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Tree trunks pretending to be an elephant

Serenity Now!

June 6, 2020 by A. Cemal Ekin
Tree trunks pretending to be an elephant

In an old Seinfeld episode, George’s father Frank was advised to say “serenity now” every time he got mad at something to keep his blood pressure down. The mantra was meant to control his outrage. These days, it seems we need to say it, and say it often as we watch the killing of a black man, ensuing protests, and more bizarre events that followed. (more)

Our backyard
Our backyard
Siberian Iris
Peony Buds
Yellow ireses
Hosta
Rhododendron blossoms symbolizing a better future
Rhododendron bud symbolizing hope and serenity

As I kept repeating “serenity now” more often in the last ten days, I tried to find things in the vicinity to help stay calm. Nature, quiet neighborhood, and short walks came to the rescue. I tried to focus on flowers, plants, light, colors, trees, even tree trunks pretending to be an elephant as in the opening photograph. (more)

Shooting for the moon
Asbury Methodist Church
Muscari
Same wood, different colors
Like milk spilled on them
Wild flowers are coming to season
Phlox

But, I also picked a new subject, shadows. I had photographed shadows of the clouds from airplane windows and even wrote about them as part of my Infrared Earthscapes series.

This time, I noted the shadows of electric wires, poles, houses with shapes, and lines that caught my attention. But the most important thing that suited the huge shadows over the country was that shadows only happen when there is light. The feeling of the presence of light was as comforting as saying “serenity now,” maybe even more so.

Serenity now! There is light ahead!

Shadows
Shadows
Shadows
Shadows
Shadows
Category: Nature, Neighborhood, PhotographyTag: Covid-19, Neighborhood, Photography

Previous Post: « Rhododendron bud symbolizing hope and serenity A Simple Offering
Next Post: Old Photographs and Older Places Temple to Zeus, Diocaesarea (Uzuncaburç) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Can EREL

    June 7, 2020 at 1:05 am

    There is light ahead; serenity now! There is light ahead!

    Çok teşekkürler; sevgi ve saygılarımla,
    CE

    Reply
    • A. Cemal Ekin

      June 7, 2020 at 8:09 am

      Can, good to hear from you. Stay safe,

      Cemal

      Reply
    • Steve Mason

      June 7, 2020 at 11:20 am

      Indeed we all need it although choosing any of the Castanza clan as a metaphor is tenuous at best. A friend put up a FB post borrowing an old American Indian proverb I like that may be helpful.
      Two Wolves – A Cherokee Parable
      “An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life…
      ‘A fight is going on inside me,’ he said to the boy.
      ‘It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.
      One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed,
      arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies,
      false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego.
      The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope,
      serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy,
      generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.
      This same fight is going on inside you
      and inside every other person, too.’
      The grandson thought about it for a minute
      and then asked his grandfather,
      ‘Which wolf will win?’
      The old chief simply replied,
      ‘The one you feed.”
      ~ Author Unknown

      Reply
      • A. Cemal Ekin

        June 7, 2020 at 11:48 am

        A good parable, moral story, Steve. Unfortunately, there are feeders of both wolves; thus continue the struggle. Each wolf’s existence is eternally linked to the presence of the other. Good to hear from you, stay safe,

        Serenity now!!

        Cemal

        Reply
  2. Haluk Atamal

    June 7, 2020 at 3:19 am

    I try not to go mad and I am never unhappy about anything. I just try to convince myself to believe that every evil brings a big opportunity, only to be tapped out by high spirits only. I am usually successful.
    I believe you are too!
    Beautiful photos, Cemal. Thanks for sharing.
    Best tegards from Tarsus (I was there yesterday).
    Haluk

    Reply
    • A. Cemal Ekin

      June 7, 2020 at 8:14 am

      Haluk, your positive look on life is a good trait for sure. Keep it up, and keep in mind the verbal pill you can take, “serenity now!” And, good to hear you are moving around (carefully) and good to hear from Tarsus too. Stay safe,

      Cemal

      Reply

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