B is for Balance #atozchallenge

Almost exactly seven years ago I opened this blog with a post titled the same.  Balance.  I was then at the beginning of a wonderful journey.  I was just starting to explore photography, what html meant, and how to put myself out there and meet other bloggers.  I was recently contacted by a grad student at USC who wanted me to participate in a study he was doing on what compels people to share of their lives online.  Though I did not engage his request, I have thought back on my original motivations.  It makes me smile to think about the wonderful community of friends that has resulted from my writing in this little space.  Some who may always be 'virtual' ones like the best of pen pals, others who I have met in 'real life'.

I have also learned a bit about balance.  It is something that we all strive for, but what I have realized over time is that balance is not a static state.  You do not just find it and freeze frame.  You have to actively engage balance.  Do your most perfect yoga tree pose, then catch whatever life throws at you, teeter and regain that center.  Balance may only happen in fleeting instances, but those treasured moments inspire movement forward.  It is ok not to be balanced all of the time, a little risk taking simply enhances the path you are on.  Sometimes for the good, other times may be somewhat less, but learning is growth and strength, two of my building blocks to finding balance.

Blogoversary

It is hard to believe that four years ago, in an attempt to better organize our growing homestead, and keep our families up to date on daily life I began to write this blog.  The first post was balance.  Fitting, now a handful of years and a seeming lifetime later it remains a goal.  My kids have gone from babies to tweens and pre-teens.  

I have met many amazing people on this journey, who have shared in my life through writing, photography, even daily thoughts or mentions through social media.  I thank each and every one of you who take a moment out of your day to catch a glimpse of mine.   It means so much.

As part of my morning, I spent some time looking back on posts of the last four years.  This is a handful of my favorites or most momentous occasions.  It does good to look back and see how much we have learned, how far we have come, and give some perspective about what is important in this great journey of ours.

Happy writing!

our story

a split second in slow motion 6/3/2009

my budding activist 8/3/2009

what would grandma do? 10/4/2009

reverb10 wonder 12/4/2010

reverb 10 party  12/9/2010

a difficult decision 2/16/2011

don't count your chickens 3/14/2011

a guest post from b  8/8/2011

raspberry tip 10/2/2011

legacy in life, in art 10/11/2011

newspaper seed pots- video tutorial 4/17/2012

first farm bags of 2012 6/17/2012

operation swarm containment 7/1/2012

a glimpse 7/12/2012

harvest is 7/23/2012

harvesting honey- part one 9/17/2012

deguster 9/20/2012

paths and bridges 9/24/2012

new eating schedule 9/26/2012

then and now 12/19/2012

#scintilla13 - chance meeting 3/18/2013

back to the garden

taste of taw

Taken a Hit

As I was catching up with my Postcards to Blog Camp group on flickr this morning, I thought to myself  What?? It's the 13th of December and I haven't posted a single photo this month!  That is a first for me in the last two years.  So as I was sipping coffee and getting the kids ready for school, I opened iPhoto so that I could upload photos.  I was shocked to see that I've taken precious few shots in the last two weeks.  The vast majority were either barn kitty, gnomey or before and after Norwex shots that I could use at shows.  Obviously my photography has taken a hit as I find a new balance getting my business up and running.  I feel pretty good now after the first 6 weeks and I think that as we head into holiday travel I will be focusing more on my lens. After all, it is an amazing way to look at the world, capturing life as it sits in each moment. 

Parts of Wholes

Up........Down

Strong........Delicate

Grow.........Hibernate

Wind..........Calm

Spring........Fall

Rain.......Drought

Yin.......Yang

Being and non-being produce each other.
Difficult and easy complement each other.
Long and short define each other.
High and low oppose each other.
Fore and aft follow each other.

All parts of beautiful wholes

**Italicized excerpt from Tao Te Ching

One Word Wednesday~ Balance

 I know what you think I'm going to talk about, and though it's always a quest, I'm also on another one this year....I need to start getting myself back in shape again. 

It's funny.  I seem to have lost my core, my center of gravity, after two kids and a handful of years (well, ok, almost a decade).  Have you noticed that?  I am not quite as balanced or limber as I used to be and I hope to remedy that this year.  We have a Wii fit and it really is a cool little beast.  The balance games are fun and really show you your inadequacies talents.  Some cardio, some yoga, oh I would love to take up tai chi, but most of all on this first One Word Wednesday of the year, I plan to get back a little of my balance!

Won't you join the fun?  jillsygirl is back with One Word Wednesday!

#reverb10 ~ Day 27 & 28 ~ Achieving Joy

I once again find myself answering two prompts at once.  I feel like these two dovetail nicely and I must say that being on vacation allows me to relax and remind myself as I said in Day 18, not to be so hard on myself if I miss a day.  I just need to catch up and go forward. 

December 27 – Ordinary Joy. Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year? (Author: Brené Brown)  #reverb10

December 28 - Achieve.  What’s the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you imagine you’ll feel when you get it? Free? Happy? Complete? Blissful? Write that feeling down. Then, brainstorm 10 things you can do, or 10 new thoughts you can think, in order to experience that feeling today. (Author: Tara [...] #reverb10

The steps toward achieving ordinary joy come from those same small jumps toward achieving balance.  When I began this blog, my mission statement, so to speak, was to find balance while creating this family dream on our homestead.  I do not think that you can simply say that you are going to be more balanced and equilibrium immediately appears.  It comes in moments, miniature captures of time, where you get that feeling of peace and ordinary joy.  You achieve balance by recognizing those moments and remembering them, so that they may be duplicated over and over. 

As to the things that I can do to achieve this?  I think those steps simply come from day to day choices that move me forward.  In 2011 I will:

create

learn

fine tune

teach

play

read

write

laugh

capture

brainstorm

&

give

yes that is 11 but we are headed into 2011 are we not? :)

We are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act. Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them.

Buddha