taking a moment

As I sit here, scarf around my neck and a steaming cup of tea close at hand, I know by the way my head is spinning that I wasn't able to outrun the cold and flu season. Drat!

Now, more than ever, it's time we pause and take a moment. To slow down. To let our bodies rest. To give our mind a few minutes off. To look around, breathe deep and appreciate the little things. No matter what is going on around us.

I won't be telling your how many days there are until Christmas, I promise. Instead, I will urge you to move more slowly. To give yourselves a little extra time to get to the places you are going. To drive more carefully than usual. To try to keep your mind on only one thing at a time. To avoid distractions. To exhale.

If we all use our collective energies to slow it down a bit, maybe we'll actually feel it in the air. All of us together, taking a moment.

In honor of the day...this day I declare is the day for slowing down (why not?)...share an image of calm, of peace, of stillness. Show us what it means to use your camera as the tool to take a moment.

I'm feeling a little bit better already, aren't you?

Comments

[Jen at Cabin Fever]

As soon as I get out of work I plan on slowing down....... That's how my life is. As everyone else's winds up mine comes to a close in the morning. So is the life of working the night shift. But I am seriously looking forward to some time to sort through all the photos I've taken in the last few days!

http://www.nekphotography.blogspot.com

http://www.cabinfeververmont.com

[Marcie]

Images that calm..that make you stop and look and see:
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1393

Wonderful advice for this holiday season. Hope you feel better soon!

[Kat]

I found myself breathing more deeply and settling into calm as I read your words! Thank you so much for them. :) I hope you feel better soon.

This is one of my favorite images, it brings me peace:
http://www.kateyeview.com/2010/05/lessons-of-language-and-culture.html

[Juju]

Eve Creek, in the South Carolina Lowcountry. This isn't where I live, but the image feels peaceful to me.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juju-b/4565125237/#/photos/juju-b/4565125237/lightbox/

[Christineellen]

It was so calm and quiet the morning I snuck out of my house to take some pictures. This is one of my favorites:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/christineellen/5246628580/

[Misty]

Sick day: It's the only time they stay still.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dontforgetthehorse/5077561849/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dontforgetthehorse/5071149869/in/photostream/

[Kristal]

Thanks for the reminder. Feel better. :)

Trees always make me feel calmer. Here's a favorite pic of a lone tree that I pass every day on the way to work.

http://kristalmarie.typepad.com/capturing_life_and_chasin/2010/12/happy-potd.html

[christine]

Here's some recent pictures I took that I find quite serene and calming.

http://just-travelin-through.blogspot.com/2010/12/postcards-from-countryside.html

[Jill F]

http://fingerontheshutter.com/


and take time to smell or photograph the flowers :>)

[elk]

so very true . feel better soon!

i took a moment ... groceries everywhere needing to be put away ... click for a little fun:

http://www.redorgray.com/2010/12/grocery-shopping-is-low-on-my-list-of.html

[Dotti]

Tracey, I hope you feel better quickly. I'm sure slowing down will help. By huge coincidence, I had already decided last night that I was going to stay home from work this morning so I could do some pleasurable Christmas tasks and lighten my load for the balance of the week. I've been moving too fast! "Slow down, you move too fast . . . "

[Dotti]

http://www./photos/48337138@N04/5flickr.com265586231/
Whoops . . . left off my photo (from Picture the Holidays)

[Dotti]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48337138@N04/5265586231/

Maybe this one will work. (I'm really not usually this inept. I DO need to slow down!)

[Heather]

I took my four year old for a pony ride a few months ago at a neighborhood ranch. After taking dozens of photos of her, I briefly turned my head and saw this little moment of serenity.

[Heather]

The link :)

http://prideandjoyphotography.smugmug.com/Art/Others/15094872_4KS64#1128274239_foL5E

[Puna]

I hope the snow will slow everything down today.

http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2010/12/december-16-snowfall/

[Holly { Soupatraveler }]

i was able to steal outside a couple of evenings this week to catch the sunset light with my dog. now that its pitch black when i get home from work, these two evenings were a special gift. we just meandered around our hood capturing little bits of goodness as they presented themselves. here's a little treasure that came from in a slow, reflective moment, http://www.flickr.com/photos/soupatraveler/5259693342/

[Sue]

I visit places like this early in the mornings to help me slow down, breathe, and appreciate the day that I have been given...

http://suehenryphotography.wordpress.com/2010/11/13/beautiful-and-mysterious/

[joey]

Things like this remind me to slow things down for the whole family.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19379573@N06/5265679615/

[naomi]

Peace. Calm. Stillness.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/5265926078/

[Beth]

Yesterday I spent running around at work, getting yelled at, crying, then I got into a bad car accident on the drive home - and I was lucky to walk away. Talk about life smacking me in the face and telling me to SLOW DOWN.

This week, I need a moment like this one -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14632491@N07/5205420498/in/set-72157625171414893/

[mosey]

I'm with you, Tracey. I wrote on my blog a couple of weeks ago about "embracing my mosey" - that I feel more centered, healthy, happy if I just slow... it.... down....

This shot makes me feel peaceful:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/a-la-mosey/5215937789/

[AnnGeeDee]

Yesterday I took a day off to plow through a few things left on my to-do list. I was racing racing racing all day to accomplish as much as possible and then it came time to do my assignment for Picture Holidays. I moved this ornament to hang low on the tree and as I laid on the floor to get the shot, it was still spinning. I had to force myself to be patient and wait for the motion to stop and in that moment, I found a bit of peace. http://www.flickr.com/photos/anngeedee/5264896247/

[Debi]

i painted the walls at work and suddenly found a new inspiration. i am working on a photo project, using my non iPhone cellpone camera, which i LOVE - my version of Polaroid, i sometimes think. i haven't been this excited & inspired in years - the images + photoshop are satisfying the non-producing painter in me. more than satisfying.

this is the first shot of the project, back in november, about silence and that moment at the end of the day when you say ahhhhh.

http://emmatree.blogspot.com/2010/11/late-birthday-evening-lily-in-my-lap.html

[Lisa]

This post couldn't have come at a better time! Last night I was feeling so dreadfully overwhelmed, realizing how soon Christmas was, how little I have done, and that I'm not sure how I'm going to possibly make my money stretch as much as it needs to! Haha. But seriously. Beautiful post, and I think I will take your advice, and make some time for me tonight. <3

[Oliver]

Great post, it's a shame we have to force ourselves to take some downtime nowadays.

Here's a shot I feel is fitting:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliverivorybray/4832360308/in/set-72157624758328768/

[Kelly Sauer]

I got over the huge busy that was my November, finally, and I'm breathing this week. Taking time to rest, pray. Wait. It has been a while.

http://www.kellylangnersauer.com/blog/2010/12/16/a-restless-heart-on-prayer-and-change-and-gods-nearness/

[rawqueen]

calm and warm. slowing down. lots of vitamin C!
http://somethingblu.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/life-i-love-you-post-99-last-chancefrom-the-rock/

[bella]

Thank you for this invitation to move slower.
For me, it's all about sitting back and noticing the little things.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cirovic/5257006013/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cirovic/5248357269/in/photostream/

[Trude]

I love that photography makes me slow down, observe things differently, more closely that I ever used to. When I turned and saw my parent's shih tzu sitting in the exact ray of light from the shutters (ha! no pun intended), I had to drop everything and get down on the floor to shoot him. :) http://www.flickr.com/photos/trudem/5260186638/

[claudia]

I was thinking that very thing as I was driving home from some errands. The colors of the sun setting on the sky and snow were calling to me to just stop the car and take a shot. Thanks for the reminder Tracey!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/5264898385/

[Anika]

Ahhhhh, thanks for the reminder. Going to make a nice cup of coffee now.

[ToniM]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michel92/5252468649/

I could sit and stare at a roaring fire in our fireplace for hours. Just to feel the warmth, listen to the hiss and pop of the wood as it burns and watch the flames dance.

[Audra Van Vliet]

This is a very peaceful place where we go to sled.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellsbellarina/5252599421/

[Suki]

Calm, peace and stilness captured for me here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/suki_fotografiert/5266584995/

[WorthIt!]

Thanks for the reminder to enjoy all the things this season brings - like the opening of amarylis buds.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52055227@N07/5266841327/

Hope you are feeling better soon!

[Lauren]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/18572605@N02/5266847859/

[brandi]

amen on slowing down...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandelionseeds/5262690758/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandelionseeds/5265252970/

[kat]

i took these photos while waiting in the car for my youngest daughters soccer game to begin...it was actually very peaceful with the rain gently falling! Just taking that moment before i had to go out and get soaked watching the game...but they won, so it was worth it!!

http://artblogbykat.blogspot.com/2010/12/yeahim-bad.html

[Michelle Smith]

It was very still, peaceful, and COLD this morning....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26029966@N02/5266756108/

[kristin]

so sorry you are sick. sending healing vibes your way.
and yes i can surely use a good exhale today... thank you.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/5222587510/in/set-72157605805974818/

[tara]

Feel better, Tracey! I've so appreciated the calm you've helped bring to my holiday season this year via Picture Holidays (and I spent the last 10 days fighting a cold and stomach bug)!

This shot of faded blooms is calming to me.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/impossibletask/5265720094/

[Samantha]

I am all for slowing down. We are all so busy that we have forgotten how to enjoy life. The problem is that many of us have overloaded our plates and we feel guilty for taking time to stop and smell the flowers. I vote we all hit the florist!!!

[Jennifer Steck]

I am planning to take time to breathe and to really enjoy time with my family.

http://abriefpause.com/2010/12/335/

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