In recent posts I’ve mentioned that as I’m transitioning into my Love with No Regrets business, we’d be revisiting photos and Self-Reflecting Queries published over the past seven and a half years in Picture to Ponder. In general discussions have almost always been on expanded seeing both in our behaviors as well as our environments. My aim now is to find photos and queries more pointedly looking at these themes.
One of the big filters I’m still using is my usual “stop at anything that catches your eye” mantra. In this case it’s my eye. The next step then is glancing over the “Queries”, particularly with relationship issues and tips at the forefront. Remember, no matter what, we are all in relationship with ourselves as well as others. This issue is a revision of one published on March 23, 2007.
Today’s Photos –
Waterfall Walls colored by Nature over time in the garden at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami, Florida
The “scene” in the first photograph above is what first attracted me. I was immediately drawn to the colors in the wall when I glanced over and saw them. The horizontal gray bars in the upper left provide a great and subtle contrast to the diagonals and colors elsewhere in the layout.
I include the second and third photos mainly to give you the fuller picture of what I photographed. I especially like the contrasting textures in the middle picture.
Today’s Photo Story –
Once home from the outing, I immediately downloaded all the fountain and waterfall photos I had taken; then watched them as a slide show. I was thrilled. The photos were amazingly beautiful. As we watched, my friend who was with us kept saying, “You must have done something to the pictures. I did not see any of these colors.”
I actually had done nothing other than focus and shoot with my digital camera. I’m not even sure if the colors came out very differently from what was there. What I do know is that I photographed what was exciting me.
Thinking about the process I began to have a somewhat better understanding of what may be happening for those people who appreciate and speak so highly of my photography.
When I aim my camera, I am not focused on getting great pictures, as such. I am simply recording what I am seeing and feeling without any specific intention. In so doing, I’m thinking, that is the expression and feeling that comes across to you.
Self-Reflecting Queries –
This leads to the query, “Are there places in your life where you are so focused on getting a point, or point of view, across in a specific way that you may be losing the underlying passion that was the cause for it in the first place?”
I invite you to look, in particular, at your communication with your partner or someone close to you.
Do you sometimes get caught up in the embellishment of the “story” attempting to “paint” a whole picture of all the emotions and happenings? In the process do you lose sight of what it was in the first place that drew you to the particular situation or communication?
If so, you might stop and ask yourself before continuing, “The point of what I am saying is….”
As you so do, I invite you to go back to the component parts that attracted you and recreate your expression, or message, from there.
When discussing this with a friend, she said her photographs never come out the way she envisioned them.
I suggested to her that next time, she zoom in, focus on and then photograph all the individual pieces of the landscape that are drawing her in. Only after doing that, step back and photograph the whole from many angles.
Again, I invite you to do the same if/when you find a discussion and conversation moving off course. I suggest that you remember to pause and take a few deep breaths, then explain to your partner what you are doing, inviting him/her to join you, in looking at the pieces, recreating the whole desired situation.
Have fun and please post your experience of this in the comments below.
55 Ways to Show Love – Get Your Copy Now
It includes contributions from 30 Picture to Ponder subscribers. You can get the download link by clicking on 55 Ways PDF. All of the tips are filled with love. There are some especially creative tips ones.
“Sheila Finkelstein, ‘Love with No Regrets,’ offers a soulful guide to deepening love with a partner. ’55 Ways to Show Love.’ I was one of the lucky contributors. Get download here.” Jan Lundy, www.awakenedliving.com
[Note this does include a subscription to Picture to Ponder and so long as you use the same email address as you have here you will NOT get duplicate mailings.]
LWNR: ReInvent Your Love – Complimentary Exploration Session –
There are a few spots open next week for a 1/2 complimentary Love with No Regrets: ReInvent Your Love Exploratory Session. See EXPLORATORY SESSION for explanation and link to book YOUR session.