hi karen, i love your work; words and wonder full photographs. thank you for always sharing your constant dedication to beauty. “finding beauty in a broken world” ttw. im wondering if you were on the multi faith prayer zoom call on sunday? i saw your name..
Thank you Karen for your post. I believe you balanced the beauty from around the lake with an honest depiction of who you are right now and how you see, and adjust, to the current sea change. Re-tooling my emotions, my heart, and my sense of togetherness is a work in process. As you demonstrated, music can be sustaining and encouraging. Just this past week I found a wonderful musician in a Substack post: Carrie Newcomer singing, “You can do this hard thing.” From 8 years ago. Such music, the encouragement of others, and reading inspiring literature all help me do this hard thing. All the very best to you, Karen.
First, it is so hard to see ourselves. You my dear are sooooo brave! And I am not ...... just saying that. I mean it! It is so okay to let yourself know this. Each of us tend to hide things from ourselves while focusing on what we think are our 'defects'. With just a little taking stock of your vibrant challenging self, perhaps you will see yourself in a different light. Who is this person that goes from A to Z in learning to use a camera and of all subjects, of birds, which she knows little of ... in the wee early hours of the morning ...week after week, after week and then finds a way to share what she sees and comes to recognize? It is you dear Karen! Being ready for when it comes!
So please be good to yourself and give yourself a big hug for meeting the challenges one by one as they come. We are all little children in grown-up form, needing a hug. I truly thank you for being so brave.
Thank you Sandy! I have to remind myself that courage doesn't always feel like what my mind imagines it, it often feels like being afraid and going ahead anyway. I am so much kinder to myself than I once was and it's likely always a work in progress! We are all little children and grown-ups at the same time. Hugs right back to you!
Thank you, too! :-) Perhaps we both could walk around with cigarette packs rolled-up in the sleeves of our t-shirts to add to the 'tough guy look' of our braveness! LOL Be well!
I am part of a small group of citizens who have been planning and hosting interfaith events in our Northern Dallas suburb since the spring of 2023. We had planned a dinner for November 7th, not even considering election proximity when we chose the date. So, on the Thursday after the election I found myself at a meetinghouse of the LDS Church gathered with 65 of my neighbors. The room held Shia and Sunni Muslims, Hindus, at least one Buddhist, Catholics, Methodists, Latter-day Saints and several people who attend non-denominational churches. Our goal with these events is to knock down walls of misunderstanding and I’ve been amazed at their effectiveness. It’s worth noting that the LDS church who hosted us is in dispute with the town over the construction of a temple building, and one of our attendees was the mayor. Even that dispute was set aside and I think both parties walked away with a better understanding of each other. Love is best expressed in proximity as Jim Wallis says in False White Gospel.
I love this so much! Where in northern Dallas suburbs? I have some relatives in that area that might be interested in something like this. (They are in McKinney)
Thank you, Karen. I have been unable to feel/be compassionate to the same people that you mention. But you gave me a way to move on which is to hold compassion for myself (which I have a hard tine doing, too but it is not impossible), for that part of me which is unable to hold compassion for them. Thank you so much. This has been something I have thought about for a long time. You have given me a key.
I, too, have felt very connected to my ancestors over these deeply troubling days and decisions. As with you, I feel them giving me courage and a sense of stability to stay true to my values as I strive to love those who appear to be so unloving. And thank you for the song. Over the course of many posts you have introduced me to a lot of artists of younger generations that have spoken so eloquently. It is gratifying to see their depth of talent and wisdom.
hi karen, i love your work; words and wonder full photographs. thank you for always sharing your constant dedication to beauty. “finding beauty in a broken world” ttw. im wondering if you were on the multi faith prayer zoom call on sunday? i saw your name..
much love and many thanks.
Beautiful post this morning to wake up to and to wake up to!!
Fantastic photos and beautiful thoughts. Thank you!
Loved these photos 😍❤️👍
Thank you Sharon!
Thank you, Karen, for your beautiful art. I'm wondering if you've considered making your photos into cards? If so, I'm very interested to buy some ❤️
Thank you Monica. I haven't - if I was going to do anything, I think it would be cards. So far I haven't had time to get to that though!
I'll stay tuned!!
Thank you Karen~ ❤️
You are so welcome Catherine
Beautiful. Thank you. And well done for finding and creating so much love x
Thank you Cali! Your writing about Granny Oak encouraged me to more actively start talking to the lake!
Thank you Karen for your post. I believe you balanced the beauty from around the lake with an honest depiction of who you are right now and how you see, and adjust, to the current sea change. Re-tooling my emotions, my heart, and my sense of togetherness is a work in process. As you demonstrated, music can be sustaining and encouraging. Just this past week I found a wonderful musician in a Substack post: Carrie Newcomer singing, “You can do this hard thing.” From 8 years ago. Such music, the encouragement of others, and reading inspiring literature all help me do this hard thing. All the very best to you, Karen.
Thank you Gary. Music can be so sustaining, and we are always a work in progress I think. I love Carrie Newcomer!
Not only is love all you need but love is truly all you are. The whole wide universe from quarks to galaxies is truly nothing but love.
Thank you Michael. That's why Love is so undefinable.
Ain’t love grand? And I see it in every one of your photos - little glimpses into the Love in the world.
You make the world a better place, Karen.
Thank you Switter!
Thank you so very much ~ speaking right to my heart & mind today 💜
Thank you Jo!
First, it is so hard to see ourselves. You my dear are sooooo brave! And I am not ...... just saying that. I mean it! It is so okay to let yourself know this. Each of us tend to hide things from ourselves while focusing on what we think are our 'defects'. With just a little taking stock of your vibrant challenging self, perhaps you will see yourself in a different light. Who is this person that goes from A to Z in learning to use a camera and of all subjects, of birds, which she knows little of ... in the wee early hours of the morning ...week after week, after week and then finds a way to share what she sees and comes to recognize? It is you dear Karen! Being ready for when it comes!
So please be good to yourself and give yourself a big hug for meeting the challenges one by one as they come. We are all little children in grown-up form, needing a hug. I truly thank you for being so brave.
Thank you Sandy! I have to remind myself that courage doesn't always feel like what my mind imagines it, it often feels like being afraid and going ahead anyway. I am so much kinder to myself than I once was and it's likely always a work in progress! We are all little children and grown-ups at the same time. Hugs right back to you!
Thank you, too! :-) Perhaps we both could walk around with cigarette packs rolled-up in the sleeves of our t-shirts to add to the 'tough guy look' of our braveness! LOL Be well!
I am part of a small group of citizens who have been planning and hosting interfaith events in our Northern Dallas suburb since the spring of 2023. We had planned a dinner for November 7th, not even considering election proximity when we chose the date. So, on the Thursday after the election I found myself at a meetinghouse of the LDS Church gathered with 65 of my neighbors. The room held Shia and Sunni Muslims, Hindus, at least one Buddhist, Catholics, Methodists, Latter-day Saints and several people who attend non-denominational churches. Our goal with these events is to knock down walls of misunderstanding and I’ve been amazed at their effectiveness. It’s worth noting that the LDS church who hosted us is in dispute with the town over the construction of a temple building, and one of our attendees was the mayor. Even that dispute was set aside and I think both parties walked away with a better understanding of each other. Love is best expressed in proximity as Jim Wallis says in False White Gospel.
I love this so much! Where in northern Dallas suburbs? I have some relatives in that area that might be interested in something like this. (They are in McKinney)
I am in Allen, just south of them. I handle all the invitations, so feel free to send me a message with their contact if they would like to join!
Thank you, Karen. I have been unable to feel/be compassionate to the same people that you mention. But you gave me a way to move on which is to hold compassion for myself (which I have a hard tine doing, too but it is not impossible), for that part of me which is unable to hold compassion for them. Thank you so much. This has been something I have thought about for a long time. You have given me a key.
Thank you Julianne. The key came to me and I'm glad I can give it to you.
Thank you, once again, Karen, for expressing in picture and prose so much of what I am experiencing in my own life. Peace!
Thank you Uncle Bill!
I, too, have felt very connected to my ancestors over these deeply troubling days and decisions. As with you, I feel them giving me courage and a sense of stability to stay true to my values as I strive to love those who appear to be so unloving. And thank you for the song. Over the course of many posts you have introduced me to a lot of artists of younger generations that have spoken so eloquently. It is gratifying to see their depth of talent and wisdom.
I love that we are so connected. I love uplifting and inspiring music, I can never find enough.