Lori, You describe the seasonal change so lusciously! Thank you for the reminder to soak in every moment of the seasonal change. Right now, it's a gray day where I am in Hawaii and the distinctions between the seasons aren't so sharp, but they exist. I will have to fine tune my mindfulness all the more.
There have been days like that here in Pittsburgh, too, where the gray sky blends into the bare branches and makes the horizon fuzzy. It's a great opportunity to fine tune our mindfulness, as you said, Sandra. Thanks for that reminder!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. This time of year often brings a mix of cold weather with the occasional warm days, transitioning from sunny to cloudy and rainy. From one day to the next in New England we never know what to expect with the weather. However, one constant we can always rely on is the blooming of daffodils and irises, emerging from our gardens, sidewalk edges, and even the gardens at shopping centers, restaurants, health facilities, etc. If we aren’t willing to time to look down with the intention to find Mother Nature waking up all around us, we will miss all of her little miracles.
I became deeply engaged watching the blooming process in the spring of 2020 to 2022 when most of us who could minimized our time outside in our living spaces (porches, front and backyard yards, etc.). That’s why I decided to head outside to our gardens on a search for any signs of new life in our gardens. I soon began documenting (photographing) every sign of a flower peaking through the soil. I must have hundreds of photos showcasing different species as they regenerated, allowing my husband and I to enjoy, admire, and, most importantly, truly appreciate the wonder of it all. Looking back I can acknowledge that I was practicing mindfulness without realizing it. I was simply committed to pause long enough to observe, record what I was seeing while feeling a rush of joy and gratitude. As of today I have been practicing mindful meditation everyday. I regard it as a gift to myself first, then to my family, friends and strangers!
Diane, thank you for sharing such a thoughtful reflection. I think western PA and New England have similarly unpredictable weather. You’re right, it’s an opportunity to look for what we can count on. I’ve yet to see an irises in my neighborhood, but I know they’ll be coming soon.
I’ve led workshops on mindful photography practices much like what you’re describing. It’s amazingly powerful to let the act of taking a photograph or contemplating a photo be our guide into mindfulness. And personally, I love being able to go back through that documentary record over time. I always find some change over the years that otherwise I would have missed. I’m glad you’re giving yourself the gift of mindfulness—I do believe it ripples out into the world. And for that, I’m grateful to you! 💚✨
Lori, your reflections on seasonal changes and the importance of presence are so beautifully written. I can truly feel the connection you have with the natural world around you, and it’s inspiring to think about how we can all become more attuned to these shifts, whether in nature or within ourselves. The idea of Collaborative Journaling is such a lovely way to engage with the present moment, and I can see how this practice would help cultivate a deeper awareness of the changes happening around us. I appreciate how you blend personal connection with nature and professional development, and I’m excited to dive into this process myself. Thank you for inviting us to notice, feel, and be present in this season.
Thank you, Jay! I do think it’s a process of attuning, with constant adjustments, rather than a task we can finish. I’m happy that this possibility spoke to you! 💚✨
I've been noticing the daffodils too! They always seem to pop up out of nowhere to me. I'm in your neck of the woods at the top of West virginia, grew up in Western Pennsylvania. Such a lovely time of year right now
Howdy, neighbor! 🥰 This is such a lovely season! I feel like a kid who goes into a toy store, just waiting to see what new thing they can discover. Today I saw that some bushes in a yard down the street were starting to get a tinge of green. Yay! 💚
Lori, You describe the seasonal change so lusciously! Thank you for the reminder to soak in every moment of the seasonal change. Right now, it's a gray day where I am in Hawaii and the distinctions between the seasons aren't so sharp, but they exist. I will have to fine tune my mindfulness all the more.
There have been days like that here in Pittsburgh, too, where the gray sky blends into the bare branches and makes the horizon fuzzy. It's a great opportunity to fine tune our mindfulness, as you said, Sandra. Thanks for that reminder!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. This time of year often brings a mix of cold weather with the occasional warm days, transitioning from sunny to cloudy and rainy. From one day to the next in New England we never know what to expect with the weather. However, one constant we can always rely on is the blooming of daffodils and irises, emerging from our gardens, sidewalk edges, and even the gardens at shopping centers, restaurants, health facilities, etc. If we aren’t willing to time to look down with the intention to find Mother Nature waking up all around us, we will miss all of her little miracles.
I became deeply engaged watching the blooming process in the spring of 2020 to 2022 when most of us who could minimized our time outside in our living spaces (porches, front and backyard yards, etc.). That’s why I decided to head outside to our gardens on a search for any signs of new life in our gardens. I soon began documenting (photographing) every sign of a flower peaking through the soil. I must have hundreds of photos showcasing different species as they regenerated, allowing my husband and I to enjoy, admire, and, most importantly, truly appreciate the wonder of it all. Looking back I can acknowledge that I was practicing mindfulness without realizing it. I was simply committed to pause long enough to observe, record what I was seeing while feeling a rush of joy and gratitude. As of today I have been practicing mindful meditation everyday. I regard it as a gift to myself first, then to my family, friends and strangers!
Diane, thank you for sharing such a thoughtful reflection. I think western PA and New England have similarly unpredictable weather. You’re right, it’s an opportunity to look for what we can count on. I’ve yet to see an irises in my neighborhood, but I know they’ll be coming soon.
I’ve led workshops on mindful photography practices much like what you’re describing. It’s amazingly powerful to let the act of taking a photograph or contemplating a photo be our guide into mindfulness. And personally, I love being able to go back through that documentary record over time. I always find some change over the years that otherwise I would have missed. I’m glad you’re giving yourself the gift of mindfulness—I do believe it ripples out into the world. And for that, I’m grateful to you! 💚✨
Thank you for your supportive and thoughtful words. 💛 #grateful
Lori, your reflections on seasonal changes and the importance of presence are so beautifully written. I can truly feel the connection you have with the natural world around you, and it’s inspiring to think about how we can all become more attuned to these shifts, whether in nature or within ourselves. The idea of Collaborative Journaling is such a lovely way to engage with the present moment, and I can see how this practice would help cultivate a deeper awareness of the changes happening around us. I appreciate how you blend personal connection with nature and professional development, and I’m excited to dive into this process myself. Thank you for inviting us to notice, feel, and be present in this season.
Thank you, Jay! I do think it’s a process of attuning, with constant adjustments, rather than a task we can finish. I’m happy that this possibility spoke to you! 💚✨
I've been noticing the daffodils too! They always seem to pop up out of nowhere to me. I'm in your neck of the woods at the top of West virginia, grew up in Western Pennsylvania. Such a lovely time of year right now
Howdy, neighbor! 🥰 This is such a lovely season! I feel like a kid who goes into a toy store, just waiting to see what new thing they can discover. Today I saw that some bushes in a yard down the street were starting to get a tinge of green. Yay! 💚
It is an exciting season! Always something new popping up, literally. Some of my chives are up already.
I saw wild chives up across my road, too! Spring is springing!!!