Commitment and Randomness

So I made a commitment to myself when I started this blog to post something at least once a month. Thought that was reasonable. Thought that I would probably post more often than once a month. And yet, here it is, the end of another month, with me saying to myself AAAHHH! Where did the time go? It's a short month and I need to come up with something in the next 3 days, and I'm busy two of them, so it needs to be tonight! AAAHHH!!!

Usually I have an idea rolling around in the back of my brain that turns into a "download" that becomes the blog post. This month has been a crazy month, with no download coming through at this point, yet, here I sit typing. Because I said I would. I never said it had to be good, or perfect or earth shattering. I just said I would write. Hmmmm....who knew that just putting something out there would be such a challenge. 

The perfectionist comes out - well, miss smarty pants, you're just going to upload random shit?? It needs to be clever. It needs to be funny. It needs to have a message. The pictures you use need to match the message. Give it up for this month -  if it isn't going to be something you know you're going to be proud of, then maybe you just skip it for this month. Wait until you're inspired to write. 

Then the doubter comes out - Don't post something just to post something. You'll embarrass yourself. You don't have that many readers anyway. I'm sure no one will notice whether you posted this month. Wait until you have something useful to say.

The excuse monger comes out - You don't have a good idea, you didn't get a good night's sleep, work has been super busy, it's a short month, you have a million other things to do....

If you follow Ondre's Intention Calendar, you know it's the month of Truth. And, truth is, I made a commitment to myself, and yes, perfectionist /doubter / excuse monger, I hate to disappoint you, but I am going to post. It doesn't have to be spectacular, it just has to be mine. Lighten up!! It's just a blog! Sheesh!! Supposed to be fun!!

So here's my random post....

Most of the photos I post online are of the absolutely spectacular sunrises and sunsets we have here in Arizona. When most of us think of the desert, we think sparse, we think cactus, dirt, rocks, snakes, etc. Well, we also have spring here too, and more varieties of plants than most realize. We are shifting out of winter, where everything kind of settles down and regroups, and moving into spring, where the new can come out and be celebrated. So to continue with my randomness, and to shift focus to the new that is coming, I thought I'd share just a few of my random discoveries on my recent outdoor adventures....

 

So, my lesson from this? Commitments don't have to be hard, serious, heavy.  Send your perfectionist/doubter/excuse monger away.  Life is short - let's lighten up and have some fun!! 

How Many Adventures Can You Fit Into 3 Hours??

When you think about having an adventure, what comes to mind? Lots of planning? Having to travel? Spending lots of money? Something that can't be done very often?

The other morning, after staying overnight at a friend's house, I had a series of spontaneous grand adventures - I spent 3 hours with a 6 year old.  

It started innocently enough, gathering in the kitchen, trying to wake up, figuring out what to eat for breakfast. And then the adventures began something like this:

"Welcome to my restaurant! Have a seat, let me get you a menu! (whispers - here, pretend this is a menu...) What will you have?" Apparently in this restaurant they have pretty relaxed standards - pajamas, no makeup and messy hair were acceptable....

After a short discussion of all of the options available, my server (with a little help from her aunt) served me a simple breakfast of tea and an English muffin with cream cheese.

Apparently this restaurant also has a jewelry store, and a custom bracelet was made for me while I ate.

As soon as the restaurant closed, it was off to the hair salon to take care of the messy hair issue. We needed to take turns being the customer. (My daughter is 23, so let's just say it's been a few years since I've done a little girl's hair.) After managing to create a passable ponytail with the perfect ribbon attached, it was my turn to sit in the styling chair. With my short hair, my stylist was challenged, however managed to come up with new ways of using every clip from the drawer to create my new look.  (and no...no photos were taken of this new style....)

After closing the hair salon, two cardboard tubes were discovered.  Well, that can only mean one thing: Sword fight!! Not sure what we were battling over or who won, but it was quite the competition.

After getting dressed and making ourselves ready for the outside world (yes, I changed my hairstyle much to the disappointment of my stylist), a new adventure was suggested. "Let's go jump on the trampoline!"  Um, sure? And outside we went. Auntie went and joined in, but guess what? Apparently the guest in the house is supposed kick the aunt out and climb in to jump. What the heck? So, yes fans, the final adventure of the morning was me having fun on a trampoline with a 6 year old. 

Whew! All of these fun adventures were spontaneous, free, and we never left the house. And we fit them all in before she needed to leave for her next activity.

When did life become so complex? When did having adventures become a thing so big we stopped having them? When did we stop having zest and zeal for life? When did we put the energy and excitement for just being alive on hold?

What do you consider to be an adventure? It could be:

big or small
loud or quiet
alone or in a group
spontaneous or well planned

This month some of my best adventures have been pretty simple: chasing sunrises/sunsets, finding a park with an awesome view where I can eat my lunch, people watching at a coffee shop, learning to use my camera in new ways, hiking a new section of trails.

However, there is also the pull for some bigger adventures, and I've got some in the planning stages....and I just renewed my passport....so we'll see what opportunities the universe opens up....

My message today? Be adventurous! Explore! Keep redefining what having an adventure means to you. See where your curiosity might take you! It doesn't have to be big and complicated.  

Ask yourself: How can I just enjoy being alive today??

Have a fabulous day my friends! Be open - you never know what fun adventures might come your way....

Hard to tell, but yes, we are jumping...

What a year!

I think most everyone will agree that 2018 was quite the year and it held several surprises. Many we enjoyed, and some we would have rather done without. 

A year ago, I packed everything I owned into my Honda Fit (along with an irritated cat), said goodbye to my beloved beach, and drove across the desert to start over in Arizona. No job, an apartment I had rented sight unseen, and I only knew 3 people in the area. 

The lessons have been many to say the least. As mentioned in previous posts, there have been many curve balls, sharp left turns, some rocky slopes and some downhill slides. 

And ya know what? There were also the unexpected, awesome things that made me grin from ear to ear. And the positives completely outweigh the negatives. Actually, as I think about it, the negatives became positives with the growth and ultimate outcomes they spurred.

While I loved my two years living at the beach (southern California girl!!), my love of the desert has come back, my connection with nature has grown and my love of photography has been reawakened. Put me outside with a camera? Heaven. That was one of my happy surprises - had no idea how much joy something so simple could bring.

My biggest shift this year was in being able to change my focus from letting go of the past to focusing on what I want to be, do, have in the future. I've spent a lot of time the last 3 years letting go of the past, which was a process I needed to go through. I gotta tell ya, it's a lot more fun to focus on where you want to go instead of where you have been. 

I'm learning to take life a lot less seriously, stay out of the drama around me, and create fun as much as I can wherever I am. Life is short no matter how many years we have here. 

So I end the year with a good job working with good people, I just moved from the apartment into my own home, and I know more than 3 people....

So what simple things can you find to bring yourself joy? How many positive outcomes did you have to what initially were negative events? How much fun can you create? What are you focusing on for the future?

2019 is the year of Adventure - and I am sooooo looking forward to it! Buckle up Buttercup! Let's go see what experiences we can have and enjoy our time here!

Happy New Year everyone!

More sunrises to see.....

More sunsets to see....

And there is always light behind the clouds

Thankful for the bumps along the way

So sitting here, going through some photos taken over the past few days, feeling very blessed. Have a challenging week ahead, so am getting mentally prepared, you know, by doing things totally unrelated, like looking through photos....

Then it dawns on me, the end of the month is coming up quick (yeah, like ON FRIDAY), and I can't remember if I posted a blog this month. Didn't I write one early this month? So I look. Nope - posted two last month. Hmmm.....does that count for my commitment of posting something every month?? NO. 

Soooo, here we go.....

I guess this is my post-Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving message.  As I rapidly come up on the anniversary of packing up my car with everything I owned (along with an annoyed cat) and driving across the desert to start over in Arizona, I have a lot to be thankful for.  

Did everything go as planned? BWAHAHAHA!!!! Pretty much nothing went the way I expected it to.

And yet, here I sit at the end of November feeling very blessed. I had some pretty good bumps in the road this year, and while I wouldn't have thought it then, I can now be thankful for the bumps. I've learned a lot and grown a lot because of those bumps. I look at what others are going through in the world around me, and my stuff just doesn't seem so bad. Perspective is an amazing tool.

I am blessed by angels in my life who always seem to show up just when I need them. Sometimes they hold my hand and encourage me, and sometimes they give me the swift kick in the ass I need.

So here I sit, more ready than I have ever been for whatever is coming next. Thankful for the experiences I have had, and thankful for the continuing adventure.

I  guess my message is to enjoy the adventure, and find the blessings in the bumps, sharp left turns, and downhill slides when you can. 


Now, because it wouldn't be a post from me if it didn't have photos....

I hiked a different part of a trail for the first time recently, and I had to laugh when I realized it kind of summed up my year...

OK - let's get started. Little rocky, little bit of an incline, but not too bad.

Getting steeper, crap, not sure I like that edge, but doable...

Great - leveling off....

Sigh, more uphill, and a little bumpy

Great, getting bumpier,and still going up hill

OK, less bumps, but are you frickin' kidding me, more uphill??

Sharp turn!!! and keep going up....

OK, really? Is the whole thing up hill??

Excellent! Some direction!

Woohoo! Leveling off!!

MORE UPHILL????

Finally!!! Leveled off and starting down!!

  

Yeah, still more bumps

And more sharp turns, but least headed down!

Yay!!! Downhill the rest of the way and the end is in sight - kind of far off, but it's there!!

And the views.....happy sigh.....

Enjoy your adventures my friends!

...and sometimes you catch lightning.....

I was originally going to title this "Why you don't want to ride in a car, go for a hike/walk, or basically go anywhere with me" but that was a little long...

Many years ago I survived high school photography with James Haddy at Robert A. Millikan High School. (Not going to say exactly how many years, use your imagination...) Anyone who survived Mr. Haddy's class knew the difference between a "snapshot" and a "photograph." Turning in your weekly assignment was always a terrifying experience. After he hung over your shoulder in the darkroom while you were developing your film and creating your prints, as you handed in your assignment, he looked at your work, looked at you, looked at your work, and then put it in the pile with a sigh saying "that's the one you want to turn in??" (And to think I took photography because it counted as a science for graduation and would be easier than biology....yeah, right....)

I see pictures everywhere I go. The only difference is that now I am compelled to take the time to stop and actually take the pictures.

OK, so back to the part about why you probably don't want to go anywhere with me....

This is me the other morning:

Open the blinds, just about sunrise. AHHH!!! Look at the light on the clouds! This is going to be a great sunrise! (Grab my camera and step out on my patio.) Crap! Wrong angle - gonna miss it! Wait - over there would probably be a good angle!  (Throw something on so the mosquitoes don't eat me alive) Hurry up - the light is already changing!!!

Here's what my neighbors see if they look out the window:

A crazy woman in pajama pants, a hoodie up over her head like the unibomber, with white crew socks and flip flops, running around between the bushes and trees, and then climbing/hanging over the fence behind the apartment complex with a camera.


Me driving home from work the other day:

AHHHH! Look at the clouds and the angle of the sun! Gonna be a great sunset! Storm coming in fast. Can I get a shot from the car? Crap. (Me then holding my phone with one hand shooting random shots out the driver side window while looking ahead so I don't crash my car.) Shit! This is a GREAT sunset! Look at that storm!  AHHH!!! Traffic!! No exit for another mile - you're killin' me Smalls!!!  Finally an exit! YAY! Crap - nowhere to pull over. Wait - over there! Vacant lot! Take about a hundred pictures from as many angles as I can while the storm blows in. (The photo with the lightning and colorful rain above is from one of those shots)

What other people see as they drive by:

A crazy woman wearing nice work clothes in a dirt lot next to a construction truck and a port-a-potty, running around in the wind and being pelted by rain while taking pictures with her phone as traffic speeds by.


Me on a hike or a walk:

What a beautiful day! Look at that! and look at that! Lynette, don't you already have pictures of that? Yes, but the light is different this time! And look at the shadow! (Walk about 10 feet.) Ohhh look at that! That would make a nice picture!  (Walk about 20 feet.) Oh, there's a bird! Can I get a shot? Yay! Coming back - Oh! look at that! Wait, didn't you take a picture of that on the way out? Yes, but it looks different on the way back in! OK - just put the camera away and enjoy the walk/hike. About about 10 minutes later....Ohh look at that! Camera comes back out....


Basically me anywhere:

Oh, look at that! Pulls out phone....


It is such a beautiful world around us - we need to stop and experience it. We are all so focused on what's in front of us, the challenges we are facing, and what's coming up next, that we rarely take the time to actually see what's around us right now AND enjoy it. I happen to enjoy photographing it as well. I'm also happy to see that some of my friends are posting photos of the things around them as well.

Please don't speed by the sunsets without seeing them. Please don't race home to beat the storm without seeing the beauty of the storm. Look at the clouds - I can't tell you how many cloud shots I have. Be in awe of what's around you. 


Fast forward those many years - I can still hear Mr. Haddy as I take my shots. What's in the foreground? What's in the background? Are you sure that's the best angle? Where is the light source? Where are the shadows? Can you frame it better? 

Thank you, Mr. Haddy, for teaching me how to capture what I see.

From my sunrise excursion when dressed so delightfully...

The full lightning shot from my vacant lot vantage point

Various other shots from the road....

Before I could get off the freeway to find my vacant lot

Waiting at a signal on the way to work

AHHHH!! Pull over!! Pull over!! On the way home from work

From various hiking delays....

From hanging over the fence, standing in the weeds,

 at the dog park at my apartment complex

What ya looking at???

Yup - gonna be a good sunset!

And for every good photographer looking 

for the perfect shot.....sign? what sign?

"Things are only as important as I want them to be....."

"Things are only as important as I want them to be....."

Thank you Jon Secada

"I'm Free" (YouTube link)

In my previous blog I borrowed from David Bowie, and today I'm passing along a song I rediscovered a few weeks ago by Jon Secada. When you have a couple minutes take a listen - the lyrics are really good.

So it was a long, somewhat challenging week, and last night I was tired, hungry, and frustrated. After eating some dinner I felt somewhat better, but by bedtime I was starting back down the thought trail of "I'm frustrated with this" and "that should have changed by now" - you know, basically, "why aren't things the way I want them??" Old habits die hard.....

Finally kicked myself in the ass - "just knock if off and go to bed."  Had a restless night, and when I woke up I was still fighting it off. OK. Time to get serious. "You are NOT getting out of this bed missy until you get your head on straight." (good thing it's Saturday - it took a while, and I would have been very late for work on a weekday....) 

"You are going to appreciate everything today."  Everything?? "Yes, EVERYTHING."  "Do you have arms and legs that work?" Yes. "Then get them moving and appreciate that they work." Oooohhhh. OK. I see your point. "And be thankful that you are moving that lazy body out of a very comfortable bed."

Rain is in the forecast this weekend, so wanted to hit the trail this morning. Went to fix a quick breakfast so I could get out the door, and when I opened my pretty empty fridge, I regretted not stopping by the store on my way home last night. Kinda grumbled as I pulled together what I could that would feed my body for the hike. "Did you just open a refrigerator with food in it?" Um, yes. "Think about that. Do you appreciate your beautiful working refrigerator in your beautiful kitchen??" Um, no, I hadn't thought of that. "Well, that's something to appreciate too."

So you get the idea...

I stopped fighting with myself and started to open up and settle in to this appreciation game for the day. (The whole day??? "Yes, the WHOLE day.")

Threw on my trusty old tennis shoes I use for hiking, my trusty old hat - and glory be! It's only 65 degrees as I leave the house. YES!!! I'm actually wearing jeans!! (of course, half way through the hike I'm thinking shorts would have been a better choice....)

Jump in my trusty old car, roll down the windows, turn up the music, and head to my trail. Get to the park - nuts! Everyone else thinks it's a great day to hit the trails too. There will be several people on MY trail. Pick the route I want to take and head out. Yup, people, and many mountain bikes. Hmmmm.... OK, turn this around Lynette - you are appreciating everything. So, I smiled and wished a good morning to everyone I crossed paths with. And you know what? They all smiled and wished me a good morning too. I gave encouraging words to one bike rider who was really struggling to get up one of the steeper parts of the trail. She laughed, said thank you, and seemed to brighten up. 

When I stopped at one of my favorite spots to sit and meditate, I was annoyed when I heard voices coming up the trail. Nuts, I wanted the quiet, and noisy hikers are coming by. Can't they hear how loud they are being? Sheesh. As I'm sitting there thinking that with all the people and activity, I'm not seeing the wildlife I normally see, I turn around to the voices...and I get the best surprise! The "hikers" were on horseback, and I got to meet some absolutely beautiful creatures! They paused so I could take photos and meet each horse, give them treats and get nuzzled. How awesome was that??!! OK, so maybe it's not a bad thing to have people on my trail...

I spent the rest of my time on the trail truly in appreciation for everyone and everything. 

When I got home, I got a glass of ice water. Wait - did I appreciate what I just did? There is clean water for me to drink whenever I want it, and there is a freezer where I can have ice whenever I want it. How often do I appreciate that?

I go to take a shower to change from a hot sweaty mess into a presentable human. Again - I can have a hot shower whenever I want AND change into clean clothes.

Then I start making my list of other things I need to get done, like laundry and grocery shopping (to replenish the earlier mentioned empty fridge). Kinda start to grumble about that - wait...

I have a grocery store walking distance from my front door that is full of thousands of choices of food and household items I use. Do I really appreciate what that means?

I have a washer and dryer in my apartment. I can do laundry whenever I want. Do I really appreciate what that means?

Hmmmmm.....this appreciation thing is starting to get out of hand.....

People who know me know that I really have very little in the way of possessions. Had a hard lesson early last year where I learned that stuff really is just stuff. But apparently I'm still learning the lesson of how to truly appreciate my life, the people in it, and my experiences. The value of the God given talents that I either downplay or don't recognize. Isn't that part of appreciation too??

Let the ass-kicking begin. None of the conditions of my life have changed, but the way I think about them is changing. There is so much to appreciate, I don't know how I have the time to find the things that I waste so much energy being unhappy about. Sheesh. 

"Things are only as important as I want them to be....."  

Choose what's important....

Choose what to focus on....

Choose to appreciate...

Have a great day....and here are some photos from my appreciation hike: