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Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Date: November 2022 After a particularly long travel day and late arrival time, I opted to spend the night in Boston before heading home after a big trip. I recall a perfect sunny day a few hours before a friend was scheduled to pick me up, so I took a walk near the hotel and came across this architectural marvel, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. 
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Location: Unknown
Date: August 2017 This girl loves flowers. Each day, I take a morning walk and during the warmer months, I am always stopped in my tracks by beautiful blooms. I take so many photos, I have no idea where I took this photograph but seeing its delicate features up close reminded me of how precious some true miracles can be. 
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Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Date: January 2025 She will always be my baby but what a young woman she has become. My darling daughter, Lila, is a world traveler, fearless performer, and the love of my life. I took this photo when she returned to Scotland, where she attends University of Saint Andrews. No matter how old she is, I cry when she leaves. What can I say - she will always be my baby. 
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Location: Jamestown, Rhode Island
Date: December 2020 One of the reasons I moved to Rhode Island - sight unseen - was its proximity to the ocean. Being near the ocean is a very important thing after living almost three decades in Oregon and visiting the coast. There is nothing like the salty air, crashing waves, and when you are really blessed, finding treasures from the sea. It was during the pandemic year that I ventured down to Beavertail State Park. Free access to the ocean, which can be ironically a bit challenging in the Ocean State. 
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Location: Paris, France
Date: February 2018 It was on my first trip to Paris that I had the opportunity to visit the Basilica of Sacré Cœur de Montmartre in Paris and it was breathtaking. It was well worth the climb to the top of Montmartre because once done, you can see the whole of Paris. I also was blessed with an apricot sunset while I was there that served as a backdrop to another iconic Parisian landmark: The Eiffel Tower. 
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Location: St. Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
Date: October 2023 I have the opportunity to visit Scotland each year since my darling daughter, Lila, started attending the University of St. Andrews which was created in 1410. It is located in a small village northeast of Edinburgh and is bursting at the seams when school is in session but I visit during October break when many folks leave. It is a sojourn for me and I also get to spend time with my darling daughter. The St. Andrews Castle is 450 years old and once served as a bishop's palace, a fortress, and a state prison.
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Location: Moonstone Beach, Rhode Island
Date: February 2022 This is just one of the many photos that I took of one of my most favorite places in Rhode Island: Moonstone Beach. The stones are like jewels and it is a peaceful place to visit during the couple of months that you are allowed to explore it. This is one of my 'go to' places to take out of town visitors to when they are in town. It is always a favorite destination. And, bonus: Daddy's Bread is just up the street! It is a family owned bakery that offers up some of THE BEST BREAD around but it is only open during summer months and on the weekends.
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Location: St. Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
Date: October 2024 I took this photo on my third visit to see my daughter who attends St. Andrews University and discovered it on a tour of The St Andrews Botanic Garden which is an 18-acre botanical garden in the university town of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. It is located on the banks of the wooded Kinness Burn in the Canongate area, on the southern edge of the town. Of course, there weren't any flowers blooming at that time of year, but when I entered this garden, the tree stopped me in my tracks.
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There's nothing I like more than a good boundary. Okay, that isn't exactly true. I like coconut cake, stop-me-in-my-tracks art, and genuine random acts of kindness a bit more that creating a good boundary. But, truth be told, I have learned that the more I go into the scary, 'oh this is so effing uncomfortable' space of advocating for myself via a good ole boundary, I feel so much personal power. I grew up in a house without any boundaries. For example, in my teens, my mother 'stole' a few boyfriends from me. A couple ended up living with us, too. That is a story I won't lean into here (and I've done a lot of work on navigating all the crap associated with those experiences) but I share it to emphasize some of my own 'that sucked' events as a young person. Not a stretch to realize I had some boundary setting struggles. After some therapy in the early days and lifelong learning through reading/podcasts/conversations/experiences, I leaned into getting really serious about becoming my own Boundary Boss - and it has paid off for me one hundred fold. Now, don't get me wrong, folks. It still carries discomfort to stand up for myself (believe it or not) but I gotta tell you, it has become truly liberating to gently (or not so softly in some cases) advise someone to back the eff off. This will be something I must keep front of mind for the rest of my life and I am here to share with you, dear reader of this post, if you do the work by starting with your own version of baby steps, it can have a tremendous impact on your life. <3  I think I discovered the secret of life. Last week or so, I enjoyed a happy hour beverage with a new work friend who is a 24-year-old fella and we got to talk in about life. And it was in our conversation I just had this wild sensation of time travel back to when I was in my mid-twenties. I was struck by how much life had transpired since those days And I realized that had I adopted a more mindful way of being, the past few decades wouldn't feel like a blink of an eye. Nowadays, I am more mindful with my experiences. I'm really absorbing using every sense I can in a moment and when I do that it seems to make the moment seems longer and when I think back about the experience, It feels like I'm in the moment again. Does that make sense? When I'm rushing around not even looking at or thinking about what I'm experiencing, it's lost, the time is simply lost. So if you want to live a super long life, super saturate your moments by using your senses in each experience you can to make it double the lasting experience. Today, I enjoyed a delicious brunch with my friend Kamrin, which included a love fest with Buck the dog. Absorbing those moments of connecting with a friend, eating yummy french toast, and giggling over the attention of the cutest dog in the world - well, that sure was a slice of The Good Life. ❤  |
AuthorLet's create a BIG life one small adventure at a time! Here are a few of my experiences - perhaps you may find a little nugget or two that inspires you to take your own baby step to living your dreams! Archives
April 2025
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