the story. I couldn't stop thinking about Kim and her caterpillars, Terri and her desert flowers, as well as Leigh with her horticultural background. Or look at Alexandra de Steiguer's intimate portraits of the Isles of Shoals compared to the images of we who visit for a week in the summer. The more intimately you understand your subject, the better you can portray it. 

Although I have my favorite subjects for sure, I feel like I am stuck at the stage of trying to perfect a particular photo - I hit a roadblock when I try to create a series. I attend monthly photography meetings where people present what they are currently working on. The meetings are instructional, and inspirational. Since beginning to attend these meetings, I have looked at my photographs differently. I certainly see sets of images which could make series. Being more strict with myself about culling, key wording and making collections in Lightroom has made them easier to see. I've learned that after choosing your series images, its best to treat them the same way in terms of processing, giving them a common tonality, and the same presentation as far as sizing, printing and framing. It's helpful to conceive  of an artist's statement - even if you never use it, just to help you define for yourself the story you are telling. For some reason, that is encouraging and intimidating at the same time. I need a Nike ad here to kick me in the pants. I think I just need to jump in and give it a try. 

I welcome any suggestions on these images. Have any of you worked in series format? Do you have any advice? 

A Simple End

by Judy

Simplicity.  Focusing on what is important and releasing the rest.  Like a deep breath - inhaling 'simple' and exhaling 'stress', 'chaos', 'clutter', the 'unnecessary.'

I hope you've enjoyed our theme this month.  We've found that it's not always easy to achieve simplicity, but I truly believe that even in the trying, we gain clarity of mind and purpose. 

As we move into August we continue our intention of simplicity, but in a slightly different way.  We will be joining many in the blogging world for an "August Break." 

We will still be here daily to share a photo, a favorite poem, a moving quote, or a story from our lives.

We're just taking it slower, easier, simpler.  

We do hope you visit us as you enjoy the waning days of the season, and please share photos of your 'August' with us in our flickr group, and on Instagram! 

Finding My Rhythm This Summer

by Kelly

“In summer, the song sings itself.”  ~ William Carlos Williams

Before you say it, I know that technically speaking it’s not officially summer yet.  But here in my neck of the woods, I can tell that we’ve turned the corner so to speak.  The spring winds have died down and in their place the thick, humid summer haze has taken up residence.  I can see it my garden too… we’ve gone from daffodils to daylilies.

Summer is here.   And I absolutely love it.

Except for maybe the holidays, summer is probably the most nostalgic time of year for me.  Memories of camping and going to the lake with my family as a little girl.  Then spending time at the lake when my own daughter was little.  Long summer days that stretched well into dark.  Popsicles dripping down tanned arms.  Mason jars and fireflies.  Watermelon.  Homemade ice cream.  Sun-kissed cheeks and the smell of sunscreen. 

Oh yes how I do so love summer.

These past few summers though… I don’t know.  It seems like that no matter how much wistful optimism I start out with, I wind up at the end of summer feeling exhausted, strung out, and ready for life to get back to ‘normal’….whatever that means.

How does this happen?  How I do change this?  How do I get my rhythm back?  These are the questions I’ve been pondering for the past week. 

I think the key to summer is establishing beforehand what you would like your summer to look like.  Setting an intention if you will.  I’ve seen several things on Pinterest and blogs – summer checklists or manifestos.  Which is great (I would say especially so if you have little ones to keep entertained and/or engaged for summer).  But rather than make yet another to-do list, something that for me somehow always seems to morph into an utterly impossible and in-achievable agenda, I decided instead to take a breath.  A pause.  

Then I asked myself, “Kelly, what do you really want from summer?”

Turns out…it’s quite simple actually. 

I want a summer that is grace-filled.  Joy-full.  I want connection and laughter.  Freedom and adventure.  Whimsy and light.  And while I am so looking forward to some of the fun things my family has planned, I would also like to take a cue from my word for the year – pare – and create some margin and space for the unexpected.  For the impromptu.  For the spontaneous.

Funny thing is, my intention for the summer is really just the same as for the rest of the year.  Which is to be fully present in my own life.  To not be thinking two hours ahead or three tasks ahead.  To see with new eyes and an open heart.  To just be present in each moment whatever that may be...because regardless of the season, that's where the magic lies.

What are you hoping for this summer?

As the World Turns

by Kim

 

 



 

"Time is a sort of river of passing events,

 

and strong is its currents;

 

 

 

no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place,

 

 

and this too will be swept away."

 

- Marcus Aurelius

 



 

As you are reading this, my daughter and I are counting down the mere hours that we have left here in Chicago...we will be getting home late tonight after visiting family and friends for an entire week.

 

Strangely, one of the things I noticed right away when we arrived were all the dandelions in the yards, along the roads, in the fields. Literally just everywhere.

 

And I've been slightly mesmerized by them...

 

Mostly the fluffy white seeds.

 

And as I watched them in my moms yard, somehow they started to make me think about my time here. They started out in a beautiful globe shape (like a full week), and slowly the seeds blew away until there were only a few left (as in hours.)  

 

Living 1200 miles away from your family can give you a different perspective on time. There are no quick shopping trips just because or morning coffee. Or hey, how about lunch tomorrow.

 

Time is precious and just like the dandelion seeds, once it blows away, no matter how hard you try you can't get it back.

 

Several years ago I wrote some thoughts about time that I would like to share with you today:

 

We all start with the same amount,

each morning as the dawn breaks

and it can be a challenge to manage it well.

It is a gift, that some use wiser than others

because we simply take it for granted,

and are seldom thankful enough for it.

And although it unfolds right before our eyes,

it cannot be seen or touched.

But, even though we can't hold it in our hands,

the memories gathered from it can be held in our hearts.

Some always seem pressed for it,

but it requires some patience as it cannot be rushed.

We race against it, we run out of it,

and some try to buy, borrow and even kill it.

But it is a non-renewable resource

worth its weight in gold,

meant to be used in the present

and cannot be sold.

Its only requirement is that we be here now.

That we celebrate and not squander it

and that we not wish it away to spite today.

Because once we waste it,

it can't be turned around.

And make no mistake, it waits for no one.

It will go on without us, guaranteed, time after time.

 

Yes, time, it's that one thing that can't be saved, that must be used.

And as the world turns we get 1440 minutes a day, how are you going to use yours?

 

P.S - Deanna, thank you for sharing some of your time with me, I am grateful!!

 

*Disclaimer: I took these photos here and edited them on my moms computer which is probably not calibrated and have no idea what these really look like. :)