If you’ve ever participated in one of my mindfulness programs, you know that “the pause” is a powerful thing. Whether it’s the pause between breaths during meditation or the pause between stimulus and response, our ability to embrace that space and put it to use for our personal growth is what mindfulness practice is all about.
It’s been about a week since #MarthasMayPhotoChallenge and my most recent 30-Day Mindfulness Meditation Challenge wrapped up, both of which require daily engagement on my part, even on weekends. On June 1, my first “free” day, I flew with my husband to Chicago for a wedding. I must have really needed a pause, since I forgot my phone at home.
Even though I try to be mindful with my phone use, there’s no question that not having it on our 3-day trip led to deeper observation of my experience, more conversation with my husband, and more enjoyment of the present moment. With my phone-free getaway in the rearview mirror, I’m slowly getting back into the swing of things.
So today I’ll share a second installment of what my May photo challenge produced in case you weren’t following along on Facebook or Instagram in my Photo Challenge Highlights sections. (Click here for the first batch — Days 1-9 — that I shared here on the blog a few weeks ago.)
Days 10-20 of My 2019 May Photo Challenge
I’ll be adding some of these images to my collection at damselwingsphotography.com. Let me know your favorites to help with my decision-making!
Voter Empowerment Project: My Personal Challenge for June
Interestingly, what’s helped me reorient myself and reboot my intention-setting since returning from our trip was deciding to take part in a challenge organized by the Americans of Conscience Checklist (AoCC), the newsletter run by Jen Hofman.
The challenge is to spend one hour per week for the next three weeks to ensure that every citizen can vote and each vote verified in 2010. What I love about this challenge are the super clear instructions about steps to take (all of which you can do from the comfort of your own home with the time split up if you need to) AND you get to check off boxes to record and submit your progress! FUN!
This first week did take me a little longer than an hour to complete all the tasks, but that’s because I had to collect the phone numbers for my federal and state legislators and the elections office. Links to access that information are contained right inside the challenge instructions. EASY!
A bonus task is to share the link to the challenge, which I’m taking care of right now! Regardless of your political affiliation, I think we can all agree that everyone in our country deserves the right to vote. I have already learned a lot about the structural issues that make it more difficult for less advantaged people to vote. The little bit of time I spent this week on the AoCC challenge has deepened my understanding of how our electoral process works. I learned that I didn’t even recognize the names of my state representatives (doh!), but now have received emails back from them about my inquiries. It feels great to TAKE ACTION (again, from the comfort of my own home).
So, fulfilling that bonus challenge, here’s the link to the Americans of Conscience Voter Empowerment Project in case you’re interested in checking it out.
Let me know 1) your favorite #MarthasMayPhotoChallenge images and 2) are you inspired to join the AoCC Voter Empowerment Project’s June Challenge?
Stay tuned for the third and final batch of the photo challenge images coming up soon! Think of it as practice in giving your full attention to one small bite at a time at a time — a skill applicable to mindful eating, clutter clearing, and many other areas of life.
Susan Sumeri says
Day 6 and 17 were two of my favorite photos. Susan
Martha Brettschneider says
Thank you Susan! You are the second person to add her vote for Day 17, the protective fern shot. You’ve inspired me to work more with that plant. Feels like a series might be lurking there. And the pansy! The day of pouring rain! Fun memories. So appreciate your feedback and ongoing support. With gratitude, Martha
Joann says
This was a hard choice but #14 and #17 spoke to me
Martha Brettschneider says
Thanks for your votes, Joann! The stories that emerged from the May photo project were just as nourishing for me as capturing the images. The columbine (Day 14) and fern (Day 17) captions/lessons/stories felt especially rich to me as well. With gratitude, Martha
Colleen says
I almost can’t decide. I love the ones with rain or dew. Scrolling up and down through the daisy speaks to me the most.
I will check out the AoCC link.
xo
Martha Brettschneider says
Thanks so much, Colleen! You should have seen that daisy — the lone bloom on a great big hill behind my brother-in-law’s house when we were there for a college graduation. The sun was going down and I only had a few minutes of light left. This sweet daisy called out to me from quite a distance! So happy to hear she’s getting the recognition she deserves. With gratitude, Martha
Kimberly J. Karwacki says
Although all your photos are uniquely beautiful, Day 15 really stood out for me. Thank you for taking the time to send them.
Martha Hendricks says
Ah, Martha, I’m going to go off the reservation here compared to your other followers so far. But then, half the fun is sharing who we are by what we see that touches our spirits. I love every one of your photos, but I find that with these, as well as others, it is the ones taken most close-up that really fascinate me. That would be 10, 13,15,18 and 20. Of those, 13 and 15 were especially striking. The fern I also am attracted to, which puts me in the “how can I really choose anyway?” category! You bring so much beauty to us all, and show us how to recognize it even in unexpected places…especially there! So very grateful that you’re in my world to expand my world!!! The Other Martha
Debbie says
Day 17. My mom and grandma put their arm out when they braked and I did and in a few more years I’ll see if that action has passed on to my daughter with her daughter.
Day 10. The beauty is about to unfold, but there is beauty in every stage.
I enjoy your photos.