His picture is worth 1,000 92 words
I took this photograph of the moon on Christmas Eve and emailed it to a friend. It’s not the greatest quality because I took it with an inexpensive digital camera, but I’m glad I took it. I like the angle of the half moon and how the tip at the top is cut off. It’s different.
During the summer I went for a walk one day and it started to rain, causing the most beautiful double rainbow I’d ever seen. I remember standing on the corner looking up at it. The sky was brilliant blue and the colours of the rainbows were vibrant. I wished then that I had brought my camera with me.
When I saw this moon on Christmas Eve I was glad my camera was close by so that I could take the picture. Okay, so it’s not the first moon I’ve ever seen, but this one felt special somehow.
Maybe it was just that night that was special, beyond the moon itself. It was quiet, crisp and cold. The sky was clear and starry. The moon posed in the west, waiting.
I had to laugh though; there I was, standing in the parking lot behind the apartment building with the camera poised in front of my face, peering through the lens. I zoomed in as far as I could but wasn’t satisfied, so I took some steps closer to the moon.
As if 10 steps are going to make a difference! Couldn’t see the man in the moon, so I accepted that this was as good as it was going to get.
Seize the moment
My friend decided he’d take his own picture of this moon. Not long after, I received the following email from him:
“I went outside to look at the moon. What a great picture this will be with the halo. Yes, I will read my camera manual and figure out how to do a long shutter speed. Dug out the tripod to make this picture perfect. Set up tripod and mounted camera and went upstairs and turned on camera to find out the batteries were dead. Replace the batteries and went outside to no moon. It just set behind the mountains. SHIT!!!! Perfection is not what it is all cracked up to be.”
Sometimes you just have to seize the moment.
Vancouver’s H.R. MacMillan Space Centre is only about a 40-minute walk from my apartment and looking at the moon, stars and planets would fascinate me. So why haven’t I done this yet? It’s about time I made this happen and Mother Nature needs to clear the clouds from the skies to allow it.
Should be able to see Mars in the southeast at this time of year. Weather forecast for next weekend is for partly cloudy skies. I feel like I’m on call. Nothing like waiting to seize the moment.
How much have you missed because you weren’t prepared?
What are you waiting for?
Barb Hartsook
Jim
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Barbara Swafford
Dot
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Tess The Bold Life
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Hilary
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Hi Davina .. great analogy .. waiting never does any good – go forward and just do it. Double rainbows .. any rainbow is magical .. I think we all must love them .. the colours touching the earth .. shading the landscape with different hues – the colour of the skies and clouds.
How often have we fiddled around with pen and paper, sorting the desk, rearranging the filing, making a coffee, delaying the start – then it’s too late something else needs to be done .. so today we have not done that which we should .. don’t put off what you can do today for tomorrow .. live the moment – as you say.
I look forward to your post on the skies .. and the visit to the Space Centre ..
Enjoy today! Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
Hilary´s last blog ..Blue Moons …. Last day of 2009
It’s so true. I don’t know how many times I’ve missed something thinking that I’ll just be able to do it tomorrow, but for some reason, wasn’t able. Your theme, “seize the day” is very timely.
Thank you.
LisaNewton´s last blog ..Listening to Music under the Stars at the Hollywood Bowl
Davina,
There is certainly something to the idea of “seizing the moment”. And…I know there have been times when I haven’t, or I’ve waited too long – only to miss out (much like the moon photograph). Sometimes it’s really about listening to that voice within, and then doing it.
And that is a great picture of the moon! I always have a hard time getting a picture that turns out at all, so I think you have done excellently!!
Lance´s last blog ..Sunday Thought For The Day
That is an unusual moon. As for your friend, professional photographers sometimes wait for hours, even days, to get a shot. Those of us who do snapshots are at the mercy of Mother Nature.
Being fairly impulsive, I dont usually have a problem taking advantage of the moment, unless it involves people.
Dot´s last blog ..Comment on Snowstorm! by Mama Zen
I’ve spent hours waiting for the perfect light to capture the perfect moment. Your moon is stunning. :)
I love this story… yes, sometimes it’s better to seize the moment than to attempt to be prepared.
vered | blogger for hire´s last blog ..MomGrind: Best of 2009
Ten steps closer to the moon– love it!! I do find 12 to 14 steps have made all the difference to me.
What am I missing?? Not too much now that I have this iPhone glued to my hip.
Fuzzy pictures rule. They capture the essence of a life well loved, the magic and mayhem and murk of it all
xo
Jannie Funster´s last blog ..“Doll Bed With Wine,” “For A Dear Friend” & “Kelly’s Korner, About Two Hours Ago”
Your friend’s story is hilarious. It sounds like something that would happen to me. In AZ when it rains there is a double rainbow every single time in front of my home. The day we moved here there was one leading into our subdivision. I swear! I figured it was a sign that we were in the right place…as if the message was “Welcome Home.”
Tess The Bold Life´s last blog ..60 Ways To Become The Person You Love
Hi Hilary.
Great description of rainbows. Have you ever seen the end of a rainbow? I did once, many years ago. It was pretty exciting. :)
Hi Lisa.
You know what I find too, is that when it occurs to us to do something and we put it off, it still pops up in our minds until we do it. Over time that makes the task seem bigger than it was at the beginning.
Hi Lance.
Oh thanks! I wanted the moon to be bigger! I wonder how much of the things we do we only *partly* do because we’re partially focused on that thing that we haven’t done yet? :-D
Hi Dot.
You avatar always makes me smile. I like that picture of you smiling. “I don’t usually have a problem taking advantage of the moment, unless it involves people.” — LOL, I understand; think before you leap… Am I right?
Hi Squawkfox.
Thanks — I was surprised it even turned out at all. It’s pure satisfaction when you do finally capture that perfect shot isn’t it? Makes all the planning worthwhile.
Hi Vered.
My friend said his story sounded better as a published blog post than in his email :-D What’s neat is that sometimes when we seize the moment, “mistakes” happen that end up becoming just what we needed.
Hi Jannie.
I know! Wasn’t that JUST hilarious? :-) When I read your comment I had a vision of you standing there like a cowboy, with an iPhone planted on each hip, ready to “draw”. The fastest iPhone in the west.
Hi Tess.
Oh THAT’S a cool story about the rainbow leading into your subdivision — *shiver*. I don’t see double rainbows too often. I wonder why you get so many of them?
Hi Davina .. no I don’t think I have .. if you actually see the end of the rainbow – aren’t you meant to be rich as Croesus and have found the golden crock – if that’s you .. I’m on my way over!
Colour my life with rainbow colours will be good for me .. always ensure there’s a golden glow, with earth’s natural hues throwing out their sparking light ..
Hilary
Hilary´s last blog ..Books, books – Glorious books …
You were right, that I would like this post. I find it really hard to commet.
Tripod not in the bottom of closet==== Check
Spare batteries with camera==== check
Read manual for camera===== check
Read manual again==== get real, I am a guy.
I did seize the moment, I saw a beautiful moon. Just no picture to share.
I don’t think I told you about the bald eagle that flew within 20 feet from me on the upper deck. Even with the camera, I would not have taken a picture. I was just in awe watching this magnificent raptor fly by.
I could even hear the woosh of his wings. And the raven is another story.
A lot of the the time the moment comes to you and you don’t have to seize it. Just enjoy it.
PS Thanks Dot, Verd and Tess.
When the camera isn’t nearby or handy, I have what my husband and I call a Zen Moment. Like Jim’s comment, we just absorb the moment as a gift, releasing any need to “capture it.”
I had to laugh about you trying to get closer to the moon for the shot. Cool the moment pulled you into so fully like that.
Lori Hoeck´s last blog ..Why are narcissists such crazy-makers?
Hi Davina,
I love this story, and the e mail from your friend as well. I have lived both of those examples several times. I must say that I have seldom regretted seizing the moment and have often regretted “waiting for just the right moment”.
I had to laugh at you trying to get closer to the moon! LOL I’ve done worse though, so don’t feel bad. I remember setting up a telescope in the back yard to view the moon close up. The telescope was brand new and awesome. I set it all up, had the tripod legs adjusted just right and tightened down securely. I noticed, however, that every few minutes the scope would be way off and I’d have to reset it. I began to get seriously aggravated and then it hit me. Yeah, the telescope was fine but the reason it kept getting way off was…the earth was moving. I’m still embarrassed and that was 20 years ago. :-)
Keith´s last blog ..A New Beginning
Davina,
Your moon picture is everything it needs to be – a memory and a moment captured in print. What else does one need? Perfection! Far too much of that around. Usually when the perfectionist comes out in me I start to smell like something other than roses to everyone else.
Carpe diem. You just can’t say it enough. Oh, and thanks for the chuckle with your 10 steps closer to the moon. Your perspective is refreshing. As always thanks.
simply stephen´s last blog ..reducing our footprint on the planet
Hi Hilary.
Well, that puts an end to THAT theory cause, I’m not rich…. yet, anyway. ;)
Hi Jim.
Excuse me… but you read manuals and shake your head at me because I don’t! :-) Those moments like when you saw the eagle are worth writing about, and you know what? Now that I think about it; they’re probably the ones you remember even more than a photograph that gets filed away in a book somewhere.
Thanks for sharing your email story and making this blog post possible.
Hi Lori.
That was a pretty funny moment. And regarding your mention of a Zen Moment, I think that is true. As I mentioned to Jim just above, those moments are easier recalled than a photograph.
Hi Keith.
OMG, that’s hilarious! :-) The earth was moving… Hah, hah, hah. I love your story.
Hi Stephen.
You’re welcome. I consider that my job is done when I have made someone chuckle. You know, “seize the day”… seize the moment… when you’re laughing it’s because you’ve seized the moment. How cool is that?
Being a fan of photography, I know what you mean, Davina. :-) It’s that very moment, one chance of a lifetime to take a snapshot. Fact is, it’s the same in real life — chances been offered to us, we just need to know when it’s the time to seize it. Timing is everything. Wish you a wonderful year in 2010!
@wchingya
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Ching Ya´s last blog ..How to Brand Your Tweets with TweetBrand
Davina,
This was a great story and I love what your friend wrote to you…it gave me quite a chuckle. I also love your question…it’s a real thought provoker. In my case, I probably have missed a lot. I used to take so much time getting ready to do something that I never got it done.
Oddly, photography has changed that. I’ve learned when taking pictures to just go for it…especially since we now have digital pictures which we can erase. While I’m still struggling with the new camera, I still will try to take pictures of almost anything that captures my fancy (sometimes even without my glasses). I often like these intuitive shots better than my set up shots:~)
Thanks for this post!!!
Sara´s last blog ..
I love this post! Just the other day I missed the opportunity to to go to the beach during “astronomical high tide” as they call it, during a snow storm and watch the waves crash high above the sea wall.
Today, though, I feel like I made up for it. During my jog today a sound caught my attention. I looked up and saw a group of huge wild turkey’s in the yard across from where I ran. I stopped, pulled out my iphone and caught some video/pictures. I had read this post over the weekend, without time to comment, and today on that run I was brought right back here to your post.
There is no time to wait or waste, we just have to take it all in.
Stacey Shipman´s last blog ..Awake to Life, Turkeys and All
Hi Ching Ya.
I agree. Maybe will never see the moon at quite that angle, with the tip cut off. Chances sometimes come our way only once in life too; good analogy. Here’s to good chances in 2010! :-)
Hi Sara.
Digital cameras have changed things a lot. I remember hesitating before taking a shot because I didn’t want to waste film. You take gorgeous photographs Sara. Your new camera is going to get a lot of miles. I KNOW how you LOVE to take photographs! :-D
Hi Stacey.
Your description of the storm is enticing; I can just imagine watching those waves and feeling the wind. Lots of energy! I’m glad you came back to comment — I’ve never seen a wild turkey — Sara, in the comment above yours recently wrote a post about these birds. http://sarahealy.com/index.php/2009/11/26/wild-turkey-time/
Hi Davina – This is a great message for all of us, to just “do it”. I’m just reading Blink by Malcolm Gladwell and it seems like some of the decisions we agonize over for ages, could be made in seconds and we’d probably get it right.
I can’t believe you haven’t been the the Space Centre yet – what an awesome looking building. Mind you, I lived near some awesome mountains for years, before I actually decided to try hiking up them.
Cath Lawson´s last blog ..Christmas Gifts For The Non-Materialistic
Hi Davina What a wonderful lesson learned. How true sometimes you just have to live for the moment. Read your post to my hubby & my son yells from his bedroom “I like that story.” LOL
Rose´s last blog ..Twitter Etiquette
I see the moon and the moon sees me
God bless the moon and God bless me…
I thought this was a wonderful post and I have just lingered and enjoyed all the comments….the moon has been so ready to be filled up like a cup these days….
I can just see Jannie with an iphone on each hip and I think Talon must have her’s riveted to her body?
Thank you…I liked this post…very much – very nice…working on slowing down today…releasing…thinking about the moon seeing me ;)
Hi Cath.
And even if we got it wrong… at least we’d find out sooner, so we could move on to the next choice :-) It’s funny because I have a friend from the States who stays in Vancouver for the summer. She ends up showing me around. Of course, I’m busy working and she is retired and out exploring every day.
Hi Rose.
That was a funny story. LOL… glad your son enjoyed it. That should make Jim happy too.
Hi Patricia.
LOL… Jannie with an iPhone on each hip; that actually seems like it could happen. They are a nice group of comments, I’d say; well worth lingering over. You must be slowing down if you stayed to read them all. Most bloggers are in a hurry to dash off to the next post; myself included. :-D
Happy New Year Davina,
I love your photo of the moon. That’s something I’ve often thought I should take a photo of, but haven’t. Like Jim said, sometimes we just take it all in and create that picture in our memory.
I had to giggle at you trying to get a few steps closer. Sounds like something I would do, too. Heehee!
Your words are a great reminder for me to live in the moment and enjoy!
Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..The Power Of A Post
Davina it’s been a while since I’ve been here and I’m glad it was this post I came across. I have tried everything regular cameras, digital, telephoto, tripod, and not one of my moon shots come out clear. It’s as if something was always thwarting my attempts.
What I like about the post is remembering the same exact feelings on a crisp clear night and a brightly lit sky. Or even in the summer. Just being outside at night. There is something special, spiritual about it. On evenings when the moon is not so bright I like to look at the stars and constellations. I’m used to always trying to find the redish star that is really Mars with the neighborhood kids.
Thanks for this post, it brought back good memories. So much so that now I want some hot chocolate! Happy belated New Year.
Tom Baker´s last blog ..What’s In Your Movie Queue?
Oh, cool idea! An iPhone hoslte, and on the other hip — a beer hoslter. And maybe a donut basket on my head, one with a pretty doile decorated by Blue Bunny!
xo
Jannie Funster´s last blog ..Wacky! (This’ll Explain A Lot)
doilie
Jannie Funster´s last blog ..Wacky! (This’ll Explain A Lot)
geez — holster.
Any more typos?
Jannie Funster´s last blog ..Wacky! (This’ll Explain A Lot)
Hi Barbara.
Happy New Year to you too. Hah, hah… when you take your picture of the moon, I bet you’ll do the same thing :-D It was such an automatic thing to do.
Hi Tom.
Welcome back. I agree, there IS something special about those evenings; especially those summer evenings when it’s a comfortable temperature outside. You’ve reminded me of time spent searching for the constellations. I like how the Big Dipper so obviously changes position in the sky at different times of the year.
Hi Jannie.
Queen of typos! :-) I LOVE typos! Other people’s typos though. Your comments kinda fit with the title of your “Wacky” post.
Hi Davina — thanks for this reminder — the next step for me, the next way in which I must seize the moment, is to hold a group workshop centered on the ideas in my book, and there are no longer any excuses for not doing that. Happy new year, by the way!
Hi Chris.
A group workshop eh? Now that your book is done you’re well on your way; all the prep work is done. All you need is to market the workshop, and you’ve got the means for that too. It’s all set. Go for it Chris! :-D
Hi Davina – the moon is often just SO inviting, isn’t it? We don’t cease to be amazed by it. And Mars is looking amazing at the moment – big, bright and red (low in the north-east, from here)
I just want to say a big thank you for being part of my blogging journey, Davina – as I am closing my blog. We’ll keep in touch I’m sure!
Robin´s last blog ..My Last Blog Post
Hi Robin.
I’m looking forward to seeing Mars soon. Had planned on visiting the Space Centre this weekend, but it’s been cloudy and raining.
I will miss your blog, but as I just finished saying in my comment to you over there, it’s been great getting to know you over the past year. Yes, let’s please stay in touch! There’s still email and Skype :-D
Hi Davina, I clicked over from Sara’s blog.
I’ve had much experience with missed opportunities to “seize the moment”. It’s this nagging belief that “…it would be so much better if I could get this going and that going before I get this going…” And your post illustrates that this is one fat fallacy.
Thank you.
Hi Belinda.
Thanks for stopping by :-) That nagging belief sure takes the fun out of things doesn’t it? Just jump in and that’s when “accidents” happen; the good ones.
Hi Davina! Sara from A Sharing Connection referred me to your wonderful blog. I’m glad I came on over! :)
I’m intrigued by your photograph. I’m sitting here wondering at the size of the knife that must have cut off that bit of moon, and the size of the one using it. Whoever it is must surely love their cheeses!
I wonder what moon cheese tastes like?
Tony Single´s last blog ..The Ant and the Cicada
Hi Tony.
I just replied to your last comment on my most recent post to thank you for stopping by. You’ve read 6 of my posts in a row today! Wow, I’m flattered. I wonder about that knife… maybe there’s a mouse up there somewhere :-D
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