TODAY'S PHOTO -
bicyclist reflecting on a bench at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge as he awaited the sun setting over the marsh land.
Loxahatchee is at the northernmost end of the Everglades. This was our first visit since the extensive damage of Hurricane Wilma. We spoke to a ranger there on Saturday and learned that 77 trees along the boardwalk through the Cypress Swamp had been destroyed! A crew will be coming in from Maine in January to repair the extensively damaged boardwalk.
See ISSUE 32 to see a photograph of what was. Over 3 years ago I termed my photo drawing of a similar view, "Path to the Future". It was the first Natural area here in Southeast Florida that I visited once we made the decision to purhase our, new-for-us, home.
I selected the above photo to share today for its overall peacefulness and also for the quietude of pondering on this week when many of us are probably reflecting on the past year and looking ahead to the next one.
ACKNOWLEDGING -
I am feeling truly blessed at the huge influx of new subscribers who have come in over the weekend. Again especial thanks to Stacey Robyn and her Picture to Ponder Testimonial in GoGratitude's Day 28 BEYOND EGO.
E-mail me if you want the specific contents of that mailing.
The reason I am including this background as part of today's Self-Reflecitng Queries is that I have grown to view our subscribers as a wonderful community, with Picture to Ponder as a developmental vehicle integrating many of our experiences.
I thank all of you who wrote warm and empowering comments on what you've seen in the landing page issue with the Little Blue Heron reflections and on other pages to which you went. Several have listed the sites you have, most of which I've visited, and I am most impressed with the artists, writers and musicians among you.
One thing that I have been noticing throughout all of this is my own growth, for which I will acknowledge myself. Last year, I would have been totally intimidated by the fact that so many of you "accomplished" people are interested in what I have to share, both visually and in words. My thoughts would have been something like, "Who am I to share with them? What can I be saying that would make a difference?"
Now, I'm simply feeling quite comfortable without all that "noise." In great part this comes from all of you subscribers who have been giving me empowering feedback and support during our first year together and all of you with whom I've been in teleclasses and online workshops in the past few years. I deeply appreciate you all. You know who you are. THANK YOU!!!!! (back to the top)
And to all others of you, be assured that even if you have never written to give feedback, the knowing that you are out there "listening" has been an ongoing source of pride and strength.
SELF-REFLECTING QUERIES -
I invite you to now look at the communities in your life. There is probably more than one. Are they comprised of people who empower you? If "yes", have you acknowledged them recently? If you haven't, it is certainly a good time of year to do that and in keeping with the GoGratitude messages.
If your answer was "no" to the question on your communities empowering you, I invite you to look at that. Are there actions you can take to alter this? Or, is it time to remove yourself from any disempowering ones?
Lastly, be sure to look back at your own accomplishments this year AND acknowledge yourself for them. For what are YOU patting yourself on the back? Perhaps there are even people whom you would like to ask to do that patting.
Have fun.
SHARING YOUR COMMENTS -
If you are moved to respond to anything in today's issue, your comments will be welcomed. If you would like you can send them directly to me , or you can be public and even link your website, if you have one, by sharing on the BLOG.
When you go to the BLOG,
you'll see the current issue and photo and a link at the end for Posting Comments. To see the photo
ENLARGED at the same size you see it here, simply click
on it.
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With love and appreciation,
Sheila and Sam Finkelstein
sheila@eteletours.com
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© 2005 Sheila Finkelstein
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12 Most Favored Photos (with links) in First 100 issues (back to TOP)
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