Seasons change, and as they do they bring with them the excitement of possibility.  The possibility of seeing old friends during the holidays, of snowshoeing in the woods in the dead of winter, of picnicking in the park or swimming in the river in the heat of summer, and the fun of harvesting apples in the fall.   I find myself wondering:  What will I discover? What will I experience?  Where will I go?

But as I wonder I also find myself caught up in my dreams of what could happen.  I find myself transforming these dreams into expectations.  Expectations of what winter, spring, summer and fall should be like.  Of what I should do.  Its moments when this happens that I have to remind myself life is not a race.  And although time is not endless for us, it is important to remember to enjoy what is happening around us rather then letting our expectations of what it should be like keep us from feeling unfulfilled or disappointing.  In this respect I'm always looking for small ways to appreciate what is happening around me.

As I have gotten older I have noticed the shifting of the light more profoundly between seasons then I ever have before.  I am thankful for this because it allows me to mark the passage of time, but also to realize that I am witnessing it happen in a way that is more present.  I remember simply being amazed at how it was suddenly so dark or suddenly light out till late into the evening.  It always seemed to catch me off guard before.  However, recently I've been witnessing the change.  Appreciating how gradual it is and realizing that this how most of life happens. Gradually.

Gradually, is a new frame of mind for me.  While I like to believe I am fairly patient, realizing the gradual nature of the seasons and of life has helped quiet my expectations and allowed me to witness opportunities and experiences bloom rather then feeling disappointment when something doesn't happen NOW.   Perhaps this is just a right of passage, a part of growing older.  Regardless, I for one, am simply thankful that I have come to appreciate it. 

There is something about the hectic way of life that prevents us (me especially) from really being present at any given moment. At least for me it's a constant struggle to remember to be appreciative of what's going on around me. To really see my surroundings and take everything in. In order to practice being present I occasionally partake in photography. Challenging myself to look at a place in different ways. This often times means getting down on the ground or climbing.  Stepping back, looking up, getting close and looking down. It's quite amazing what you see if you try a different perspective.

I like this practice because it slows me down and makes me really feel present in the moment I'm observing.  I guess this is a bit like a meditative practice. Perhaps you have a practice that helps you feel present too. In any case below are a few photos I've taken that have made me pause and say "wow" why didn't I try that before.

I recently did a sort of clothing that I no longer wear, didn't fit or had served its purpose and should be passed on.  In that sort I found and old tan/brown sweater that I had worn a bit but just didn't work well any more.  Being a thrift find in the first place it didn't quite fit when I found it.  So I decided to remake it by adding a beautiful lace panel to the back.  This design seems to be "in" right now.  But more importantly I've had a love of lace for a long time and this was an excuse to use some from my fabric collection that I've built over the years.   I took some photos of the process and shared them below.  I hope you enjoy and find your own inspiration to do something similar.  #upcyclesweater #lace #reuse #refashion