Inspired

Simple Things – morning light

It’s usually the simple things that touch our soul most profoundly and yet ironically these things are often the most overlooked. 

They’re the everyday things that we begin to take for granted.  The sun comes up every morning and sets every night and it’s just another part of the day.  Every now and then we remind ourselves how truly awesome this “event” is, how privileged we are to see another dawn…but all too often it blurs into the busyness of the day.

It’s a simple thing and yet…its not.  It’s extraordinary.

A few other simple things that I’m enjoying and thankful for these day:

warmth and sunshine

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a soul rejuvenating rest

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time, with no demands on it

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waking to the sounds of tropical birds that are new to my ear

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beach music…(the never ending waves and chatter of shore birds)

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funny, funny pelicans who look so strange and yet so wise

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sharing laughter

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friends…new ones, old ones, near ones and far away ones.

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a very special group of women friends that the universe recently brought together

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a course of spiritual study…the right place at the right time with the right person

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I’m taking part in Christina’s Simple Things post today at Soul Aperture and the photograph above was taken from my dining window this morning as I sipped my cup of tea (yet another simple pleasure!) and enjoyed the rebirth of the world into another beautiful day.

Lens Us Together – On the Rocks

I now know where the term “lounge lizard” came from. 

We usually walk into town by way of the road and return home by the beach.  It takes a little longer by road as it swings away from the water and then swings back.  It’s also away from the sea breeze so it’s hotter…a lot hotter.  The sidewalks are not in the best of shape but on the plus side, it’s flatter than the beach which at high tide, leaves me feeling like I’ve got one leg shorter than the other by the time I get home. 

When we walk along the road, there’s a small creek near our hotel and we always stop at the bridge and look intently down at the rocks below us.  A group of lizards have made these rocks their home and spend their days lounging in the sun.  Our game is to a) try to find them as they’re masters of camouflage and b) count how many we can find.   They sit for hours perfectly still, soaking up the rays and eating any bugs that are unfortunate enough to wander just a little too close.

      It's so good to have the opportunity to slow down to the point where simply watching and noticing           becomes an important part of one's day!

When Gail at Picture the Year, chose rocks as the theme for this week at Lens Us Together, I knew I had to show this lounge lizard perched on his rock.  I'm sure he must prefer his tequila "on the rocks" too!

This cute guy posing in the photograph above was about a foot and a half long (maybe even 2 feet) and I was standing about 20 ft away.  Even with the zoom, I still had to do a lot of cropping and adjusting the light levels so that he was clearly visible.

Everyday Peace - Peace Everyday – Moments

The scene above looks serenely peaceful…and it was.  We walked home from town along the beach the other day, enjoying the late afternoon sunset.  It was the soft mauve of the hills in the distance that made me drop the chicken we were having for dinner, and dig out my camera.

Moments like these bring a deep sigh of contentment and relaxation of any tension present in the body. 

Moments like these are to be treasured in a world that seems recently set on overwhelm…a world almost literally cracking open. 

You don’t need a tropical beach for moments like these.  They can happen easily, anywhere and at anytime.  What beautiful moment have you been aware of in your world today?

Grateful blessings of the moment to all,

Lens Us Together - A New Perspective

Gaining a new perspective can be as simple as

looking at palm trees instead of cedars

and gazing at blue skies rather than grey.

Smiles come freely, laughter bubbles easily.

and pointless worry seems, well…pointless.

Scientists say that our bodies don’t know the difference between imagination and reality…our cells respond the same to both.  Personally, I like the real thing best…but if you can’t make it to a tropical paradise this winter, hold this image in your mind, get the feeling and transport yourself!

Sometimes we need to step out of the frame in order to see the picture.

I’ve been absent from Lens-Us-Together for over a month now but I’m back with more time and a new point and shoot camera.  My Nikon 35 ml lens is still in for major surgery but I have the camera body and the macro lens with me so I’m back in the game! 

Sweet blessings to all,

Kate

Cafe con Leche

…aaahh…warmth, sunshine and coffee at George’s.  Pinch me…is it real?

Mexico welcomed us with a tropical downpour yesterday but today, well today is perfect.  The fan is whirring softly, the waves are crashing loudly and the grackle’s are busy arguing over a prime roosting spot outside my window.

I’m convinced that there's a part of me that stays here and doesn’t ever leave so that when I return, I simply slip back into that person who was here all along.  Alternate realities?  Quantum physics?  Too deep to even contemplate today.  Today is for resting, reading and catching up with old friends.

I’ll be back!

Blessings,

Kate

Everyday Peace - are you one of the crazy one’s?

Have you ever felt like a square peg in the proverbial round hole?

Why are you trying so hard to fit into a world that doesn’t fit you…that doesn’t hold your energy?

You were created differently, to make a difference.

And yes, you really do make a difference.

"Everyday Peace and Peace Everyday" is a series of posts that focus on finding and keeping a peaceful space within, each and every day,  It's not always easy but it's always worth it!  I believe that peace will come to the world as each of us finds peace within ourselves. 

Crazy Blessings,

Shimmer and Shine, Ordinary and Extraordinary

This photo was taken on December 26…the light was shimmering on the bay and even though I was in the car (which was moving!) I wanted to capture this gift of December light.

Life is happening at top speed all around me but right now I’m the observer…or at least it feels that way.  My days are filled with busyness and yet it’s the moments, the beautiful moments, that are capturing my attention; sun sparkling so brightly on the ocean that I’m momentarily blinded, dark skeletons of oak trees against the pale wintry sky, wispy fragments of smokey mist hugging dark hills, raucous seagulls welcoming me to life by the sea as they wake me with their early morning calls, written words that sit quietly in my heart like old friends that have come to say hello, even the worn and worried faces of strangers on the street..all of these moments, and more…so many more, are what capture my attention these days.

I feel awed by the beauty of winter in a way I never have before.  I’m touched deeply by kindness and smiles. Words of judgment seem to bounce off without touching.  It’s all a bit unreal but I’m savouring it.  I’m loving it.  I’m soaking it all in.  It may just be a temporary condition or it may here to stay, but right here, right now, I’m so very grateful for this bliss!

My days are filled with the glow of ordinary things that are extraordinary.

Blissful blessings to all of you.