It's Enough

September 15, 2024

Starting today with this amazing sunrise from September 4, 2024:

This weekend I’m feeling overwhelmed with all the things on the list. I’ve been getting further and further behind on working through the photos and videos I’ve taken. I’ve been getting further and further behind on personal and home projects. I haven’t been doing as much movement and stillness practice as I know my body, mind and spirit need. My mind needs a rest.

When the universe knows I need a rest, it gives me a sunrise like this one on September 12, 2024.

After wrestling with all the things I should do, I leaned into my self-compassion practice. I thought about my self-compassion sisters, the women I’ve been meeting with weekly for two years. I knew they’d encourage me to choose what’s kind to myself and celebrate letting go and not-doing in favor of rest.

Squirrel was taking a moment to rest in the light of the rising sun. Lots of acorns now mean the squirrels are also busy.

I decided that not trying to write a story was an act of kindness to myself. I decided the photos and videos could tell their own story without much assistance from me. I decided I could watch the Solheim Cup while I processed photos and videos instead of thinking about what I was going to write.

Kingfishers always seem like they have a story to tell as they rattle past me in the morning. I’m glad they are noisy, it makes it easier to see them! You an hear why I use “rattle” to describe them here.

I decided to finally cut up the small watermelon that’s been on top of my fridge for a week and simply enjoy its sweetness. I decided that no one would die if I spent a little more time in my hammock watching the hummingbirds chase each other, letting my mind rest. After all, the hummingbirds will be gone very soon.

Close encounters of the ruby-throated kind.

I decided that even when it looks like I have it all together, like I’m breezily managing a full-time job and a photography/writing side job along with all the other things that come with managing a home and a life as a single woman, it’s ok if it’s not always true.

Some days I look a lot like this - just a little ruffled! (ruby-throated hummingbird)

I remembered that no one knows how I almost missed Tuesday’s post entirely, remembering it as I was climbing in bed on Monday night and getting up early Tuesday morning to do it before sunrise. I remembered that the people who love me continue to love me whether I deliver an essay every week or not.

I don’t know what kind of moth this is and the apps are giving me different IDs, but I felt like her, working so hard so early in the morning and hanging on for a moment to rest.

And so friends, this is all the words I’ve got for you today - and I know it’s enough, especially because the photos can tell their own story from here:

This moth was working the bottom of the leaves with intensity, my guess was laying eggs. Look at those feathers for antennae and the puffs on her legs!

Watching young turkey vultures is so funny - this one is still working on his landings.

The youngsters don’t have a good idea of personal space, or maybe they don’t know how big they are. This one didn’t allow enough space for his landing.

“Dude, watch the wingspan!”

One day I had quite a “discussion” going on at the feeder between a young male and what I think is a female. She was really not into his shenanigans, but he was fiercely persistent!

She sure thought there was room for two.

Maybe on this side?

She seemed to be trying to gauge just how much bite was behind his bark.

This was as close as she got though, no nectar for her in this moment. (My neighbors have feeders not far away though, I’d guess she got some nectar somewhere!)

Just a few egrets hanging around and they still haven’t come very close. Still time for them I hope!

There have been two red-shouldered hawks and two Cooper’s hawks hanging around. This is the time for raptor migration as well, though the hawks prefer a bit later in the day when the thermals get going.

I want to give a shoutout this week to my friend Jefferson Graham of PhotowalksTV. He’s truly an export in phone photography (iPhone or Galaxy) and he has a new iPhone photography course. I’ve signed up as I’d like to do more with the camera in my pocket, especially for sunrise and video. He’s been answering my questions about upgrading my phone all week, which I deeply appreciate!

We’ve finally reached the time of year when I can see the sunsets again before bed! I use my phone for almost all sunrise and sunset shots these days.

May self-compassion lead you to exactly what you need this week! Take good care of yourselves friends.