With the perspective of personal responsibility to lessen resource and emotional stress upon the medical profession, to protect those I love as well as those unknown to me, and to lessen the burden upon those whose actions ensure continuation of my basic needs, I have chosen to comply with the state’s “Stay-at-Home and Safer at Home” orders.
Six months ago, one well-being behavior was to engage in early morning mediative walks; yet, as the days have flowed into each other there has been a lessening of motivation to engage in any “masked” walks as my attention has been drawn towards managing the anxiety that arises with an awareness that only a few cyclist, walkers, and runners choose to wear masks and it seems as though any attempt to engage in social distancing is a one personal endeavor.
This morning as I pondered how to connect the many sources of inspiration with images, I found that Tina’s (Travels and Trifles) Lens Artist challenge: inspiration inspired me to gather up the courage to pick up my camera and walk…Thank you Tina.
Over the years, haiku has been an inspiration:
Walking along
My shadow beside me
Watching the moon. ~Sodō
(Jonathan Clements, The Moon in the Pines)
The words of Thich Nhat Hanh inspire me as I become aware of my in-breath and out-breath and the suffering that may arise from actions, speech, and thoughts.
When conditions are sufficient, a cloud transforms into rain, snow, or hail. The cloud has never been born and will never die. The insight of signlessness and interbeing helps us recognize that all lives continue in different forms. Nothing is created, nothing is destroyed, everything is in transformation ~Thich Nhat Hanh
Nature inspires me to embrace impermanence and eases my anxiety through her amazing beauty.
Photography inspires me to open my eyes to the wondrous gifts life offers within each moment.
a meditative journey 
brenda – nice take on the theme this week – and the last photo feels like a Georgia O’keeffe work of art – the duality and fullness 🙂
Thank you Prior. I enjoy reading your comments, especially “feels like a Georgia O’keeffe work of art.” Please be safe
😊🎶🎶🚲
Love this Brenda – thanks for the credit but it was you who picked up the camera and made these beautiful images. So happy to have given you a tiny push to get you started 😊. I especially loved the Thich Nhat Hanh quote with the amazing sky image.
🙏🏻
We share photography, walking, and nature as ways to soothe our fears and worries. I’m glad you were inspired to go out and take a walk in nature.
It is amazing to learn that someone out there shares a connection to photography, walking, and nature. Thank you. Please be well.
You, too, Brenda.
Beautiful and inspiring post, Brenda. Thank you for sharing your thoughts (I feel the same…) Enjoy the walk with you. 🙂
Thank you Amy. The other day I was reviewing old post…we’ve been following each other for a number of years. Sorta like old pen pals. Please be safe and well.
Years later, I still love your photos. You have shown us so many creative and beautiful images. Same to you, Brenda.
That middle paragraph. I totally get it.
Khürt – it is great knowing that I’m not alone. Please be safe and well.