It takes effort to be present

Every day of my birthday month, September, I photographed something beautiful around me that made me feel happy and for which I’m grateful.

I only used my iPhone 11 camera and didn’t use any filters. It was an exercise in consciousness and discipline. Making sure that I posted something every day.

Spring, a season laden with gifts

To start off with, I thought that I would capture whatever caught my attention and not follow a particular theme. The start of Spring was bounteous. It turned out that the majority of photos were floral or skyscapes.

The themes that emerged from this exercise  were: #simplepleasures #gratitude #chasethelight #itswhatyousee #obsessedwithcolour #floralobsession.

The miracle of light

It really is amazing how catching the light at the right fleeting moment makes all the difference to an otherwise ‘ordinary’ image. One has to be quiet, conscious of your surroundings, and patient.

“I am forever chasing light. Light turns the ordinary into the magical.” -Trent Parke

A mantra I like to live by is “Find the extraordinary in the ordinary.”  Here is a selection of  images and quotes from my birthday month project of #aphotoaday.

“There isn’t any such thing as an ordinary life.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Emily Climbs

“I’ve found that there is always some beauty left – in nature, sunshine, freedom, in yourself; these can all help you.”― Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

You’ve got to be present to see the little big gifts the universe gives us in random moments. Sometimes the gift only lasts a few seconds before the sun rises completely or the birds fly away.

“All things great are wound up with all things little.” ― L.M Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

She flirted with life, and life flirted right back with her, as if all the universe, became more alive just for her, and everything felt her glow, in the dew, in the stars, in the colours of the sky, it all shone for her, bright as it could, in the hopes to catch her eye.” – Atticus”

“To love beauty is to see light.” Victor Hugo

“We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.”― Anne Frank

“Imagine how you would feel if you weren’t seeking permission, approval or trying to prove something.
Memorize that feeling. It’s your home frequency.” —Maryam Hasnaa

“Travel light, live light, spread light, be the light.” Yogi Bhajan

One of my greatest pleasures is when I get up in time to see nature’s skyscape in the morning. I always wonder why the metaphor of clouds is often used to denote bad times. Maybe it’s a bit old fashioned now, not sure. In any case, the most beautiful sunrises have clouds.

Being a star just means that you just find your own special place, and that you shine where you are. – Dolly Parton

To me the colour of Africa is orange. I think of the sunsets, butternuts, spanspek, the coral tree blooms, aloes, the clivia and many more. Orange is such a vibrant alive colour.

“You may think your light is small, but it can make a huge difference in other people’s lives.” Anonymous