Five end-of-the-day activities you’ll love

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Five end-of-the-day activities you’ll love

The fast pace of life often causes us to lose touch with ourselves by the end of the day. We feel so overloaded and exhausted that watching TV, scrolling social media or the internet is all we want to do. The thing is, doing these things actually stimulates our mind—not the best strategy for a good night’s sleep. Instead, try to end your day with a calming activity or two. Research says it’s your best bet to beat those wakeful nights. Here are some tried and true ways to unwind your way.

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Summer Hiatus

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Ocean beach & sky. © GIVEN PHOTOGRAPHY 2020

Ocean beach & sky. © GIVEN PHOTOGRAPHY 2020

We are off for some awesome “self-contained” travels with our new little trailer that we affectionately refer to as Bliss. So I’m taking a summer hiatus from my blog for the next few weeks. I’ll be back in the fall with more stories, photos, tips, travel escapades, and a whole lotta nature love!

Until then, I hope you take your own summer hiatus and nature yourself beautiful every day in every way. And remember, as we continue to face this Covid pandemic, we are all coming home to ourselves.

I’ll leave you with this…

To be beautiful means to be yourself.
You don’t need to be accepted by others.
You need to accept yourself.

-Thich Nhat Hanh

PICTURE IT WELL: what if forests were our church?

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© copyright given photography 2020

© copyright given photography 2020

I found this poem in an old Yoga Journal magazine and was drawn to the nature analogy. It seemed so applicable to today’s world on so many levels. Click on the author link below to read the fascinating biography of this life long adventurer.

RAINFOREST POEM
What if?

“What if religion was each other?
If our practice was our life?
If prayer was our words?
What if the temple was the Earth?
If forests were our church?
If holy water—the rivers, lakes, and oceans?
What if meditation was our relationships?
If the Teacher was life?
If wisdom was self-knowledge?
If love was the center of our being.”


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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Create your own morning ritual for a beautiful start to your day

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Create your own morning ritual for a beautiful start to your day

I created my own morning ritual about 14 years ago and it is now an amazing grounding force in my life. I started with journaling and a cup of coffee each morning for about 15 minutes. Over the years I switched to herb tea, added meditation, added a homemade green smoothie and within the last few months, professional daily writing. My morning ritual has grown to about an hour and a half. I do have the luxury of writing at home, but when I was working out of the house, I gave myself extra time by getting up earlier. It was worth every minute.

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One darn good reason to get up early!

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One darn good reason to get up early!

Sometimes it's good to get up early. But given the choice for most of us, the soft sheets, warm cozy blankets and lull of sleep make it way more appealing to stay under the covers. And if it's still dark outside when your alarm goes off...it's even more challenging to get out of bed.

Here's one good reason to get up early...

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Five outside activities that will help your holidays shine

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Five outside activities that will help your holidays shine

I love this time of year. Right about now I start getting that good feeling of what's to come.

And, I've intentionally scaled back so much throughout the years that now the season feels way more festive than frenzied.

Not only have I trimmed back, but I've let go of all my expectations (well most). That in itself is a great gift!

This year we are opting for a different kind of Thanksgiving. Circumstances (good ones) just worked out that Curt (my life partner) and I have the day to ourselves.

So, I'm packing a lovely simple picnic with a great bottle of Pinot Noir (exellent with turkey and cranberry sandwiches) and we are heading to the foothills of the Cascade mountains for a nice hike along a river.

It seems like the perfect place for us to give thanks for all that we have in our lives while surrounded by natural mountain beauty.

Here are four more ways to experience the beauty of the holiday season outside...

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PICTURE IT WELL: be the one who has moxie

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PICTURE IT WELL: be the one who has moxie

This year switch up your resolutions. Instead of setting them based on what you haven't done like getting fit, cutting down on TV, or starting a new hobby, try this. Set them based on what you want to become. I read somewhere that the top three things women want are:

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5 easy ways to practice gratitude in nature

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5 easy ways to practice gratitude in nature

The holiday season is a wonderful time of year. Filled with well wishes, lots of merry and maybe a little craziness. Taking time to feel grateful about big and little things in your life during the next few weeks is the best way to change craziness into calm and truly feel the spirit of love and giving. Here are some of my favorite ways to practice gratitude outdoors.


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