“It is necessary … for a man to go away by himself … to sit on a rock … and ask, ‘Who am I, where have I been, and where am I going?” ~ Carl Sandburg
I always enjoy being part of Kat’s Photo-Heart Connection and visiting the other participants’ blogs. Haven’t done it before? You can learn more about how to find your Photo-Heart Connection here. Kat talks about “making a commitment to connect art with heart” and invites anyone and everyone to add photography or artwork to the monthly connections.
My family spent a few days in Dallas over the winter holidays, just something fun… a change of scenery. The above photo is from the Dallas Arboretum. I have been wanting to spend time there for a couple years now and so my sweet Mr. B made it happen. He dropped me off so I could wander around alone. It was enjoyable to be alone in the quiet after being in a noisy crowded hotel for a few days and with our daughter nonstop.
The Arboretum is acres and acres (66 to be precise) of paths to explore. I covered the entire thing in a couple hours and then went back to a few choice spots. This pond was one of them that I particularly enjoyed. By the time I got there though, I was exhausted.
I settled onto a big rock and let my body sink into itself. After starting out with a wide heart and sure steps, I’d somehow gotten into a mood where I didn’t want to encounter any other people and was bothered by their nearness and their voices. I let the sound of the water soothe my nerves as my eyes feasted on all the leaves, lily pads, and colorful fish in the pond. I couldn’t think of getting up and doing more walking, so I stayed there a very long time.
I started to feel lonely, as if I led a solitary life and had nobody and nothing special to return to. I just kept staring at this group of three leaves, telling myself that the feeling is temporary and to enjoy the solitude and quiet. Sometimes I feel way too deeply. I realize there’s some judgement in that sentence, but honestly, I didn’t want to feel those emotions just then.
Overall, it was a pleasurable few hours, walking in the winter sunshine, enjoying the delicate leaves and flowing ponds, and stopping for a cup of warm tea. I hope to return in the spring to enjoy some flowers.
“Are the days of winter sunshine just as sad for you, too? When it is misty, in the evenings, and I am out walking by myself, it seems to me that the rain is falling through my heart and causing it to crumble into ruins.”
― Gustave Flaubert
Love the photos and the time you spent in contemplation, listening to yourself. What a gift!
Bo Mackison recently posted…Failed Relationships – How to Survive and Then Thrive
Put a camera in my hand, and I could wander alone for hours! In a way, I guess I’m not alone…Beautiful shot and post!
Paula recently posted…Photo Heart Connection – All Aboard!
I think it’s really cool how you were so self-observant. I think one of the biggest challenges to self development is improving your own self-awareness so that you have the ABILITY to work on yourself. This is a great post, Naomi.
Amy Putkonen recently posted…Tao Tuesdays: Chapter 35
Fabulous colour
Love the first photo, so beautiful. Totally makes me wanna go on a photo walk right now!
iHanna recently posted…Miniature Art Journal Idea & Drawing time
Sometimes, it’s hard to just sit and be with ourselves. We don’t always like what pops into our head in those moments. But we need those times… to discover our true self, to accept who we are at our core. A beautiful post and images! Thank you for sharing this moment of introspection with us in the Photo-Heart Connection.
Kat Sloma recently posted…A Stack of Letters
Beautiful photos – and I love the Sandburg quote!
Sounds like you had a great day! Lovely photos.
Margaret recently posted…Winter warmth
This is such a lovely PHC Naomi. I really love the second image and the blue green in the water. It reminds me of a Monet painting.
Miriam recently posted…Gosh! I had no idea…
Thank you, Miriam. Me too… so much of water is healing, even the photos.
Love your emotional connection to the photo. Thank you for sharing it. How wonderful that you got some time to yourself to explore.
Beautiful photo’s Naomi and it sounds like the perfect place for a break from all the hustle and bustle that happens in our lives…sometimes just a few hours, in a nice sunny place with a cup of tea really changes our perspective…Glad you took advantage of it.
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Naomi, I find your first photo heart-stoppingly beautiful. YUM. Thank you for sharing it.
Naomi–I’ve lived in Denton for almost 5 years and have not yet been to the Arboretum. Your photos have put this on my list of treats to give myself. PS I enjoy your blog xo
Susan Michael Barrett recently posted…I chose my word: smile. Oh, and I’m keeping a list of my laugh attacks.
What a beautiful post. Many years ago I would feel very vulnerable if ever alone with nature. I would avoid it and managed to fill life up with people,all the time. Then I ent though years of emotional tuff stuff and people were more than I could handle. I then learnt that nature is a place to experience my deepest emotions and understand my most authentic self. I now understand the vulnerability. Thanks for this wonderful post.
Karen Main recently posted…Are you short-changing yourself by multi tasking?
I completely agree with you Karen. The power of nature is amazing, an it’s understandable you feared it for awhile. One of my main goals is to connect more with the world around us… open the window shades, notice the sky, take a walk. Thanks for commenting!
Sometimes even good things can be tiring and overstimulating. I’m glad you found such a beautiful spot to stop and refresh yourself. I love that first image – especially the contrast of warm and cool colors where the light and shadow alternate.
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Thanks for stopping by and for your compliments!
Such a lovely pond with waterfalls. I can imagine the peace you felt there. Sometimes it’s important to recharge our batteries and enjoy some alone time. This looks like the perfect spot to do this.
So important – I think – to simply ‘be’ in the quiet and just feel even if the feelings aren’t quite what you expected. Lucky you to have had that opportunity to enjoy some of that.
You were in need of a recharge Naomi. I used to be that way when my guys were little. Sometimes it’s all a bit too much.
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Sigh. You are so right, Kelly. I think I was also on sensory overload already before arriving there.
Your images reflect a lovely peacefulness. I think many of us need some solitude to re-energize and center ourselves. The quote at the end of your post is beautiful.
Thank you, Gina. It was so serene there that day; sunny yet not that cold. I know that I need more solitude than most do, and have been trying to gift it to myself.
It looks beautiful there. I am glad you got to enjoy it.
Sounds like your time alone was just what you needed, and the images convey the peace and beauty of that place. I can see why you chose these for your photo heart connection!
Actually, it was right when I sat down there that I thought of the PHC and that this moment would be perfect for it. I don’t really know how it came to mind just then!