Quick takes

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Quick takes

Quick Takes is a growing list of places with brief descriptions based on our journeys and breathtaking scenery. We just wrapped up our most recent 12-day road trip in “Bliss." (our sweet little trailer). If you follow me, by now you know that I believe in the healing power of nature. And this is absolutely what we just experienced. Below are three new “Takes” from Mount Rainier! These are beautiful places worth adding to your travels.

Also, check out the entire Quick Takes section for more glorious spots to explore this fall. Be well!

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GRAMMY'S BOOK CLUB: Nature-themed books for kids

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GRAMMY'S BOOK CLUB: Nature-themed books for kids

When our granddaughter turned five we gave her a membership into Grammy’s book club. Every month she gets a book from us delivered to her house. I try to choose books that are not only entertaining, but encourage values, among many, such as, honesty, respect, and kindness. But even more so,

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Park Rx America - Nature prescribed

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Park Rx America - Nature prescribed

We stroll down the dirt path loving the vegetation. We are just east of the Cascade mountains near Winthrop in Washington state. Aspen trees, ponderosa pines, hemlocks, and flowering bushes border the trail. It is hard to convey how the smell of the dry warm foliage surrounding us makes me feel. It’s something akin to my younger days in Spokane when floating on an air mattress for hours or playing softball with friends and a keg of beer on the bench were at the top of my priority list.

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More ways to give your day a big boost

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More ways to give your day a big boost

This is a continuation of my last post about simple ways to give your day a boost. With so much turmoil in our world right now, it’s important to be aware of how we are feeling. If you are like me, you are probably feeling yet again, a little overwhelmed and asking yourself “what can I do to help?” Taking the time to self-nourish is critical to get to a place of resolution. When you feel better you make good decisions, you take solution-oriented actions, and don’t feel so helpless or frustrated. You feel more empowered. So here are more simple ways rooted in nature to keep yourself in a positive and compassionate frame of mind and moving forward, despite the horrendous happenings.

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PICTURE IT WELL: it's the journey

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Mt. Rainier, Mount Rainier National Park. © GIVEN PHOTOGRAPHY 2021

“It’s not the destination, it’s the journey”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Focus on the journey. We’ve long been taught to focus on the goal, but in reality it’s the journey that teaches us the most. According to a recent study by two behavioral scientists from the Stanford School of Business, those people who pursued their goal through the lens of a journey instead of a destination had greater success. Not only did they reach their goal, but they were able to sustain what they learned along the way. So what was the real achievement? Those smaller steps, victories, milestones, habits, and rituals that were developed as they worked toward their goal will continue to serve them for a lifetime of “journeys”—the ultimate goal.

PICTURE IT WELL photos from givenphoto.com symbolize some aspect of well-being. The brief text is meant to inspire you and demonstrate the uplifting power of nature.

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Quick Takes

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Quick Takes

I’ve created a Quick Takes section that has short descriptions and photographs of places to visit—mostly around the Pacific Northwest. It’s a growing list of places with brief descriptions based on our journeys and breathtaking scenery. Below are three new “Takes” from the section. These are beautiful places worth checking out.

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Winter wonder—martens, monkeys, and ladybugs

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Winter wonder—martens, monkeys, and ladybugs

It’s winter here in the northern hemisphere. Landscapes are starkly beautiful. Plants are dormant. Some animals are hibernating. And we humans are cocooning indoors for more reasons than the cold weather.

Amazingly, there is still a world of activity outside in the animal kingdom, which includes insects.

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PICTURE IT WELL: realize your inner strength

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This image of Mount Shuksan symbolizes strength, Endurance, foundation, stillness, purity, and perspective. Located in cascade mountains, washington state. © GIVEN PHOTOGRAPHY 2020

This image of Mount Shuksan symbolizes strength, Endurance, foundation, stillness, purity, and perspective. Located in cascade mountains, washington state. © GIVEN PHOTOGRAPHY 2020

Realize your inner strength. Life coach and motivational speaker, Tony Robbins, suggests that many of us are stronger than we think we are. A strong inner self can help us remain calm and resilient when adversity strikes. But how often do you draw from your internal resources to get you through tough times? Resilience, empathy, mindfulness, self-compassion, confidence, openness, determination, patience, and gratitude are all characteristics of inner strength. These attributes are what brings peace and purpose to your life for the long haul. They are your well-spring.

Use the stillness and beauty of this season to help you explore and tap into your own unique inner strength.

Peace and joy to all.

PICTURE IT WELL photos from givenphoto.com symbolize some aspect of well-being. The brief text is meant to inspire you and demonstrate the uplifting power of nature.

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