Blink
And in the blink of an eye, it was over.
Whether you have the summer off or not, everyone feels its’ end, most likely in a melancholy kind of way. With a slight pang of apprehension, I can’t help but recognize that the season has already begun to show hints of turning. The cycle has begun, again. Yes, in the blink of an eye, the summer is nearly over. That’s how life is though isn’t it? One minute they’re babies, the next they’re in school. Before you know it, they are driving and off on their own. I see it clearly now. Change is going to happen, regardless.
Life is fragile and passes quickly.
About a year and a half ago, I resigned myself to living in the moment the best that I could and as painful and beautiful as that has been at times and with all that’s transpired since then, I don’t think there’s much left that can surprise, shock or even hurt me anymore. Life is fragile and passes quickly.
And now, I am resigned to living it to it’s fullest.
The challenge for me, is embracing it in a mindful, peaceful way.
Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
In seeking peace for myself and in effort to make the most of my last week off before going back to work this Monday, my daughter and I drove Upstate to spend some time at our place in the woods. Her teacher joined us for a few days. As we puzzled and hiked and ate ice-cream, Irene was churning away, gaining strength as a category 3 hurricane in the Bahamas. I watched her unstoppable force rapidly move toward the east coast. I debated whether to stay put on the outer reaches of harm’s way for however long it would take her to pass or go home where my son was, much closer to her destructive path.
My heart belongs to two children. I chose to go home. But I leave here, a glimpse of the peace I found, with my girl, in the woods.

A bobcat resting in the high grass interrupted our hike, sending Hannah, her teacher and I scurrying back toward the house! Not peaceful but definitely exciting!

Before leaving, we baked Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies to eat during the storm ~ Baking always helps me feel peaceful!
Life is fragile and passes quickly. How do you find your peace?
Photo Credit #1: Blink
Photo Credit #2-14: ©Karen Szczuka Teich and http://www.Takingtheworldonwithasmile.com
Wonderful pictures from a wonderful place. So glad you are able to enjoy your little piece of heaven. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for reading and commenting Ronnie!!
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Enjoyed the pictures (except the creepy spider!), Karen. For some reason, this stirred some tears out of me, too. But, I’ve come to be okay with that :-), and the fragility of life, is of course, so true. I find peace from prayer, I also find peace when I lay my head on the pillow at night. I live on a hill called “The Mesa”, and from the top of the mobile home park I’m in I can see the Pismo coast line as well as the dune. I find peace being close to the ocean. Sort of ironic knowing that hurricanes pass through where you must live, but it is the truth for me. The ocean and its expansive nature, the seemingly endlessness of it, the breezes that blow, the scents in the air, the wildlife around it, all calm me down. Thanks for sharing, and I hope your son and home were okay from the storm.
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Thank you for reading and your beautiful and thoughtful words, SWM!
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Those cookies look amazing!
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They were!!
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“Life is fragile and passes quickly.” So true. Your pictures and your place are breathtaking. Thanks for sharing your peace.
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Thank you, Aimee!
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Such beautiful photos! I feel the loss of summer over here, as well (the West Coast of Canada, to be exact!). The breezes have changed; they are still warm but they carry that definitive Autumn spirit. Here’s to hoping for a stunning Fall for me and for you!
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I’ll eat cookies to that, Miranda!
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This was all so sweet and inspiring and then… HUGE SCARY SPIDER! Ah! That is terrifying! I love the rest of it though.
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Ha, Ha! It looks huger than it was and like I said, after the bobcat encounter, it was nothing.Thank you for reading and commenting!!
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Karen , you should take up photography, these pictures are beautiful,
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You show the peace of the world to us in your pictures,thank you for sharing!
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Thank you for reading and commenting, Candice! Glad you liked it.
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