How do You Get Past Stuckness?

I recently wrote that I would be going through the 650 plus issues of Picture to Ponder/Treasure Your Life Now published in the last 10 years and feature some of your and my favorite photos and queries.

Presumably, because I’ve been immersed in Vegetables and Fruit photos for the past month or so, putting together a Stock Photo Package for sale, I was almost immediately drawn to an issue with sliced mushrooms on my cooktop. See Vol 6 – Issue 9.

At the time I wrote the issue, my eye had been caught by the expressive faces I saw when I cut a mushroom in half. I started smiling immediately as two of them instantly showed up. Despite the fact the faces were not particularly happy ones, I couldn’t help laughing at the irony of how quickly, it seems, I see “faces.” Interestingly they might have been expressing my own mood at the time.

hidden image within a mushroom - cropped Continue reading

Choices – Comfort, Staying Still or Moving Forward

Right after a long-time subscriber wrote on Facebook asking me what’s been happening with Picture to Ponder/Treasure Your Life Now, I came across this tulip photo, one of our favorites. She went on to say she’s missed both the photos and the thoughts.

Looking at the photo now it has the feeling of hibernation, for me, feeling safe and protected. And we have a choice, stay in the “womb,” so-to-speak or allow Nature to take its course and open up, move forward and get out into the world.

How about you? What do you see?

I have been moving out in the world and in the process, perhaps, neglecting those of you who have looked forward to my photographs and the self-reflecting queries they inspired.

I am now setting a goal of to go through issues from the last 10 years, finding images and thoughts that pop out for me and, once again, putting them out for you…. with less words this time.

Quickly, for those who like the background stories on the photos themselves:

If you’re a long time subscriber, you know I’ve always said, “If anything catches your eye, snap a picture.”

The above photo is an image that could have been totally overlooked. It was in the center of a tulip plant I had purchased and put in the trunk of my car.

When I opened the trunk this bud caught my eye and I went for the camera before the flower had a chance to open. I focused in with my macro lens. Thus no background diversions got in the way.

In that issue of Picture to Ponder I wrote:

Are there areas in your life where you can unearth beauty or power, getting straight to the point, unconsciously eliminating the distractions?”

Two years later, I wrote, “I love image for its sensuality as well as for the feeling of gentleness, love and protection that I get from it.”

And I asked: “What do you find most appealing?

For that issue’s

Relationship Tip I wrote:

Sometimes all that’s necessary for expressing and feeling love is to stop whatever you are doing. Then quietly and soundlessly focus in on your loved one. Next gently fully embrace him or her. Create a sense of timelessness.

If you are alone, although it’s not quite the same, I invite you to similar actions. Pause and quietly appreciate and fully embrace yourself.

Speaking of Embracing Ourselves, if you have experienced a major change in your life, I invite you to look at the the following:

Upcoming FREE Program

HOW TO NAVIGATE BIG SHIFTS WITH POWER AND GRACE.  My friend Adela Rubio wrote:

Have you recently experienced a BIG shift? In your every day world it might have been sparked by:

*    Loss of a loved one or relationship
*    Loss of your home or your “treasured stuff”
*    Sudden and unexpected financial crisis
*    Deep uncertainty about your business or “body of work”

If you’re still wobbling from a BIG Shift join us on a 30-day adventure.

It begins on Oct 8th. Let’s navigate the BIG Shifts with grace, power and clarity. Register for the event: http://bigshifts.com

And – On Being Alone,

I was actually able to metaphorically embrace myself the other day as I drank tea from the mug below with my hand wrapped comfortably and comfortingly around it.

The mug is available in my Nature Art Gift Shop reminding us of “Love With No Regrets.” Should you be interested in the mug without the text, email me and I’ll upload art without the URL.

pink tulip bud Love With No Regrets mug
pink tulip bud on love with no regrets mug looking at it from the right side

If you like the image, it is also on tiles and prints in the Shop. Click on Pink Tulip products.


As always have fun and please post your experience in the Comments Section below.

How to Preserve Voice Memories, Photos and Notes Using Evernote

Once again it has been an extended time between posts. Ironically, I had planned this on to be around a thought I had the other morning. I asked myself, “Are you allowing confrontation to stop you or are you stepping back and allowing for new openings?

And, as I opened the last issue Confrontation or Peace, I see that this, in fact, was its theme. I wonder if you noticed anything for yourself then, or now?

In the meantime, when I let go of some of my “stuff”, I decided that it’s important for me to share some of my experiences to ensure that I’ve put out everything I know that can help others to Treasure their Lives Now and in the future.

With that being said I’m changing the customary Photo/Self-Reflecting Queries format for this issue to go straight to my story, offer and Treasure Your Life Now Tip. Continue reading

Confrontation or Peace – Boardwalk Reflections in Green Cay Wetlands

With this post, I am going back to the original basics of Picture to Ponder almost 10 years ago. At that point, photographs of images that caught my eye inspired what I termed “Self-Reflecting Queries,” questions for the viewers to “ponder” about themselves and their lives.  When walking in Green Cay Wetlands the other day, I was reminded of one of my early Pictures to Ponder issues, Zig Zag Lines – Confusion and Bombardment, in 2006. Below are three different views of the current scene that provoked similar thoughts for me. Perhaps there is something in the imagery for you also.

Before reading my descriptions below, I invite you to spend a moment or two with each of the photos. Note what’s different for you in each. Then go on to read the descriptions and my responses and finally, the Self-Reflecting Queries.

Green Cay boardwalk reflections Continue reading

How to Use Your Camera to Shift Your Energy and Move Forward to Treasure Your Life Now

Are there there times that you find yourself in a “funk”?
You feel stuck and don’t want to do anything?
You KNOW the answers, how to shift, and aren’t taking action?
You might even counsel others on what to do in similar situations.

I was experiencing such a state last week when I heard my inner voice remind me of the advice I’ve often given AND written about many times here in the past.

“When you’re feeling stuck, take out your camera. Look around and simply snap pictures of whatever catches your eye. By the time you’ve taken 5 pictures your energy will have shifted.”

For me, the element of play oftentimes kicks in which certainly adds to being enlivened.

The photos that follow are illustrative of a recent experience.

Sheila Finkelstein abstract mirror image Continue reading

Picture to Ponder – Treasure Your Life Now History and Update

Spider web with many paths leading out and back to the center

All Paths Lead Out and Then Back to the Core Center

As I stated in the emailed portion of this ezine, I’d been dragging and remiss in posting photos and writing.  Picture to Ponder started out and continued for 7 or more years as a sharing of images that caught my eye. The subsequent ponderings that came up after, turned into “Self-Reflecting Queries”.

In the past year or so my camera is less and less with me. Is it that I am spending more time looking in, or simply on thoughts, than being open to what is visually around me….?  or is it mainly that my environment is pretty much visually the same?

Now isn’t that silly.  Continue reading

Celebrating Owning Ourselves and the Feminine: A Reflection with Photos

I felt most honored when publisher Jan Lundy invited me to submit an article on “Celebrating the Feminine”  for one of her magazine issues.

My first thought, “No. Not me. I’m far from feminine.” My internal reaction was pretty strong to this, including the inclination to refer her to other writers.

You see, to me when I think about it, “feminine” represents frilly clothes, lipstick and makeup, manicured nails, pedicures, regular beauty salon visits, special lingerie, undergarments and much more. [Note – Photo is NOT my bathroom] Even the dictionary affirmed this, when I double-checked. They added “feminine” hobbies to the list – “sewing and cooking” as examples. OK. So I knew that’s certainly not Jan’s focus. Continue reading

Photography and Transformation Blog

Current Treasure Your Life Now posts can be found on the Photography and Transformation Blog.  Formerly Picture to Ponder ezine it evolved into Treasure Your Life Now in 2012 as more and more emphasis was put on relationships with self and others.  Photographs and writing by Sheila Finkelstein continue to be the inspiration for life changes and transformation.