Today's Picture to Ponder Photos
sliced end of a quarter of a Pineapple on a Broccoli "easel"

As I was about to discard this pineapple remnant, I was captured by the face I saw in it. I put it aside to photograph and later, as I decided how to best "show it off", I saw the cut end of the bottom of a broccoli stalk still on my counter top. It wound up being perfect as a display stand.

I was not thrilled with the resulting photos in terms of the various backgrounds and was going to pass on using it in Picture to Ponder. Then yesterday, as I was flipping through photos that were still in my camera, the upper one caught my eye and brought a smile to my face.

I decided to use it today, intending to add a humorous touch here. Interestingly, when I once again saw it larger on the computer, I was faced with all the other monologues, including one that it's really a "sad" face, not a "funny" one at all.

Self-Reflecting Queries
Once again, I was confronted with a variety of conflicting elements in the decision-making process for selecting today's photo. My final choice, as you see, is to follow my original intention, to trust that the photo for the day is the "right" one and will make a difference for at least some of you.

I actually now suggest we step back from the "heavy" thinking process and simply find humor in the creative process of making discoveries and also using fruit and vegetable scraps. It's when we pull out of the dwelling on meanings and ramifications and simply allow ourselves to "be" in the moment that we can become fully alive and playful.

I invite you to take sporadic moments in the next few days, or weeks, to look at things to which you usually pay no attention, such as the colors and textures of the foods on your plate, especially after you start cutting and removing some. What other things can you be looking at with new eyes during pauses in your day, simply being in the moment?

If you think you might forget to do this, make a list in advance of areas and activities in your usual surroundings, and then be sure to remember and have fun!

Speaking of CREATIVITY and for Creative Ideas -
My friend Marney Makridakis recently launched THE DAILY MUSE ezine with "the latest news, trends, how-to's, activities, and free resources every single day. Best of all, it's tailored just for creative people who love to learn and be inspired by the beauty, colors, and imaginative resources of the world," as quoted from the Artella Members site, which goes on to say, " Each day, we bring you creative news, inspiration, and fun resources in sections like..." (see Artella Members page for a descriptive list)

When on that page scroll down to take advantage of the two-day FREE subscription to this awesome newsletter.

GIFT Yourself with the Photos and Queries Click on eBook (Note: For some reason the eBook Preview is showing up in black and white. The photos ARE in color in the PDF file. For a color preview one of the other previews.)

Purchase the eBook and you get a link to download the PDF file which you can print out or simply leave on your computer to pull up whenever you want a lift or inspiration. At any time you can open up one of the beautiful flowers in PICTURES TO PONDER: Inspired Journaling and fill your screen with it, giving you the ability to "step into" the image.The high resolution, set for printing, has the photographs capable of maintaining their quality at magnification as much as 300%. And, of course, the queries that went with the flowers are here also.

ADDITIONAL SUBSCRIBERS DESIRED -
If you you are enjoying PICTURE TO PONDER please pass your experiences of it on to your friends and colleagues and suggest that they, too, SUBSCRIBE.

Especial thanks to those of you who have been passing this on!

Inspirationally,


Sheila
sheila[at]eteletours.com --
© 2006 Sheila Finkelstein
http://www.eteletours.com/ptpintro.html