retinal perspectives

shifting beliefs

as i was resting in child's pose on my bed in a hostel in marrakesh on the morning of my 35th birthday, one of the thoughts that crossed my mind was, "i wonder why people like me?" not in a "i wonder what it is" sort of way but in a "i can't imagine why they would" sort of way.

almost immediately, it was followed by the realization that it was actually an old thought and i don't wonder that anymore. i could see that i have a good heart and that people might like me. not that i think everyone likes me, or that i think everything about me is likable, just that i am starting to see the good in me too.

it was such a lovely thing to realize as i turned 35 that i cried a little. better late than never, i guess.

i hope you can see all the good in you.

me and puppy are together again and i am happy

want to hear a cute atlas story?

when i picked him up, sam told me that every night at the doggy ranch, atlas stands in front of his crate. sam has to bend down and give him a huge hug around the neck and look him in the eyes, and then atlas turns around and trots into his crate.

one night, sam gave him a hug but atlas didn't go into his crate afterward. sam was trying to figure out what it was, and then he realized that he forgot to look atlas in the eyes. apparently it doesn't count if there isn't eye contact.

isn't that the sweetest story? now, i am trying to remember to look him in the eyes every night when i thank him for being the best puppy in the world and for spending my day with me.

it's beginning to look a lot like spring

on the one hand, it's been a very rainy and strangely snow-filled winter.

on the other hand, it's been exceptionally mild, so we've been doing a lot of walking and wandering and exploring of various portland neighborhoods over the past few months. it is one of my favorite things to do.

these days, there are signs of spring everywhere.

you're not a real dog, says atlas

you can't fool me!

and i most certainly will not pose for a picture with you.

sheesh.

coffee and shopping and signs

at the moment, i have two favorite coffee places: the dragonfly coffee house (in the alphabet district, on thurman and 24th) and barista (on alberta, between 17th and 18th).

i was driving to the dragonfly on saturday to meet a friend. traffic was slow around and through the tunnel so, to amuse myself, i decided to look at the license plates to see if they held a sign for me.

the car next to me had the letters DAT. the car in front of that car had the letters BUY. when i read them back to myself, i realized they said BUY DAT.

we were planning to visit anthropologie after coffee, so you can imagine my delight at my sign!

it's happy atlas day!

today, atlas is 9, so i am wishing a happy birthday to my dear little puppy.

i love him more than the sun, moon, and stars.

i love him times a million and forty seven and thirty three. (that's today's number. i make up a new number for him every day.)

he is the best four-legged friend a girl could have, and i am grateful for every single day i get to spend with him.

(insert a pause as i get up from my chair and give him a kiss on the nose, because he is watching me with an eagle eye as i sniffle away while typing.)

today, i am full of love for atlas, and i am full of love for all dogs. our world really is better because they are in it.

the dawning of the light, volume 10

{a photo project honoring radiance, one of my words for 2012 :: 52 photos that represent radiance, 52 photos that represent luminosity.}

this picture makes me think of both radiance and luminosity.

explorer puppy

look what atlas found on our hike in forest park yesterday! a stone house!

atlas goes foraging

if you want to laugh regularly, it is good to have a dog.

atlas and i were out for a walk one day. i was off in my own world, taking pictures, when i thought i heard munching.

i was right. atlas was foraging for berries. i finally tasted one - crossing my fingers that they weren't poisonous - because he would not stop eating them. they tasted like a very mealy old apple.

i still have no idea what they are, but atlas approves.

shining good fortune down on you

i am sorry to say that the main reason i noticed the moon was because atlas was glued to the sidewalk for over half an hour, watching a cat in a tree. my attention span - for cats - is not nearly as long as his. atlas would have kept watching forever but, at the half hour mark, i decided it was time to head home.

did you watch the superbowl? or wait, is it even over? did i miss any fantastic ads?

right now, i feel like life is full of possibility. someday, i might have to tell you about how i discovered a very unhelpful unconscious belief and about the subsequent dissolving of that belief which is what brought me to this place. for now, i am just reveling in all the energy i have to work on my business. (given the belief, it is actually a miracle that i have managed to accomplish anything at all. i am somewhat astonished at what i managed to do in spite of it.) it feels like i have a million ideas and i finally have the motivation and inspiration to work on them. yay for that.