I love being in the outdoors. I suspect everyone does, many just haven’t had the right experience. It takes some getting used to, slowly pushing and expanding your comfort zone.
About a year ago I took a trip to Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon. The landscape is gorgeous, unique and mostly untouched. This was a trip I’ll never forget because it expanded my understanding of where I’ve lived and grown up. More importantly though, I took this trip with a lifelong friend who made me think about what’s important in life. He’s a person who lives every day with an open mind, as fully and happily as he can, and most strikingly, he has tremendous respect for the people around him. If you know someone like him, you’re lucky.
What strikes me about this photo is the evolving perspective. Every second you spend looking at it, you find something new. The light brings your eye to the foreground, where things are hazy. In a natural scramble to find something clear you look to the distance, where the path must inevitably lead–but not necessarily.
Today is Valentine’s Day. A day that is mostly a corporate invention. Whether that’s good or bad, most people contextualize the day within the mass of their romantic (or not) relationships. In the US, we’re constantly living for the future, this permeates into our relationships and is undoubtedly a tremendous source of relationship struggle.
I urge you to do what’s outside of your comfort zone. Look at this photo and focus on the foreground.  The now, the where you are, with or without a partner. Use everything else for context, but let what’s right here shine as it always should. Whether or not you believe in this holiday, take this opportunity to ground yourself in what is important.
Nikon D800, AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
@ 70mm, f/2.8, 1/800s, ISO 100
Alex Krengel 
Alex—you are becoming quite an accomplished poet philosopher and I find that very exciting since I believe that art should permeate our life.Whatever else you do in life, always keep the artist inside you alive. Ed
Valentine’s day is a nice day to follow your heart.. alan
Thank you, Alex. This has been a lovely reminder. I find myself on that relatively un-hazy path for the first time in my life. It’s drawing me so far forward that I have neglected to spend time cherishing those on alternative paths, but who are right next to me.