Connect With Nature

My favorite kind of trees. Weeping Willows



It's like this tree was trying to pass on a lovely idea...






Natures palettes...


I am grateful that I live in an area where I can go for a drive and see beautiful sights like this. Growing up in this area gave me ample time to play in the woods. I've been camping many times and I can show you some of the most breathtaking mountain views. Some of my best memories are of the nature hikes my dad would take us kids on. He knew all the "off the beaten paths" and every weekend he would pick a new one and head us out for an adventure. Everywhere. All over Jersey, Upstate New York, and PA.
Learning to appreciate nature and animals is a value that I believe most people don't consider as important anymore. Perhaps if people could just see how beautiful the world was meant to be, they'd be more mindful in taking care of it. My two biggest environmental pet peeves are 1) air pollution/smog. It disgusts me to see a truck drive past with the black smog billowing out!! How can you see the emissions you're letting out and not do anything about it!?! 2) Litter!! Maybe I'm just one of those that always has a bag on me to put garbage in until I find a bin. But then hold it! Or put it in your pocket. Throwing it on the ground assuming that someone else will get it is just pure laziness!! I was taught at a young age to love nature and all her gifts. From the air we breathe, to the waters we swim in, to the earth we live upon. These are all natural blessings given to us with the hopes that we as human beings would create a natural balance between our lives and mother earth. If only she knew how we were going to change her, would she still have invited us to live here??

xo

Dear Jen,

Dear Jen,

You and I weren't what you'd call "close" friends. More like neighbor friends. We had hung out a few times. Shared some fun stories over a couple of beers. I even remember the time I asked your permission to see your guy's "lower than eye level" tattoo. (way cool of you by the way!) I loved how much energy you had. You could get up at the ass crack of dawn to go to the town field for a game of softball with your friends. Then run home to cook and clean house before it was off the hospital that you nursed at. And you'd still have enough left in you to make an appearance at the party's! You were definitely a cool chick to be around.
I don't know when you started changing. We hadn't spoken in a long time. I didn't know that you were slowly pulling back from your life. No one did. Not even your closest friends. Everyone assumed that you were just spending more time with your guy. That's why your face started disappearing from the social scenes. No one knew that you had a darker reason for avoiding being seen. Something more important to you than the ones who love you. If only we had known sooner...
Jen, you died last night. You went for that perfect high...and couldn't come back. You are leaving behind a world of people who love you. There wont be any more softball games for you to play. No more party's for you to enjoy. No more lazy days playing video games for hours. No more. Just like that it was all taken away from you. For that perfect high. I'm sorry that you are no longer here with us. I truly hope that you are in a peaceful place now. I just wanted you to know how much you will be missed. And with your passing, I hope that the lesson reaches someone somewhere... Is it really worth it to get that high and possibly lose a lifetime of great memories?

Love,
Me.
xo

The Side Road

Today on my drive home I took the long way. It's something I like to do when I'm in no big rush. Taking the extra 10 minutes to get home is worth the chance to capture a picture like this one. I knew this would be a beautiful shot when I took it. Besides to magnificent glow coming from the sun, the sky has such a beautiful contrast of blues all neatly lined up one on top of the other. It's a peaceful drive past the town lake. There's a path around it which you can always find people walking and running. I sometimes like to stop here and watch these people doing their laps. You can often find me sitting on the benches or on the grass with my blanket. Sitting with my earphones in, scribbling away in my journal. I wonder if everyone has their little spots where they like to take a minute to sit back and just admire their surroundings?? Maybe a different route home that might help you get that one glimpse that makes you smile without even realizing it... If not, may I suggest that you be spontanious one day and turn off on that unfamilar road and find yourself another moment to enjoy.

xo

My Special Day to Reflect.

Today is my birthday! Birthdays are very important to me. Most people take them for granted. “It’s just another day. Who cares??” I feel the complete opposite. People who say that must have a hard time finding pure joy in their lives. How do you not feel excitement over the fact that you have been given yet another year in this world?!?! Another year to see the most beautiful sunrises. Another year to spend fun filled nights with your friends and loved ones. Another year to have the chance to fall in love. So much happens to a person in 365 days. Some days can be more memorable than others, I’ll give you that, but ALL with their meanings to them. You’ve just gotta learn to look and see.

I like to take some time on this day to look back on my past year to see where I’ve come. To see what changes I’ve made in myself. What lessons I’ve been taught, and did I learn anything from it? This year, I am very pleased with myself! The past few years I had definitely lost my way. I was so closed off that I was one of those people who have a hard time finding joy. Let me tell you, that feeling like a robot in life is no way to live!! Over this past year a lot has happened for me in a positive way. So much has come into my life that has helped me learn to reconnect with the world again. And with the help of some very special people that I’ve recently become friends with, I am seeing everything with a much clearer mind. Learning to become more mindful of every moment is a skill that I am grateful to have acquired. It has helped cut out my smaller stresses and a lifesaver when it comes to working my way through the larger issues.

I am very grateful for having my sight back. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this truly at peace with myself. My birthday wish this year…to continue working on becoming the person I know that I want to be.

There is a phrase that I heard once and it always stuck with me…
“You should always celebrate your birthdays. I walked out on my last one, and it never occurred to me that I might not have another.”

Peace and Love to you all.
xo