Reflection – Are you part of a flock?

[REFLECTION]

Monday, August 24th, I boarded a plane bound for F-L-A to spend a week with friends, sand and surf. Nothing to do. Nowhere to be. Just to simply BE. And that I did. It was absolutely FAN-tab-ulous.

Most who see my posts, saw the daily fun and escapades. The closing down of restaurant’s and trying of new foods. Drink and festivities. Sun and sandy toes. There is no secret whatsoever that Carol absolutely loves to be sunkissed, have the sand between her toes and feel the warmth of the sun on her body, the less clothing the better. Just a fact. At one point, my feet were sore from walking in the sand. I think I exfoliated a quarter inch off my feet from walking the beach. I took a lot of photos. Some I shared. Others will be in my personal archive for a lifetime. Some are in my head for me to pull from when most needed.

One that I absolutely love … every time I look at it just speaks volumes to me, and causes me to sit and actually write about it. It’s the birds, shown here. There is so much going on in this shot. From one perspective to another. As I came upon these birds, I saw another woman simply taking photos of the birds. Obviously, she was happy with her shot, we exchanged pleasantries on the beach and moved along our way. I stood there. Looking at these birds. A whole community. And although I loved the shot. I was not IN LOVE with the shot. I needed something more. How could I possibly get “more” from this shot? Was it angle? Was it light? Was it background? If someone from afar was watching they would have surely thought I needed restraints, that something was wrong with this woman analyzing this flock of birds.

…. I cued my trusty iphone to the camera app and took off running with arms outstretched holding it in both hands to steady and click click click click started firing off shots as the birds started to lift off because I was chasing them. THERE was the shot! I laughed the ENTIRE way.

What you see is my favorite.

I love how the storm is brewing to the right. I love how they are running from me creating the motion seen here. I love how some are hesitant – waiting until the last possible moment of danger or threat … making sure that this is the real deal before lifting off to go to safety… the risk takers.

And then I sit here this evening … on this Sunday night before Monday. Before others will groan with dismay about the morning, bound to begin soon. And I wonder… are you the one who flies in fright immediately? Are you the risk taker waiting until the last minute, gambling that things may just change for the better OR are you the person initiating change in your life and causing the FLOCK to fly?

What will be YOUR game changer in life? And what about that storm lingering off in the distance? Will it really materialize or will it in fact turn into God’s grace and beauty literally before your eyes… giving you insight and security that tomorrow will be a brighter day? Better than ever imagined?

Sometimes whether you realize it or not. Whether you look left or right – what you need to see is right before your eyes. And it’s really pretty darned amazing, if only you are willing to OPEN your eyes and accept what is before you.

……And then. I turned on my heal, and headed back in the direction that I had come…., realizing that what I set out to find (a beach littered with shells that didn’t turn out as expected because of the impending storm and tides) – and I felt this overwhelming urge to turn around, and look back again…

….as if being tapped on the shoulder and someone saying “UM Hellllloooooo” …. I saw this shot above. I just stopped and breathed and I kid you not, after snapping this photo… that is when the pod of dolphins appeared

I realized that what you need is not that which can be held in the palm of your hand. It’s that which is held in your heart. heart emoticon heart emoticon heart emoticon

Melissa Friess-Bailey and Thomas Bailey Thank you so much for including me in your journey and your last minute getaway.

‪#‎memoriesforaLifetime‬ ‪#‎bucketlist‬ ‪#‎friends‬ ‪#‎fantasticjourney‬‪#‎its‬$#%^‪#‎3AM‬!!