The quiet of the morning.

I just returned from a walk with Jack. The sun was rising and the birds were chirping. The traffic had not yet begun to increase and the streets have not yet begun to clog as people undertake the craziness that is their day/life.

As I walked I thought of a passage from Dzigar Kongtrul and his book “Light Comes Through.” In this passage he discusses what we/society have defined we need; those things we have found we “cannot live without.” In the passage he says, “The phenomenal world is much more fascinating and juicy when we stop grasping…wanting…craving. This is because the mind is present, the sense wide open, and the conceptual mind relaxed. We make tremendous space in our mind when we let go of this “can’t live without” desperation. And, when we discover the richness and contentment within our own mind, we find an answer to the lifelong question, “Where do I find satisfaction and contentment?”

The sunrise, my family, good health, my dog, and chirping birds. These are some of the things I cannot live without. These are the simple things in our lives that we miss everyday because we take them for granted. We only begin to notice them when they are gone and even then we blame others when we are as a result unhappy.

Take a minute everyday to notice what is around you. I mean to really notice it. Grab a leaf and feel it’s texture, notice it’s color, see it’s shape. In Buddhism we call this mindfulness. Be mindful of those things around you, the things we take for granted. The next time you wash dishes actually feel the the heat of the water, the slipperyness of the soap and take great solitude in such a mindless act. The way a small child’s lip curls when they smile. These are some of the things we never notice and take for granted because we allow our life and the speed in which we live it to take over . During a recent wedding which I had the privilege to document, the bride’s mother asked about one photograph. When she saw it she knew it immediately and said, “Thank you so much for getting this photo.” The photo was of the ring bearer giving two-thumbs up to the couple as they danced their first dance. This is where my photography has helped me to achieve peace and balance in my life.

Slow down.  Notice and enjoy life and  be a part of  your life. Don’t just “go through life.” It is a wondrous opportunity that I can share my photography with others and help them notice the things I did through the lens of my camera.