Karen, your post profoundly moved me. I have been savoring all of your posts, but this one, wow. thank you so much for putting the work into your thoughts and energies and, of course, the beauty-filled presence of your photos.
The question of how we "process" all we take in is such an important one, Karen. We've set our culture up to only honor moving forward, but not to honor the time needed to stop and breathe, and take in all we experience every day. You said it so well here: "I don’t triage my experiences and thoughts the way I do my photos. I largely push away what I don’t want to feel - but push it away to where? Like the photos, these energies that come in need to be acknowledged in order to be recycled through the system." I think that all of the stimulation we store does affect us, and we have to discharge it, sort through it, and let it go somehow. I journal, just for me, as a way to acknowledge and let go of what I do and don't want to keep every day. You'll find the way that works for you, I expect. Thank you for sharing your photos and your thinking with us all!
Hi Karen! The questions you raised for your readers, for yourself, do require work for satisfactory results. Solutions aren’t formulaic either. The sifting, sorting, and organization can feel like a thicket!
Last week I spotted some pet hair (1 dog, 1 cat) in a corner so off I went for our Dustbuster. Wow! When I picked it up, unsuccessfully sucked up debris fell out of its intake. I looked at the carpet attachment and found it entwined with a jammed up mixture! So in a much simpler way I was called on to take the machine outside for a thorough cleaning. Every crack and crevice caught my gaze, and clean I did! Installing the crevice tool and returning to the dust bunnies, their disappearance was achieved.
No, your unsorted images are far from being dust bunnies. Yet, left unresolved, the drain on our energy and enthusiasm is similar. May you find the balance you want and need for living contentedly. I could just shave our dog and cat to cut way back on their fur balls!
Karen, I agree with every idea so lovingly shared in this heart opening post. After almost 8 decades of experiencing the joy and pain of life, I have only response to the mystery I will never comprehend: Love. I truly believe "love" is the only human response that gives us a chance to repair all the damage we two legged animals continue to inflict on Mother Earth and all her sentient beings. I am always surprised to see that the same letters contained in Earth spell Heart. Perhaps you can "weave" that into a future post? 🤷♂️
Thank you Clark! I never thought of Earth and Heart having the same letters with just one position swapped! That may very well appear in a future edition.
Like you I have thousands of photos I’d love to share, paired with thousands of words scrawled on paper. I struggle daily with what to make of the artifacts of my life. The photos wound up on an external drive that feels like a tomb. The words float around my desk and my mind like a tornado. The world is moving faster as I am moving slower. I give myself whiplash looking back and find myself tripping on all that lies ahead. I am *this close* to embracing the oblivion you speak of. Fran Lebowitz said ”There is no such thing as inner peace. There is only nervousness and death”. The more I consider that, the more I agree. What seemed pessimistic yesterday, feels liberating today. My new goal is to more fully occupy the space I occupy. That is enough.
Oh Bonnie Rae, I undrestand that tornado! I hope Fran Lebowitz is incorrect - but I don't think inner peace is a destination, rather a rest stop I hope to make on a regular basis. Kind of like being out with the birds? BUT your goal, that is my goal too - to more fully occupy my own space.
This is a wonderful post with both words and pictures. It is soulful! I treasured so many of the words, especially these: "Weaving the person I was into the person I am, even as I step into the person I am becoming." I believe the key words are "I am." And, once again I wouldn't be able to choose a favorite picture.
Wonderful photos. Thought you might be interested in this https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/bird-watching-brain-9.7108469 a recent study that shows that birdwatching is very good for the brain (and helps prevent cognitive decline with aging!) Who knew- not to mention how much enjoyment it gives and you share with us here.
Every one of those thousands of yet-to-be-published photographs has already become part of your story. Every time you lift the camera—even when you did not get the chance to raise your arms to the moment— each one is an experience—each one, now a part of your very soul. Can we leave behind that which prevents us from opening our wings and taking flight? I am not quite sure if we can ‘unload’ or erase the past, but we certainly can learn to soar above it. We learn resilience and the ability to thrive from loving our bird friends. “I sing the body electric.”(Walt Whitman)—I sing the chorus with the Yellow-rumped warbler. And now she, too, becomes a part of my own story.
Thank you Lor, I like this way of looking at it! I don't think we have to even rise above, I think we can use them as fuel. I had never heard Walt Whitman had a poem of Sing the Body Electric. I'm trying to read it, lol, it's very...long! I do remember the song from "Fame"!
I figured if you made it through Whitman’s entire poem you may have noticed the vast differences between his 19th century writing and Fame’s theme song.Apparently they changed it up a bit to reflect the spiritual freedom of the arts and left out much of Whitman’s sensuality about the human body.☺️
Karen, your post profoundly moved me. I have been savoring all of your posts, but this one, wow. thank you so much for putting the work into your thoughts and energies and, of course, the beauty-filled presence of your photos.
Thank you Ali!
I second Susan: such a thoughtful and thought-provoking post! 💕
Thank you Claudia!
The question of how we "process" all we take in is such an important one, Karen. We've set our culture up to only honor moving forward, but not to honor the time needed to stop and breathe, and take in all we experience every day. You said it so well here: "I don’t triage my experiences and thoughts the way I do my photos. I largely push away what I don’t want to feel - but push it away to where? Like the photos, these energies that come in need to be acknowledged in order to be recycled through the system." I think that all of the stimulation we store does affect us, and we have to discharge it, sort through it, and let it go somehow. I journal, just for me, as a way to acknowledge and let go of what I do and don't want to keep every day. You'll find the way that works for you, I expect. Thank you for sharing your photos and your thinking with us all!
Thank you Susan!
Hi Karen! The questions you raised for your readers, for yourself, do require work for satisfactory results. Solutions aren’t formulaic either. The sifting, sorting, and organization can feel like a thicket!
Last week I spotted some pet hair (1 dog, 1 cat) in a corner so off I went for our Dustbuster. Wow! When I picked it up, unsuccessfully sucked up debris fell out of its intake. I looked at the carpet attachment and found it entwined with a jammed up mixture! So in a much simpler way I was called on to take the machine outside for a thorough cleaning. Every crack and crevice caught my gaze, and clean I did! Installing the crevice tool and returning to the dust bunnies, their disappearance was achieved.
No, your unsorted images are far from being dust bunnies. Yet, left unresolved, the drain on our energy and enthusiasm is similar. May you find the balance you want and need for living contentedly. I could just shave our dog and cat to cut way back on their fur balls!
lol, great analogy! I love it.
☺️
Karen, I agree with every idea so lovingly shared in this heart opening post. After almost 8 decades of experiencing the joy and pain of life, I have only response to the mystery I will never comprehend: Love. I truly believe "love" is the only human response that gives us a chance to repair all the damage we two legged animals continue to inflict on Mother Earth and all her sentient beings. I am always surprised to see that the same letters contained in Earth spell Heart. Perhaps you can "weave" that into a future post? 🤷♂️
Thank you Clark! I never thought of Earth and Heart having the same letters with just one position swapped! That may very well appear in a future edition.
Like you I have thousands of photos I’d love to share, paired with thousands of words scrawled on paper. I struggle daily with what to make of the artifacts of my life. The photos wound up on an external drive that feels like a tomb. The words float around my desk and my mind like a tornado. The world is moving faster as I am moving slower. I give myself whiplash looking back and find myself tripping on all that lies ahead. I am *this close* to embracing the oblivion you speak of. Fran Lebowitz said ”There is no such thing as inner peace. There is only nervousness and death”. The more I consider that, the more I agree. What seemed pessimistic yesterday, feels liberating today. My new goal is to more fully occupy the space I occupy. That is enough.
Oh Bonnie Rae, I undrestand that tornado! I hope Fran Lebowitz is incorrect - but I don't think inner peace is a destination, rather a rest stop I hope to make on a regular basis. Kind of like being out with the birds? BUT your goal, that is my goal too - to more fully occupy my own space.
This is a wonderful post with both words and pictures. It is soulful! I treasured so many of the words, especially these: "Weaving the person I was into the person I am, even as I step into the person I am becoming." I believe the key words are "I am." And, once again I wouldn't be able to choose a favorite picture.
Thank you Linda!
Wonderful photos. Thought you might be interested in this https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/bird-watching-brain-9.7108469 a recent study that shows that birdwatching is very good for the brain (and helps prevent cognitive decline with aging!) Who knew- not to mention how much enjoyment it gives and you share with us here.
Thank you Oriah! I'm delighted to see that the research bodes well for my future!
Oriah, good morning ~I was just thinking if you this morning. This is a lovely surprise.many blessings💕
Every one of those thousands of yet-to-be-published photographs has already become part of your story. Every time you lift the camera—even when you did not get the chance to raise your arms to the moment— each one is an experience—each one, now a part of your very soul. Can we leave behind that which prevents us from opening our wings and taking flight? I am not quite sure if we can ‘unload’ or erase the past, but we certainly can learn to soar above it. We learn resilience and the ability to thrive from loving our bird friends. “I sing the body electric.”(Walt Whitman)—I sing the chorus with the Yellow-rumped warbler. And now she, too, becomes a part of my own story.
Thank you Lor, I like this way of looking at it! I don't think we have to even rise above, I think we can use them as fuel. I had never heard Walt Whitman had a poem of Sing the Body Electric. I'm trying to read it, lol, it's very...long! I do remember the song from "Fame"!
I figured if you made it through Whitman’s entire poem you may have noticed the vast differences between his 19th century writing and Fame’s theme song.Apparently they changed it up a bit to reflect the spiritual freedom of the arts and left out much of Whitman’s sensuality about the human body.☺️
Gorgeous sunrise. We're continuously evolving, aren't we, Karen? Geez, that's a lot of photos! All the more for us to see. Thank you!
We are! Thank you Victoria!
Such beautiful sky, stunning birds, and wise words. May we all learn to embrace transformation and deep love. What a journey!
Thank you Leah!