Weekly Photo Challenge: Path…
“Your mind knows only some things. Your inner voice, your instinct, knows everything. If you listen to what you know instinctively, it will always lead you down the right path.” Henry Winkler
Throughout our lives, we follow pathways that lead us in many directions; some we expect and others we experience serendipitously. I believe that there are many paths to the one and we can choose to follow one or not. In my life journey, I have met my share of crossroads, my divergent pathways, and even my fork in the road… but what I know for sure is that each has taught me something profound about life and living that I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
“One may not reach the dawn save by the path of the night.” Kahlil Gibran
For this Photo Challenge, I looked through my folders and found many shots that were of pathways, and as I looked at each, I tried to remember the occasion of the shot and what prompted me to take the shot. Did you have the same experience with your shots?
“Understand that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege. Use it. Dwell in possibility.” Oprah Winfrey
I love this Oprah quote because all of us are on our own sacred journey and to think otherwise is to ignore the divine agreement we struck with our greater self at the beginning of our journey. Often, we wonder why it seems that certain people progress quickly through changes whilst others seem to stagnate… Our journeys are simply different and whilst it might seem that some take longer to achieve their dreams, it all happens in perfect time.
“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” Gautama Buddha
As I perused the photos I selected so I can add ones that offer an interesting or varied terrain, I was reminded again that this is exactly a refection of life; varied and complex with endless possibilities… We journey along and take a fork here, a hill there, a few bumpy steps and then we are some place we are meant to be…
“By persisting in your path, though you forfeit the little, you gain the great.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Sometimes we walk paths traversed by angels or we find ourselves on a slippery road or a foggy path. We are not lost just diverted and the lesson is to not lose our way entirely but to refocus our strategy or game plan and then follow the path that fits.
“Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal.” Friedrich Nietzsche
Stubbornness has a special holding place in my heart because it pushes us to excel and not settle for mediocrity. If we take a confusing road, we might get disoriented and that is the time to ask for help… Asking for help is part of the growth effort…
“As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.” Henry David Thoreau
As we close the chapter on pathways, I will always stakeout new routes, offer apropos divine prayers for safety, and remain expectant. I’d love to follow a path that is discovered by the stars and moon and use the energy to heal others… What are your thoughts? What pathways did you find? Did you enjoy the process of seeking paths to add? Do share? Thank you! 🙂
This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Daily Post: Weekly Photo Challenge – Path
Positive Motivation Tip: Listen to the promptings of your heart and follow the path within.
Related articles
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Path. (spinsterscompass.wordpress.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Path to Peggy’s Cove (privatemixture.wordpress.com)
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos from my personal collection.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Trackbacks
- Weekly photo challenge: PATH « Flickr Comments by FrizzText
- 9 SEPTEMBER 2011 : THE PATH THROUGH THE REST OF MY BLOGS « 2011 – ON THE BENCH
- Photo Challenge ~ Path « Spirit Lights The Way
- Your path is not my path « Positively Branded
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Path | this man's journey
- 5. Weekly Photo Challenge – Path | melonpopzdropz …
- Inspiration: Where Do You Go For Quiet Time…? | Mirth and Motivation
- The Path Taken Daily | ontopofbutterflywings
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Hidden… | Mirth and Motivation
- Memories: The Longest Walk… | Mirth and Motivation
I love the angels over the path photo a lot. You always seem to post such wonderful photo’s. Right now I am on a path – the path of life and you inspire me to keep on going. Thanks Eliz. much love, Jackie
TY Jackie for your sweet comment… love the angels too. 😉 We are all on a divine path and I send you prayers and blessings too. 🙂
What a wonderful variety of paths! So many paths — so little time!
Amen and TY MM! Now if we could find more time for a new direction… 😆
I like the church’s photo which makes me calm
Great! It is the old Cathedral in Caen and when I went inside, it felt so safe and serene. I took several shots and felt this one fit the path… TY! 🙂
I like the second photo, fascinating.
TY for you feedback… I love that one too. TY! 🙂
I like ‘stubborn’ also. When parents complain to me about their kids being stubborn, I remind them that stubborn kids persist. They have to know the truth of things themselves and don’t give up easily.
Yes, I agree with you on that one… There is a stubbornness that helps us overcome our limits and grow. Of course, the delicate balance is knowing where to draw the line and when to move on… but I love the idea of that level of persistence. TY! 🙂
Stubbornness has a special holding place in my heart because it pushes us to excel and not settle for mediocrity. If we take a confusing road, we might get disoriented and that is the time to ask for help… Asking for help is part of the growth effort…
Asking for help or not is down to pride. Mr P will rarely ask for help and if lost, flatly refuses to ask for directions. May be it’s a man thing? I personally can’t live like an island where there are no “paths” onto or off…
Oh dear I am not explaining this well.
There is great song ” I am a rock, I am an island” think it was by Simon and Garfunkel. Does anyone else know it? I love the words
I understand what you are trying to say PiP… Some of us are okay with asking for help, and others aren’t quite there. It could be a male thing but not all males dismiss it. I like the idea of paths as they keep life interesting anyway…
I haven’t heard the song you mention so I’ll go look for it on YouTube. TY! 🙂
Oh dear my quote marks did not come out for
Stubbornness has a special holding place in my heart because it pushes us to excel and not settle for mediocrity. If we take a confusing road, we might get disoriented and that is the time to ask for help… Asking for help is part of the growth effort…
TY! PiP… 😆 It’s all good and I totally get the points you were trying to make… Everyone follows a path that works for them. When things stall, we look for other guidance… TY! 🙂
You are a gifted artist, Elizabeth. This is one of my favorite posts- I’m getting to have too many!
Oh, thank you for your generous comment Karen. I’m glad you like this one… It was a lot of fun gathering the shots and putting them together. I love the photo challenges very much. TY! 🙂
To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.” Henry David Thoreau
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and, as I read on another blogger’s post: we can choose the path of emPATHy or symPATHy or – aPATHy …
I like that very much…. the path of emPATHy or symPATHy or – aPATHy … We get to choose the path we follow… Any day, it could be one of the above or none. TY! 🙂
How can i not commend on some meaningful shots! They are beautiful! I like the qoute by “The Fonz” Henry Winkler. Sharing mine:
http://grightnow.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/weekly-photo-challenge-path-2/
http://grightnow.wordpress.com/2011/09/03/weekly-photo-challenge-path/
Cheers
I loved that Fonz quote too. 😆
TY for your visit and i will check out your pathways and leave a comment. 🙂
see melonpops.wordpress.com/2011/09/06/ entry
I’m not sure what this is for but thank you for the suggestion… TY! 😉
Stunningly beautiful and evocative. May your path be bright, rich and blessed!
B
TY for your prayers and may you be blessed with same… TY! 🙂
“it all happens in perfect time” amen to that my friend!
It does and I always have to remind myself of that line when I find impatience setting in… TY Barbara and amen to that too… 🙂
Beautiful photos.
TY for stopping by… 🙂
“Your mind knows only some things. Your inner voice, your instinct, knows everything. If you listen to what you know instinctively, it will always lead you down the right path.” Henry Winkler
I have taken so many off ramps and wrong turns on the wide road of life, it is sometimes nice to be still, listen and follow the narrow path.
I hear you Jeanne and we have all been there… The off ramps are just as valuable as the on ramps and help keep us humble. I loved the quote as I do believe we have the answers inside us. I’m all for being still and hearing the promptings too. TY 🙂
Eliz this has to be the most beautiful truth..WOW!
Hi Chris,
Welcome back and thank you for your comment! Glad you like it and I’m looking forward to your posts again. 🙂
I like the mix of paths you have here. Makes me particularly reflective now, as my road changes. I found you on Inside Journeys, by the way. I wanted to take a peek at some of her Appreciated Followers. Nice meeting you. 🙂
TY for stopping by and leaving a comment… Pleasure meeting you too.
I will visit your blog shortly… Marcia is a great blog friend!. 🙂
Such beautiful photos! I heard (or read) something like this a while back: “Does everything happen for a reason? Or do we give a reason for everything that happens?”. And it has just stuck in my mind! Your post made me think of it again. Hm.
TY Ropcorn and I remember that prompt too. Things happen and sometimes it might just be unclear why or the answers come much later… TY for enjoying the photos, I appreciate your feedback. 🙂
A friend ended his journey here today . . . perhaps another path awaits him beyond the veil.
Beautiful post, E!
How sweet Nancy and thank you for that beautiful poetic thought… 🙂
Gorgeous Paths! You have so many amazing photos and I don’t think I will ever tire of seeing them. 🙂
I also love what you had to say about Paths and how the types of Paths are representative for Life. 🙂
TY Sharon and this was a fun challenge to do…As I thought about it, it made sense that the many paths we take show the divergent paths we follow in life… it was a bit of a revelation for me… Now the texture one will be quite the challenge… 🙂
I really like the paths at Storm King. Thinking about the art and scope of the landscape, it reminded me of biking along the paths of Holland’s National Park located in Arnhem in the Netherlands. We (artists) rented bikes and rode through the park to the Koeuller Musuem (spelling?) (exhibiting works of Van Gogh during the 100th year celebration). I remember how beautiful it was to see the various scluptures and natural habitat lining the pathway.
TY Walter! What you describe sounds wonderful… I remember how beautiful Amsterdam was when we visited and how much my kids loved the canal rides. But I didn’t visit the park you mention… I must go back and visit again. 🙂
Beautiful pathways, Elizabeth. Thank you for sharing them with us. 🙂
TY Robin for your feedback and, you know, I find your daily photos so stunning that your compliment is appreciated. 🙂
Beautiful photos and love your inspirations. 🙂
TY for your comment and so good to see you here again… How’s it going? 🙂
Beautiful collection of paths. Very scenic.
Glad you like them… It was a fun challenge… The new one on Texture I’m not so sure. 🙂
Eliz, were these pictures already in your library? You never cease to amaze me with your photos. Truly beautiful.
Most were already in my photo files and then I might have taken a few more… Since we started the Photo Challenge, I’ve made it a habit to shoot random photos wherever I go. I take my camera with me everywhere and that is how it happens… TY Mariam. 🙂