mindfulness – Ritva Sillanmäki Photography

I am grateful to Tina from Travels and Trifles for presenting this challenge today, as a reminder that I am quite a happy woman 🙂 Life is basically good, even thought I just last week became once again a woman of leisure, as my job ended after a short period of time. Now I find myself faced with the hassle, again, of trying to find a new job at my age, and the reality is that it feels like a daunting challenge that will not lead to success. However, I am grateful and acknowledge that I have a roof over my head and loving friends and family who support me. I have husband, three boys, four grandsons…what girl wouldn’t be happy surrounded by so many boys 😀

I live in a beautiful country that is a haven for both children and adults, allowing us to walk around freely and safely, whether in cities or nature. That reminds me to appreciate the little things. Hanging on to my positive attitude is a must, and although there are moments of doubt, I strive to remain almost happy, finding joy in the present

I live in the happiest country in the world, as recognized in the UN World Happiness Report for the 7th time. Why? Apparently, the answer is rooted in the fundamental trust present throughout Finnish society, which enables individuals to feel safe and relaxed in their daily lives. Another reason contributing to our happiness is the proximity of nature; the four seasons , the stunning landscapes, abundant forests, and serene lakes all provide a beautiful escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life, offering a tranquil environment that encourages mindfulness and appreciation of the simple joys of life.

However, in my opinion, our current Government is doing a huge amount of things to destroy this happy dynamic, pushing for policies that undermine social cohesion and environmental protection. It’s disheartening to witness changes that might jeopardize our well-being. Yet, despite these challenges, I still find moments of joy and connection in the everyday, almost happy… that is something to be grateful for.

And like many others in our lovely blogging community, which I am grateful for, I in a position where I can travel, meet new people, see wonderful places. Joy.

I want to thank Patti for last week’s In The Details challenge. I got bit carried away with it, but I did only link one to her beautiful original post that inspired me to go out and shoot 😀 I don’t know about you but I discovered some things that were a really nice surprise!

Finally I hope you’ll join us next week when Ann-Christine once again leads our challenge. In the meanwhile, be happy for the things you are grateful for 🙂

PS. and who is not grateful for chocolate ❤

Connections, Donna wrote so beautifully about this topic and gave such great inspiration as how to approach the challenge, it gave ideas I could not have thought about.

It’s simple.

The connections we make to people, places, things and ideas, are what give purpose and meaning to our lives.

I have photographed this path – road so many times during the 28 summers we have spent here. I have an emotional connection to it. I love to watch how the light and shadows play on it during different times of the day and during different seasons depending on the sun level. It looks totally different in the summer versus autumn. But to the topic, I have a connection to it. I have spent so much time here I’ve watched my boys grow here and be connected to this place, we have moved several times , but our summer place is a constant. We have with our own hands refurbished and built to what it is now our own getaway.

As a child, we lived by the sea. I wandered through forest to be at the seaside, my bare feet sinking into dew-kissed grass on the way. The forest whispered secrets—how to listen, how to observe. I learned the language of birds—their melodies echoing through the canopy of trees. The scent of pine needles and damp earth seeped into my skin, becoming a part of me. The forest next to the sea has its own distinctive scent, I can still remember it.

Spring unfurled delicate blossoms, and I danced with dandelions, their seeds carried away by the wind. Summer brought lovely shades of green, flowers of many colors and light, warm nights. The wonder of light filled nights surprises me every year. You know they come but you are still amazed. Autumn was a symphony of crunching leaves, bright colors, musky scent and soft tones that comes with low light. I am not going to touch winter , I grant you that it can be beautiful, a big but, I do not feel no connection to it. I am connected to my homeland, my roots are here.

Animals and people, the connection so important so comforting, and it unconditional. The comfort of a cat purr at your touch, dog looking at you with trusting eyes, the loyalty of the constant companionship. Animals have an innate ability to understand our emotions, connect with us on a spiritual level, and offer us healing when we need it most. They remind us that we are all connected and to be mindful of our relationship with the natural world.

I am not going to touch the topic of family… too much to say about that. But it is obviously one of the most important connections we have in good and bad. We all have our own story …

Last week we stepped out of reality with John’s challenge, AI. There is always room to learn something new, and John sure gifted us that opportunity, though I was rather reluctant to do so. I am already working on next week’s challenge, you will see what I come up with by checking my blog. Join me Saturday 12:00 EST to find the next challenge.

Interested in knowing more about the Lens-Artists challenge? Click here for more information.