This week, Anne asks us: ”…what relaxes you?”
What gets you away from the stresses of daily life. What’s your passion?
I am fortunate to have many passions…
Don’t make things too complicated. Try to relax, enjoy every moment, get used to everything.
– Angelique Kerber
For me, as for so many of us, Mother Nature offers the greatest remedy, against stress, a troubled world, a troubled mind. Soon Spring will be here too, which adds to the overall well being. Birds are singing every day, but it is still very cold and there are no flowers yet. The nights are freezing, but the forest is beautiful any season.
To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower Hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.
– William Blake
The Anemone Hepatica is what I am waiting for now – usually coming at the end of March – but no signs yet. We’ve had a very cold winter this year, which is good for getting rid of the less wanted creatures, like ticks and invasive snails.
Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
– Robert A. Heinlein
Being with my dog, walking, talking, playing, is an endless source of relaxing. We love finding new places and exploring new paths every day.
The main thing to do is relax and let your talent do the work.
– Charles Barkley
I have also found my way back to painting – and I love art in almost any form. When I paint, time doesn’t exist.
If you do what you love, it is the best way to relax.
– Christian Louboutin
Photography has always been relaxing, always will be. It’s enough to pick up my camera and head for the forest, the lake or the open landscape. Some interesting travels every year add to this joy as well.
Reading a good book used to be my favourite source of relaxing, but I have found that today I enjoy more creativity now that I am retired and have much time to myself. The thing is to be able to let go of time and space…to immerse oneself in something that will not let the stressful thoughts in. I am grateful for that gift. My two children have it too, but I don’t know how many young people who have that today. As a parent and grandparent, I believe you have to hand over that gift early in their life…help them to appreciate Nature, and moderate social media and screens before they get forever lost there.
Thank you, Anne, for a great theme that made me evaluate some of my choices in life again. And many thanks to all of you who sent marvelous journeys, big and small, to my challenge last week! I’ve done some interesting reading and thinking about life and how to live it. What we treasure, what we remember and what we decide to pass on.
Tag your post with Lens-Artists and see you there! Next week Egidio will be our host – so please go to his site for inspiration!
Leya 
Lovely relaxing Post, A C!
Thank you, Sue!
🥰
What a post Ann-Christine. The tulips are superb, I’ve tried doing that but never quite achieved it. The plant in the second image is one we have indoors and its flowering its heart out at the moment. The dog portrait is great, the waterfall stunning but the artist falls into a category I have called – ‘I wish I’d taken that’. I guess you’ve realised that I really like this post 🙂
Ah, so happy you liked it, Steve! The young artist really stole my heart with that smile!
Gorgeous photographs Ann-Christine and so many beautiful ways to find calm in this world 💚 xxx
Thank you – the same for you!
💚🙏 xxx
You are a woman of many talents Ann-Christine so your post is no surprise to me. I LOVED the image of your beautiful pup in the woods and have no doubt your paintings are marvelous as is your photography.
Thank you, Tina – he is a gem!
Hello Ann-Christine, Beautiful photos, particularly the purple wildflowers. That is a beautiful painting and of course your dog. I’ve noticed that the topic of relaxation has spawned images of dogs on more sites than usual.
I was struck by your mention about young people lacking the gift of learning to relax. I retired just a few years after relaxation began to be equated with laziness in the American workplace. I think that relaxation, down time, is more valued in Europe. I often see my son and daughter on their computers late into the evening or on a Sunday afternoon or during a vacation.
I never thought that I would see a quote about relaxation from the ”Round Mound of Rebound” (Charles Barkley).
Interesting answer, Paul. I do believe you could be right about the difference between our countries when it comes to relaxation. Our doctors even prescribe the outdoors and forest bathing against stress. I know myself that it helps. When I was in my busiest working days, I ”hit the wall”, or what you call it, but walked so much in the forest and spent time in the great outdoors, that I was back at work again after three months. Only 50% at the start. Some people never manage to come back after being hit hard. But I knew what would be my cure, and followed that road.
Wise words, Ann-Christine, and beautiful photos to go with them. I love the young artist’s smile, what a fantastic shot.
Thank you, Sofia – and yes, I totally loved his smile and bright eyes.
Painting is a great way to relax, I used to do a lot of it, but I hated the mess, lol, I exchanged it for processing photos. I can spend hours doing that. Love the dog on the rock, it looks beautiful there. I’m with you about nature too.
Thank you, Leanne! And – I agree about the mess. My room is always impossible to fix up again.
Such beautiful photos – the tulip field is amazing and the light on the purple flowers is gorgeous
Thank you, Nora!
Wow Ann-Christine, I’m so glad you’ve reignited the spark for your many passions. I’d love to see your paintings in a future post.
Thank you, Anne – it was a lovely challenge! We’ll see if I dare posting on them…
😍
You’ve truly met Anne’s challenge, Ann-Christine! Wonderful gallery. My favorite is the photo of your dog. It looks like he’s saying, ”Let’s get going! I want to explore!”
Haha, thank you, John – are you a dog whisperer? That’s exactly what he said!
Beautiful images
♥
Thanks for the fun mix of photos, quotes, and insights Ann-Christine.
e so welcome, Brad!
You clearly understand the art of relaxation, and the need for it too. I love your beautiful flowers and the photo of that artist at work, while your dog is adorable! I also really like the Heinlein quote, as well as Blake of course.
Thanks, Sarah – relaxing did not work for me until I was retired. Then it took about three years to get there…
Ann-Christine, what a beautiful post. Your images are stunning. I love your thoughts about relaxation and I really like the quotes.
Thank you, Beth! I have managed to get there since I became retired, Not before…
Beautiful images, and yes, it is always nature or the beach!
Ah, yes!
So true about the children, Ann-Christine. My son loves to walk and to climb, and for a time the grandson felt the same. Now he’s 13 and we’re losing him into those teenage years, with too many influences, but hopefully he’ll retain it for the future. I adore your backlit flowers and the thundering falls, and who could resist a dog like that! God bless xx
Thank you so much, Jo! And yes, I know about those teenage years…but they come back to you, and to what they learned as children! Just wait!
Your images show how well you understand the need to relax – and apparently how well you are able to seize the moments to do so. Favourite image? Every single one!
You are sweet, Margaret – but so happy you liked my post! Relaxing took some years to reach after retirement. A stressful job like I had, doesn’t let you relax before you finish work.
Work has a lot to answer for!
It has.
Ann-Christine, you have a wonderful way of finding time to relax. Whether walking, painting, or photographing, you get what you need. The photos you shared are so peaceful. What a great and relaxing post it was for me!
Then I am glad, Egidio! It has taken me many years to find time to relax and to really work on doing it. After retirement it took three years or more…
This must be the warmest, cuddliest dog-photo I have seen from you > he definitely IS relaxed! For me there is an easy ‘explanation’ – allow me to do any of the myriads of things I like and I am relaxed – if I have to attend to the unpleasant and boring I tense up from the waist down and up . . . 🙂 ! Simple – guess which I like . . .
You are always so sweet, Eha! and so is Milo – good you are relaxed too!
Great images, and I love that Heinlein quote!
Well, thank you – and I love it too!
Such a thoughtful post, Leya. I love your explanation that the gift of appreciating Nature is handed from generation to generation. It certainly has been so in my life experience. Also, thanks for the whole William Blake quote. I just added it to my ”favorite quotes” list! I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get myself organized to post to your challenge last week. I’ll be taking some leisure time to look at the others who participated.
Thank you, Lindy – and relax with the posts! I could not participate for a couple of weeks when we had no wifi. 😀
I am glad you have the same experience when it comes to the gift of appreciating Nature. Important. But I guessed that would be your answer!