On a normal day, it's easy to get caught up in the monotony of everyday life, and to relax into normal patterns of to do lists. Bringing your camera with you can become a chore, and with its cumbersome size and additional weight, it isn't natural to bring a large camera with you everywhere you go. But, it's often in those trying moments when you just need a break from your daily life, that photography is the most meaningful. It comes in the form of stress relief and personal well-being. It also asks you to appreciate your surroundings and find joy in your life. For these reasons, I encourage you to take your camera with you on any day of the week, and to explore your surroundings in an appreciative and non-critical fashion, as if you had never seen the plants, landscapes, or people that are in front of you. You might just be surprised, as I was. Last week I was travelling for work-related training. I knew that my days would be super long, and that I would feel very tired almost all of the time. I hadn't really been to the area before, so I planned on enjoying the nature and soaking in my surroundings. I spent the first day wandering the campus of our training center, waiting to check into the hotel. Sure, it was a nice place; but, it didn't necessarily scream "photo-worthy". Yet that's what happened. On a normal day, I would have walked by the trees, and acknowledged that I was by a forest. I wouldn't have processed the new growth occurring after a harsh winter, the signs of recent precipitation clinging to the needles on a tree, or where the elements had felled a tree, but it persevered and continued to grow anyhow. On a normal day, it's so easy to ignore our surroundings and rush through life, but in doing so, we easily lose sight of what's truly important, and the importance of a positive mindset. I challenge you to go explore your own backyard. Don't think about what you've always seen, or what you expect to see. Instead, walk into the experience with your eyes wide open, your mind positive, and your camera ready to take it all in. Mandy
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