Slow down, but Don't Stop Moving!

I have been hiking a few times this summer! Yeah! I love hiking, and really haven't done much of it in the previous couple years.  A childhood friend and her husband are avid hikers, so it has really been great! We also go to yoga together sometimes.

We have come up with a super fun hiking tradition! We do a yoga pose together at the trail end before heading back! =) The we post it on Facebook!

Still quite a bit of snow in the sub-alpine lakes in the north Cascade range in June, so we were not able to hike around Lake 22, but it was great fun!

I haven't been able to hike or even work out for several weeks because my hip has been giving me issues, but i am scheduled to start my injection treatments tomorrow, so I will be in hiking shape again SOON! Might even be ready for a gentle, easy, hike on Saturday =) If I don't go check out one of our local small community fairs! Most likely, I'll end up working Saturday ;)

Perhaps I'll go to the fair with a co-worker on Sunday, and I'll photograph her children! I have a family portrait session scheduled for Thursday that I'm excited about!

So, I'm staying active, even though I cannot WORK OUT at the moment. Keeping moving, and watching what I eat since I'm not burning as many calories. I'll be back on track again in a short while.

Holding Hands with a Dragonfly

I stepped outside for lunch, and a co-worker pointed to the sidewalk. Sitting there in the sun was a dragonfly!

Not wanting it to get stepped on, I put my hand near it ... and it walked right up onto my fingers!!

It was SO beautiful with all of it's luminescent colors. I was in awe of this moment, watching this beautiful creature resting in my hand so authentically and trustingly!

I decided to set it safely in the grass, but it did not seem to want to leave me, so we spent a few more minutes together, just looking at each other. I was finally able to get it to walk off my fingers and onto the grass.

With that, I then started thinking of the significance of this amazing and rare interaction and connection! My higher power (G.U.S.) seemed to be sending me a message in a treasured moment!

To broaden the significance, I borrow the following from The Dragonfly Site to help explain what message G.U.S. may have been trying to remind me of!

Symbolisms of the Dragonfly

• Maturity and a Depth of character
  The dragonfly, in almost every part of the world symbolizes change and change in the perspective of self realization; and the kind of change that has its source in mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life.
  
  The traditional association of Dragonflies with water also gives rise to this meaning to this amazing insect. The Dragonfly’s scurrying flight across water represents an act of going beyond what’s on the surface and looking into the deeper implications and aspects of life.

• Power and Poise
  The dragonfly’s agile flight and its ability to move in all six directions exude a sense of power and poise - something that comes only with age and maturity.
  The dragonfly can move at an amazing 45 miles an hour,  hover like a helicopter fly backwards like a hummingbird, fly straight up, down and on either side. What is mind blowing is the fact that it can do this while flapping its wings a mere 30 times a minute while mosquitoes and houseflies need to flap their wings 600 and 1000 times a minute respectively.
  
  The awe inspiring aspect is how the dragonfly accomplishes its objectives with utmost simplicity, effectiveness and well, if you look at proportions, with 20 times as much power in each of its wing strokes when compared to the other insects.  The best part is that the dragonfly does it with elegance and grace that can be compared to a veteran ballet dancer. If this is not a brazen, lazy, overkill in terms of display of raw power, what is?

• Defeat of Self Created Illusions
  The dragonfly exhibits iridescence both on its wings as well as on its body. Iridescence is the property of an object to show itself in different colors depending on the angle and polarization of light falling on it.
  
  This property is seen and believed as the end of one’s self created illusions and a clear vision into the realities of life. The magical property of iridescence is also associated with the discovery of one’s own abilities by unmasking the real self and removing the doubts one casts on his/her own sense of identity. This again indirectly means self discovery and removal of inhibitions.

• Focus on living ‘IN’ the moment
  The dragonfly normally lives most of its life as a nymph or an immature. It flies only for a fraction of its life and usually not more than a few months. This adult dragonfly does it all in these few months and leaves nothing to be desired. This style of life symbolizes and exemplifies the virtue of living IN the moment and living life to the fullest. By living in the moment you are aware of who you are, where you are, what you are doing, what you want, what you don’t and make informed choices on a moment-to-moment basis.
  
  This ability lets you live your life without regrets like the great dragonfly.

• The opening of one’s eyes
  The eyes of the dragonfly are one of the most amazing and awe inspiring sights. Given almost 80% of the insect’s brain power is dedicated to its sight and the fact that it can see in all 360 degrees around it, it symbolizes the uninhibited vision of the mind and the ability to see beyond the limitations of the human self. It also in a manner of speaking symbolizes a man/woman’s rising from materialism to be able to see beyond the mundane into the vastness that is really our Universe, and our own minds. 

Love and Peace to you as you move forward in your quest to
Live Well!
Love,
Suzi~Q