Arid Ascent: The Solace Ethos

08/23/2026

Thank you to the Great Mother for the rain that brought purification and renewal. I was grateful to get out this morning for a Sunday morning stroll ☀️🌳🥾

08/21/2026

“Let us think of life as a process of choices, one after another. At each point there is a progression choice and a regression choice. There may be a movement toward defense, toward safety, toward being afraid; but over on the other side, there is the growth choice. To make the growth choice instead of the fear choice a dozen times a day is to move a dozen times a day toward self-actualization.” - Abraham Maslow

🌻☀️

08/12/2026

Oh, How I Love Being In My 50s 👑

I no longer allow fear or urgency to guide me 🧭

🌻🦂🐇

08/09/2026

It is a rough day. 🌻🤗💛

May my heart be clear.
May my intentions be honorable.
May my actions bring no harm.
May I live in gratitude.
May I walk in harmony with heaven, earth, and all living beings.
May peace dwell within me.
May peace be my companion.

07/28/2026

I was okay going for a stroll in a light rain ☺️.
Then it decided to downpour 😳.
I was no longer okay 😅.

Video of a light drizzle before the pour!
Background sound, water draining into a well.

07/20/2026

Went on a short stroll yesterday.
Much needed outdoor time.
Probably wouldn’t have handled today’s WTF moment without it.

Show yourself some grace!
Everyone is human, imperfect, fallible, and mortal, so they are not the expert of your life.
Set those boundaries. Be resistant to anyone who tries to mold or control you.

Mental health really is not complicated.
No, it is not easy. You may face uncomfortable challenges.
This is when a truly good person who has received education as a mental health professional can come in handy.
Not to tell you what’s right or wrong. Rather, welcome you to dump it out or structurally lay it out so you can work through it your way. 🌞🌻🌳🌴🌲🌊💦🎭

05/25/2026

04/30/2026

Studies show even photos of nature have a positive effect on the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) which processes emotions (fear, pleasure, stress), make decisions based on rewards and consequences (to eat a donut or not to eat a donut, that is the question), judge what feels good or bad in a situation (intuition), and regulates reactions (such as calming down or controlling impulses). The studies are usually limited as they only use "green" nature.

So tell me, what do you feel when you see these images? How bout when you're out for a stroll in nature?

04/28/2026

Went for an uphill stroll just to waddle down to this lovely jem 🤩, and absorbed some rays for natural Vitamin D production.

04/27/2026

Healing is akin to beginning and tending to a garden. There will be progression and regression. Everything will eventually break down, which allows room for new roots, growth, and nourishment. You will sow seeds, and you may choose not to keep everything that sprouts. However, there is a benefit. Much can be learned from both failure and success. The sun, warmth, overcast skies, precipitation, and shade are all essential elements. 🌻☀️🌨️🐝🐞🐛🦋🏵️🧑‍🌾🌳🥑🍓🍇🍋🥦🥬