take time to quiet the mind
and tend to the heart.
then go out and look at the sky.
[ jack kornfield ]

yesterday wasn’t a photo shoot day but rather one of phone appts and writing so i wrote this from my front steps. noticing.
the happy dogs on a walk.
the breeze.
the wet ground from the rain this morning.
the bunny tucked behind a bush.
it’s all hyperalive when we pause to notice.

random fact:
the state motto of north carolina (and a bunch of other organizations) is Esse Quam Videri
the meaning is:   To Be Rather Than To Seem.

I’m officially throwing in the towel on seeming anything fantastic –  a couple days ago at costco, i ran into two people I adored wearing socks with birkenstocks so appearances are clearly not at the top of the list ;)

but being…that’s worth uncovering.  and so in the moments of stillness i’m working to cultivate each day, i’m thinking about that.  the natural planner in me finds it helpful to fast forward –  what exactly do i hope will be the major hallmarks of my life?  and then i land back in the present to be about the work of exactly that.

by reminding myself of who i am, i see opportunities in a new way.

i get the sense that we really are those hopeful identities already – we’re just lovingly clarifying and removing any dust that’s settled in the corners.     gorgeous, amazing things come into our lives when we are paying attention: mangoes, grandnieces, Bach, ponds. this happens more often when we have as little expectation as possible…astonishing material and revelation appear in our lives all the time.   we just have to be open for business. [ anne lamott ]

love and more love,
-melanie-