PHOTO CHALLENGE
Encouragement to Navigate the Foggy Times in Life
A Snapshots Photography Challenge
In order to give yourself the space to receive clarity, maybe you need to let go of the expectation that clarity will come in a particular way or at a particular time. —Emily P. Freeman
There are years in our lives that can be quite foggy. We don’t know for sure why we can’t see clearly, but life keeps going.
For me, those years were my latest teens and early twenties. I thought I wanted complete independence. I got it by moving across the country by myself. I quickly learned there were gaps between what I knew, what I thought I knew, and what I needed to know — gaps filled with fog.
If I could, I would reach back to my younger self and share these messages. Honestly, it is nice to hear them at any age.
The rain and fog will clear. What you see beyond the guard rail, you can go for it. You can’t see all of the possibilities now, but there are more than you know.
Even though you may not see the future clearly or feel the seasons changing, you are growing. Stand tall, stay strong, you will be prepared for whatever is next.
Look back every once in a while to see the ripples you are making in the lives of others. You may feel like your efforts are going unnoticed, they are not. Your wake is powerful.
Sometimes even when you try to shift your perspective, things are still unclear. Clarity will come when you need it. Don’t worry about when.
The sun will rise each day, offering a fresh look at things. Everything doesn’t need to be done at once. Take your time, enjoy the journey.
It feels different to walk alone, like your legs aren’t as strong as you thought they were, but you are good. You will make it. And you are never really alone.
Trying to break through a wall of fog isn’t always the way to go. Being still is sometimes the best move, taking time to think and make the best decisions about which way to proceed.
Some opportunities will only reveal themselves if you are moving in the right direction. You may have to start climbing the fence before you know for sure what exactly is on the other side.
Sometimes you will find yourself on a path that is very foggy. You wait and stay patient, but it remains foggy. There may be a reason. There may not be anything on that path that you need to see. It may not be the path for you. Then, you will rely on the clarity that comes from within to find your way.
Fog wraps us in wonder and awe with its mysterious ways. The foggy picture challenge led me to think of gray days as days with less clarity.
I was also reminded of a book my mom sent to me during my foggiest years — The Blue Day Book, A Lesson in Cheering Yourself Up, by Bradley Trevor Greive. Take a sneak peek by video, it is sure to turn around any blue (or gray/foggy) day — especially if you love animal humor.
Thanks for reading. I hope everyone finds the comfort and encouragement they need for the foggy days —they are actually beautiful in their own way.
I also wrote about seeing the bright side of gray days:
See below how to join the challenge if you have any foggy photos to share.
Thanks to Dennett for starting this Foggy Photo Challenge:
And, thanks to pockett dessert for the inspiration that led to the Foggy Photo Challenge:
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