Stillness. I've been thinking about this word. For me, it is a challenge to be still. Always moving, always doing, never resting. However, I need to practice stillness despite the challenges these days. One thing I realize is that it doesn't mean I need to literally sit and be still but rather that my spirit needs to be still. That could mean something different for everyone, for me it is to live in the moment. To literally treat moments like a still photograph. To be in the moment as if it is the one moment that matters. To rid myself of the worry or angst and business that surrounds me and to be s t i l l . To take a second or two and stop. To know myself well enough to know when pressures are becoming too great and I need stillness. When 2013 wrapped up and 2014 began, I needed stillness more than I ever have. I went out west to find it. I traveled to Montana to see a dear friend I have only met once but feels like we've known each other a lifetime. Now, even more so. We hiked through snowy forests to misty hot springs. We chatted over coffee in the mornings and wine in the evenings. And I found stillness. From there I went to California to be with friends who have become family. We hiked mountains we saw in the distance, picked fruits from orchards, and had a bonfire on the beach. And I found stillness. Finally I went North to Oregon to travel with a fellow photographer and explore Oregon's beauty. We drove miles through pine tree forests till we reached the foggy coast. Twice. We drank more coffee than you could imagine and met the sweetest folks. And there I too found stillness.
These photos are out of order and I did that on purpose... Its about finding stillness no matter where you are. This trip as a whole was one big journey and it doesn't end there. I'm learning as I go that to be still is to savor life. Its to let go of stresses even for a moment. To engage. I won't always be victorious in choosing stillness but I believe its worth the fight.
(Most square photos are from my iphone and seen on instagram. www.instagram.com/katemagee)