Poetic Winter...

People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy.
Anton Chekhov


Ten thousand flowers in spring
the moon in autumn,
a cool breeze in summer,
snow in winter.
If your mind isn't clouded by unnecessary things,
this is the best season of your life.
Wu-men


When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.
Francois de la Rochefoucauld


Calm in quietude is not real calm.  When you can be calm in the midst of activity, this is the true state of nature.  Happiness in comfort is not real happiness.  When you can be happy in the midst of hardship, then you see the true potential of the mind.
Huanchu Daoren

Calm... it's usually how I start the day when it's just me, some tea, maybe my camera, and an affectionate cat or two close by.  It's also the thing I probably find hardest to hang on to as the day progresses... The quotes I sought out when I was putting this post together did make me take a step back and think - because it's true that when your mind is calm it doesn't matter what's going on that you can't control, what the season is, or what other people are doing.  It all really is a state of mind...

Tea and photography - my ideal recipe for early morning calm...

Poetic Winter...

Passion... ok this one was hard and I really had no idea what to do for it.  I didn't want a cheesy take on it so in the end I took a photo of a book.  I am passionate about books and it's a book of love (or is that lurve?) poems.  Whatever...

Poetic Winter - Warmth

Poetic Winter Photography Challenge...

 

Solitude...

Our language has wisely sensed the two sides of being alone.  It has created the word loneliness to express the pain of being alone.  And it has created the word solitude to express the glory of being alone.

Paul Tillich

No man ever will unfold the capacities of his own intellect who does not at least chequer his life with solitude.

Thomas De Quincey

Some moments can only be truly experienced and enjoyed if you're alone - when you can forget about anyone else's expectations and needs and just revel in the moment of being you.  Whether it's daydreaming on a bench, enjoying the beauty of a winter's day beneath a tree, losing yourself in works of art, or trying to capture that elusive photograph you've been after -  it's good to take time-out from the rest of the world...  The people in these photos would no doubt agree with me, unfortunately for them they of course had me stalking them with my camera :O)