Project Athena - Day 126 (Fun!)

Hiking!

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity...”
— John Muir

Who do you think won this stand off with the cow? Granted, the cow was still just a baby, but she was actually kind of intimidating as she bogarted the trail with her bullying  Alas, her fierce stance gave way to fear of the hiker and her running to her Momma...this time.

Today while hiking, I had an awareness about photography come to me....It is an activity of playing the odds when you get right down to it. The first way to increase the chances of achieving a captivating photograph is to have a camera. Seems obvious but I hear a lot of people say they would love to win the lottery but never purchase a ticket. Second, the odds are increased substantially when one decides to get off the couch and out of the house, with the camera of course. Knowing how to use the camera increases the odds again and being willing to squat, lay on the ground, climb, hold up traffic, talk to people, go against many social norms, carry and use a tripod, and miss out an occasional party happening during the golden hours all contribute to boosting the odds exponentially.

That's all I have to say on that subject for now. Smiling lots today.

Stand Off with Angus Calf

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 18-55mm lens • 40mm • F/6.3 • 1/1600s • ISO 400

Project Athena - Day 125 (Fun!)

Guess Who?

“What you focus on grows, what you think about expands and what you dwell on determines your destiny.”
— Robin Sharma

Focusing on FUN this week has manifested in some amazing, fun experiences. Guess who I get to see tonight? Hint: they were made out of green Playdough before I changed their hue in Photoshop.

Guess who...

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 55-200mm lens • 92mm • F/4.6 • 1/100s • ISO 400

Project Athena - Day 124 (Fun!)

Might as well jump!

“When he worked, he really worked. But when he played, he really PLAYED.”
— Dr. Seuss

Rainy fall day. Oh well, it gives me an excuse to use this shot I took a few days ago when out on a walk in the park.

It seems to me that fun was had by all cause I was truly entertained watching this dog play! The kids in the background were kind of cute too.

Dog chasing Frisbee

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 55-200mm lens • 200mm • F/5.6 • 1/800s • ISO 400

Project Athena - Day 123 (Fun!)

One Lara Leaping

“A wise woman never plays leapfrog with a unicorn!”
— Common Sense

Fun at Fort Collins City Park this afternoon with my partner who is all about fun!

It's amazing the wisdom that can come up in the lightness of laughter. Leap frog reminded to be conscious about the game of leap frog in life:

Taking short cuts rarely produces my desired outcomes. The unicorn is just one of the potential hazards of leaping over life lessons to "get" something or somewhere. IN other words, missing out on the experiences that life would offer to appear successful is missing out on life itself.

No goal is more important than the connections that are made along the path so be heart-full of who I leap over and how I leap over them. Rather than assuming that I will always be rewarded for my efforts and that everybody will be happy for me when I succeed, be grateful for anything  that feels in alignment with the highest and best for all concerned.

Life is a game with no "winners", just like leap frog. Whether leaping or being leapt over, I have felt extremely vulnerable at times and I imagine that those I have played the game with feel somewhat the same. Competition has almost always resulted in some emotional cost for me, all to uphold the illusion and image of being a  winner. Remember authenticity, symbiosis and cooperation are the core values guiding this lifestream.

Lara Leaping FrogNikon D3200 • Nikon 55-200mm lens • 62mm • F/4.2 • 1/1000s • ISO 400

Lara Leaping Frog

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 55-200mm lens • 62mm • F/4.2 • 1/1000s • ISO 400