The path chosen

wooded path

What is it about paths that draws me in?
A quick glance through my photo library reveals numerous photos of paths – some straight, some winding –
I am particularly drawn to paths that disappear into the distance. The unknown, the mystery, the potential that they hold…

bridge in the woods

And today, as I follow a new bend in my path –
or maybe I turned at a fork,
I am excited to be heading in a new direction,
looking back only to reflect – but never walking backwards.

misty mountain path

Messaging with a friend about a new ebook by photographer, David duChemin, she also recommended his book “A Beautiful Anarchy: When The Life Creative Becomes the Life Created”. Excited to find it awaiting my arrival home, one evening, I devoured it; his words resonating with me from the opening paragraph to the last sentence.

Chessie sniffing flowers on a wooded path

“Now might be a good time to start unabashedly asking yourself, ‘what do I want?’”
Discouraged, I thought to myself, shouldn’t I have done this years ago? (Yes – probably)
Is it too late, now? (No – can it ever, really, be too late to make plans?)

rocky path

Choosing a path is not always easy, I know. It is often steep and bumpy – or just plain challenging –
but then, it is these paths that offer the greatest reward.
“There are no guarantees as we head into the unknown. There can’t be.”

mountain vista

I have five more weeks of going back and forth between my home in Vermont and my job in Boston – or maybe six? (I haven’t yet begun a countdown – undoubtedly, that will happen soon.)

Greg taking a photo from a mountain vista

In the meantime – I am enjoying all that summer offers. Gardening, I planted my first small vegetable garden in several years. My deck is a profusion of blooms and herbs as I can’t seem to get enough flower-filled pots – the garden center pulling me in as I drive past. On weekends, we have managed to find time for a few hikes – the scenic vistas on this post come from Mount Ascutney. I am also working on a couple new pages in my art journal – smile… Once things settle a bit, I will resume my photography challenge.

And that’s about it for me. I hope your summer is going well – I would love to hear what you are up to!

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6 responses to “The path chosen”

  1. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    I knew you would like the book! You were reading it at just the right time for you. I should read it again, and see what new morsels I can glean from it. I am reading When by Daniel Pink right now, which also looks very interesting. If only I could stay awake long enough to get more than a couple pages done. Hopefully this week will be better.

    I see new strength and confidence in these photographs.

    I just reading something the other day about all these great people that started later in life. Julia Child didn’t start her French cooking until she was in her 40’s. And there were many examples of people in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. As long as we breath it isn’t too late.

  2. Lynne Avatar

    The Path Chosen . . .
    Never, ever too late . . .
    Love the photos . . . and “my eyes” hiking with you.
    Loved visualizing your deck herb, flower garden . . .
    Happy journey in these next weeks.
    Excited for you.
    With love . ..
    lynne

  3. Debbie Avatar

    the words you have written today, the way you expressed this time in your life, perfect!!! the words are beautiful and the images match perfectly!!
    what am i up to?? same ole’, same ole’…but it is a wonderful life!!

  4. Beatrice P. Boyd Avatar

    Thanks Karen for mentioning photographer David duChemin in a previous post. I did an online look-up after that and have been watching some online videos. I’m not sure if our local library will have any of his books, but this post was a good reminder to check there. We all need new beginnings (myself included) and I wish you all the best in yours and will look forward to reading and seeing more as you move forward on this journey and the new adventures and experiences that await. Change is a good thing and you seem to be embracing it with open arms — yeah for you!
    Also, thanks for your recent comments on our road trip travels. We are back home in NH and slowly getting back to everything, but never “norma;” which is only a setting on the laundry machine as a sign once stated ?

  5. Carola Avatar

    A new path – but it’s never too late for that. There will always be bumps and bends and even detours (I had so many detours in my life), and sometimes we even have to take a couple steps back to find our path again. Your photos are perfect for this post – I do get that you’re drawn to taking pictures of paths. There’s something very intriguing about them.

  6. Barb Avatar

    Your photos remind me of the many paths I’ve taken – some have led to unexpected adventures that I treasure. I wish the same for you!

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