A Year in Life

How does one even begin to wrap up a whole year summarized into short story (or less)?

We are here again, the end of another year. Be thankful if you are here, the alternative does not seem as inspiring. Every year will have its ups and down moments, the crazy little thing called life. So, focus on the ups! Take those challenges and learn make even the downs an ups. If you take every situation, there is a positive to be found. Crazy things happen in the world all around us daily but in the end.....good prevails over evil, I know it true in my heart. There will be foggy, cloudy, cold even dark and snowy days, but the sun still comes up and provides light. How do I know?.......it is called Faith!

There will always be moments of joy and moments of sadness and loss, life balances itself out. This year, we had to say good bye to my dear little buddy, Bosco. Life will balance, as one life leaves this world, another enters. None of us get off this Earth alive, so focus on today and all it has to offer. Today, the last day of 2021 is icy, snowy and cold....my blessing it to be inside by the warm fire. There are blessings and beauty all around us, look for them. We can not control the rest of the world but we can control how we approach and view it.

It might be 26 degrees and snow on the ground, but rain, wind, sun or snow.....I still venture outside. Sometimes the experience is a shorter encounter. This year I accomplished 46 hikes, I hoped for 52. While I did not accomplish as many hikes, I still got outside 365 days and found a time for a walk. Some days pending weather too hot or too cold, might be a short trip up the road with Shasta and other days were a nice 5 miles down the forest road. My feet put on 1661 miles, I wore out 3 pairs of shoes. So 2022 will begin in less than 12 hours with renewed energy for hope with a fresh start. "Find life in harmony with yourself and the world around you. Become more aware of your connection to nature and our creator. Focus energy in an area that needs your gifts or talents. Be on track, the right place, right time. I have focused my daily talent and energy with seeing details in nature and enjoying capturing a feeling through the lense of a camera to share with others, this is my joy.

The world has so much to offer, view nature and let it teach. Open your senses when you let it in to explore and absorb into your soul. Don't live life hiding away or being too busy to notice. Despite the media and its fear tactics, you are still here and made it another year alive. My words for 2022 personally are; change, strength, purpose and miracle.

Change; In a world that is ever changing, don't miss today. As a photographer we see changes by the minute just from the light. I promise, tomorrow will look different than today. Don't miss a moment! The wind, rain or sun will change the smallest details in nature daily.

Strength; We need physical strength every day. Take care of the body you have, fuel it well. You were given a perfect body but like a car, you need to take care of it. Fuel it with good nutrition, cheap gas will make it run rough. Hydrate it with H2O, we can indulge in other beverages but after all simple clean pure water replenishes and flushes your system. Exercise and rest, a good balance of both. You can't run forever and yet need to take your body out and give it a go. That fresh air works the lungs. A balanced body needs the physical care and emotional care, nourish both.

Purpose; We all have a purpose in life. Some days it may feel small, but all of it is important. Find your daily purpose. I have to remind myself, being retired the purpose has changed, but there still is a place for me.

Miracle; miracles don't need to be big, treat every day and moment as if it is a miracle. Miracles are all around us. "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." Einstein

Listen to your heart and let it guide you along your path and happiness will be right there. Keep the balance with nature and be thankful for daily miracles, they are small blessings to be thankful for.

Nature is the most powerful force on Earth, man tries to match and defeat it. Instead, work with it, learn what it is telling you and offering. Let it shape and enhance your life, not bog it down. I choose to to view life as a gift that I still have opportunity to create within. Gather strength, wisdom, embrace change, find purpose, count your blessing to move forward into a new year and the miracle has already

taken shape.

Happy New Year

God Bless

and God Bless America