The End of the Rainbow (and How It Led Me to Treasure)

(Or Why I DO This - Part II)

by Carol

In the doldrums  #white

These white-themed pictures represent the last of our August break postings. Tomorrow is September first, and FOL is back to our usual posting schedule. I am so happy to be here since this August taught me a few lessons.

Back in March, Judy asked herself a question - "Why do I do this?"  You can read her very thoughtful rumination on that subject right here.   In the past years, I have rarely asked myself that question. Maybe because I live alone, I have no one to complain to, or more quiet evenings to ponder things - who knows? But I have to admit that during this August break, my habits really changed.

I have to admit to feeling a bit "fenced in" #white

I read books without underlining quotes that might illustrate an idea. I listened to TED Talks lightly - not straining to remember the deeper thoughts more than enough to have a casual conversation that night with someone. I stopped making room in my life to write. I had a few fruitful get togethers with my photography friends and played with the resulting images long after, but I stopped photographing every day. I read photography blogs and articles with the only thought being - "hmmm, I will have to try that someday." 

My loafing attitude started to spread. I haven't exercised all summer - not even doing the laps of the pool that I look forward to all winter. I stopped working on my 'works in progress' -  ( still haven't finished the book I wanted to make of my trip to France last year.) At the same time, my original local photography group underwent some changes. One of the girls living close by moved a little further away and became a little more limited in her time (although certainly still willing and enthusiastic), and the one girl who was our planner - that would be the one who sent the emails that made our get-togethers actually happen - retired and moved far away. And I have been just plain lazy!

Having a bit of "the vapors." #white

I can't blame the heat - because most certainly, my FOL sisters in the midwest and west have me well beaten in that category! I was very busy at work this summer - but so are many of my creative friends. My son is home again for a bit and we have all kinds of wonderful and precious conversations, so I do have a bit less quiet time - but I love every minute with him. It might be that I haven't been on vacation yet - my vacations are coming up in October and November this year. But these are the doldrums for sure.

Then two weeks or so ago, things started to pop again. One of my local photography friends stepped up and invited a few people to join us for a get together filled with laughs and sharing, and followed immediately up with future calendar dates to note NOW, before we all fill up our time with other things. I spotted some good airfares and made my reservations for our FOL retreat in November, and started to get so excited to see my FOL sisters again! Mail started arriving about the workshop I will be doing with Kim Manley Ort in October, and it really sounds fascinating! (There's still room in the class  - won't you join us? All of the information is  here in Kim's newsletter. ) I will be attending that class with another local friend with an art background, and we started last week playing with our art supplies together.

Something is beginning to hatch! #white

Suddenly - I am awake again and I am feeling the same vibe from the others here. I guess it was just summer vacation after all. But for me, it has really highlighted the fact that you must carefully feed and water your creative garden with people and experiences and practice. Just as I have started walking again after work, I have started back into my photography projects. As Judy said in her conclusion, "My twice a month posting schedule keeps me thinking the rest of the month..." and my time with other creatives keeps me wanting to improve my skills. Judy said "I truly feel that my time here is an invaluable tool in my personal creative journey." I couldn't agree more! 

SO HERE WE GO FRIENDS....

OFF TO THE RACES

HERE'S TO ANOTHER WONDERFUL YEAR HERE AT FOL!

WE ARE SO VERY GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US!

WE'RE BACK!

Here's to another year together at FOL!

Speak Easy

by Leigh

I'm so glad Susan has chosen "Word Art" as our theme for this month although words have never come easily for me.  Well…that's not exactly true.  Sometimes words came too easy…..actually too quickly….as in not thinking before I speak!  The true, authentic words are hard for me. At the beginning of the year,  I chose mindfulness as my word to focus on in 2014.  I wanted to be more mindful of how I speak to others, how I speak to myself (you know…that nagging inner voice that tells you that you're never good enough) and I wanted to be more mindful of what was around me in that present moment which means more listening and less interrupting.  It hasn't been an easy journey and it's not one that will ever come to completion, but I can feel a difference.  I notice myself really listening to what people have to say instead of being so quick to get my words in that I often interrupted people.  In turn conversations are more meaningful and my words are chosen more carefully and with more thought.  Thinking back I realize that I took words for granted.  I was so quick to spit them out that I was just grabbing what was floating on the surface.  When I dove in deep the words became more special and held more weight.  Does that even make sense?  I am inspired by my fellow FOL contributors whose words flow naturally.  I'm starting to feel like I can get there if I stay on this path of mindfulness.

A friend commented on one of my photos,

"Perfection.  Woman, you have a tremendous gift pairing images and words.  Truly."

Was she really speaking about me?  a gift with words?  Then it dawned on me.  It's not only the words you speak, but the words you choose! The only time words have come easy to me is when shooting my daily instagram photo.  Most of the time the words….or the idea of what I want to say is in my head before I even click the shutter.  It feels good to hear that the words I choose to accompany my images make people feel something.  I can't always come up with the most poetic of words myself, but I always know how an image makes me feel.  There is a strong visual and emotional connection and I search out the right words to express that.  Sometimes I need a quote….other times just a few words will suffice.  It's a balance of knowing what to say, how much to say, and when and how to say it.  I know I'll get there….I've just gotta keep on searching out those words.