Experience the Restorative Power of Nature

from last weekend's play in nature

If you spend your days rushing from one task to another or multi-tasking in an attempt to reach the end of your "to do" list, you could be harming your physical and mental health and damaging your relationship with others. Studies have shown that spending time in nature can be healing, relaxing, restorative and personally beneficial on many levels. With that in mind, perhaps making a reservation at a serene location such as beavers bend cabin lodging should be at the top of your list of things to do.

Physical relaxation

One of the best ways to use your vacation time is to plan a trip to a destination that offers you abundant opportunities to spend time in nature. Activities such as fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, canoeing and numerous other activities that put you in the midst of a natural setting can relieve stress. Stress can have a direct impact on your physical health. Once you experience the exhilaration and pleasure that comes from spending time in nature, you can make a commitment to add "personal time outdoors" to your daily or weekly schedule once you return from vacation.

Restoring relationships

When a couple or a family hurriedly goes through each day barely taking time to talk with each other, the relationship suffers. Escaping to a retreat that offers you lots of outdoor family adventure can remind you of how essential it is to regularly set aside time for outdoor family activities. Couples can become disconnected when their schedules leave little time for romantic moments and heart-felt discussions. A secluded cabin in the woods, with a hot tub and fireplace, is the ideal setting to rekindle a romance. Arrive there with no preset plans and simply let nature inspire you and guide you.

Spending time in nature can help you regain perspective. With time to ponder and reflect, you can often see things more clearly. When your body is tired and your mind cluttered with an array of thoughts, it's difficult to focus on an individual situation or make an important decision. A walk in the woods or a day of fishing can clear your mind and help you regain focus. After spending time in nature, you might decide to make some lifestyle changes that allow you to slow down and become more deeply connected with yourself and with those you love.

6 of My Most Favorite Experiences in a National Park

In celebration of the 99th birthday of the National Park Service, which was last Tuesday, August 25, 2015, let me share here 6 of my most favorite National Park Experiences. These are the memories that definitely sent my heart pounding, struck me stronger and where they revisit me more than the other experiences.

My top 6 favorite National Park Experiences

1. Hiking the Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Me at Cedar Ridge, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

I won't deny that that probably the grandest view of the Grand Canyon is at the driving viewpoints at the rim, so why would we endure leg killer hike and the physical exhaustion of hiking more than 16 miles with 5000 ft descent/ascent?

Personally, if probably I only viewed Grand Canyon from the top, I may not find the experience as one of my most memorable experiences in a National Park to be listed in this post. I must say that I have deeper appreciation and felt a stronger connection to Grand Canyon after I scaled its depth from the rim down to the river. It's very hard to explain the joy I found every step of the way in hiking the Grand Canyon. Deep down the canyon, one could see so much more the very diverse life in a desert, and could see so much more of how Grand Canyon beautifully tells our Earth's history. 

some of the images from our Grand Canyon hike

For me, viewing Grand Canyon from the top is seeing its grandness, which thankfully, that is available to everyone who visits Grand Canyon. Hiking down is understanding in every detail why Grand Canyon is considered to be the greatest geological showcase on Earth. As we went deeper into the canyon, I felt I was digging deeper into the natural history of the Earth hidden in those layers of rock. 

The Grand Canyon hike was not only a mental and physical endurance test, it was so much more than that. An experience I know I will forever be thankful of, and the memories will continue to knock on my heart from time to time bringing so much happiness and inspiration. 

2. Hiking Harding Icefield Trail, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

Me, Above Exit Glacier, one of the many outflowing glaciers of Harding Icefield, and looking through Nanutaks ( or glacial islands ), Kenai Fjords National Park, AK

Just like hiking the Grand Canyon, the memories of this hike will forever beautifully haunt my memories and inspire my senses. From the face of its outflowing glaciers to the end of the trail, I felt like indeed I was taking the giant staircase towards the Ice Age. Like the Grand Canyon hike which is not all about rocks, Harding Icefield hike is not all about ice. There's so much diversity in this hike that helps us take a closer look at our interconnectedness.  Like Grand Canyon, this hike is not only a test of physical fitness and endurance, but provides so much life's lessons that draws the heart to it during our entire journey. 

From the start of the trail at the valley floor, to the end of the trail, the joy was so unexplainable as I see for myself the changes which before I only read in books. Changes such as the change in vegetation as we go higher, understanding the tree line, and how other forms of life such as us are supported by the presence of  these thick layers of ice. 

some of the images from our Harding Icefield hike

This hike was both joyful and spiritually moving. Nowhere in our travels before had we seen a place like Harding Icefield, which to us was like a walk on the moon. We could not contain our joy that brought us jumping many times, jumping that felt like flying. Could you see me flying in one of the pictures above? That was from the joy we found in the hike. At the same time, it was so spiritually moving. The vast ice surrounding us, the brutal frigid wind, the overwhelming silence where we could hear the glacier cry ( or hear the flow of the melting glacier ) and the roaring of the river and the waterfalls coming from the melting ice was pounding my heart more than the uphill struggle of hiking through rocks and ice. 

Looking at the turquoise blue I saw the fragile beauty of the Earth. Listening to the cracking and melting of glacier, was like listening to her cries, where her tears we meet through river streams and the ocean where we swim. It was hard not to say a prayer, a prayer of thanksgiving, a prayer of surrender, a prayer of silence, for I know God listens through the beatings of our heart, and that, hopefully, we all work together towards a healthier and happier Mother Earth. Nature may survive and endure without us, but we can not survive without her. 

3. Hiking the Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah

Virgin River, the trail of the Narrows hike, Zion National Park

Unlike Grand Canyon and Harding Icefield, this hike borders more on "FUN" than physically challenging. For me, this was my most fun hike. I guess, it is my affinity for river streams that made me enjoy the hike from start to finish, and where I simply forget about the educational part of this trip, haha! Most of the time, whenever we hike, I connect it with learning, I can't help it being a teacher of Math and Science which abound so much in nature around us. But in this hike, I forgot about the Science, all I know I was traversing in the river of FUN!! And oh well, how much fun it was!! Though of course, I did learn a lot from this hike, but the learning did not come until probably we were back home, as I recall the memories and what were happening in our hike. 

Fun, and More Fun during the Narrows Hike

If the criteria of choosing my most memorable experiences in a National Park is simply about having the most fun, no doubt this would be my number one. I was so fascinated by the majestic curves of the canyon that was shaped by the river. And unlike other canyons where the river has dried already and I could no longer see the action of water, in this hike, we are seeing and experiencing the Virgin River which continually shapes Zion National Park. Notice how we are so goofy in the above pictures, somehow, the very powerful force that was present on us during the hike was spelled F-U-N!! One of those rare hikes that I do not take a close look at the colors of the rock wondering what minerals may be present and what chemical reactions are presently taking place ( I know, I have so much nerdy tendencies ), instead, I was more like, "yey, there's so much water in the desert!! Who says the desert is dry?!!! The desert is AMAZING!!!"

4. Glacier Calving, Aialik Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

Glacier Calving, Aialik Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

Some of my chosen experiences in this post is about fun, some more about a walk in time learning of Earth's history in rocks and ice, this experience for me was more spiritual than fun. I know I may have shed some tears as I watched and listened to the glacier cry during our hike in Harding Icefield. 

Experiencing the glacier carving froze me, and where for a moment, I could not hear what the National Park guide was explaining to us in the boat. I was just like frozen there, overwhelmed by the cracking, roaring, and rumbling sound of the falling ice, which was many times louder than a thunder. As tears were flowing down my face, I had to wipe them off secretly since I was too embarrassed to be seen crying. But it's just me, I am easily drawn emotionally of what I see that sometimes I don't even know why tears are falling. What I learned from glacier calving is how wildlife could lead us to safety, something probably that we may have learned already before.

Before the calving happened, maybe a few seconds before the sound surprised us, birds that were before flying into the mountains were flying away from it. To me, they know of something to happen because they are so used to listening and feeling Earth to their safety and advantage, which we as humans may not be comfortable of. I know a lot of humans are not comfortable of silence, when they hear no sound, they keep on talking, and talking so they forget about their fears of silence, which sadly makes us also forget to listen to what nature tells us. 

Before, During and After Glacier Calving, Aialik Bay, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

Witnessing glacier calving however was not all about sadness that the ice is melting and that the glacier is hollow. As what the naturalist guide shared to us, the harbor seals and the sea otters would benefit greatly from the ice fall. Indeed, with God, there is a very beautiful purpose for everything. These smaller sea creatures actually use the icebergs that flow out from the glacier as their safe overhaul away from their predators such as bears and killer whales because they don't usually hunt on ice-choked fjords. The fjord is the sanctuary of these wildlife making the fjords actually the richest assemblages of life on Earth. 

My number 2, and number 4 experiences are so much connected because it is in the same park, Kenai Fjords National Park. One was hiking to see the massive field of ice above, and one was by boat to see the behavior of the bottom ice, and how they help maintain a balance of life here on Earth. 

The memories of Aialik Glacier calving continues to linger in me, because its dynamic changes serves as a very good example of why everything has a purpose, a beautiful purpose, despite sometimes it may appear as not. 

5. First Experience of a Grizzly Bear on a Hike, Grinnell Glacier Trail, Glacier National Park, Montana

Grizzly Bear, Glacier National Park, Montana ( photo not taken during that hike, but on that same day near the trail head of the encounter )

Perhaps, this is the experience that pounded my heart the most. At first, it was more of fear, then, next, was more of excitement, on seeing we are actually very safe when the bear walked away from us. It was then I realized, that true enough, bears don't mean to harm us, they are more afraid of us than us of them. However, when we catch them by surprise, that is when they could attack humans, as their instinct to defend themselves. 

When we hiked here. we saw Park Ranger ahead of us. Park Rangers were actively monitoring the area because of sightings of bear in the trail. We were told to always make noise ( which we do, our singing talent comes out on hikes like these where we may encounter bears), and carry a bear spray. And if we see bears, we SHOULD NOT RUN as that will shock them. Instead, we should aim to appear taller and slowly walk backwards so that they will know we are not a threat. No one was running away very thankfully ( who would run when the other hikers would keep on saying, STAY DON'T RUN, SLOWLY WALK BACKWARDS IF YOU MUST BUT DON'T RUN), thus the bear simply walked away from us until it was nowhere of our sight. 

In this hike, I realized:

1. No man is an island. I always love people in the trail because they are so friendly, and calm, and very very helpful. 

2. That a family who hikes and sings together, bonds stronger. 

3. That we don't let our fears stop us, instead, we let our fears teach us to manage and overcome them so we could move on and explore life more beautifully and healthily. 

4. I could forget about photography. The picture above was not taken during that encounter, but when we were driving away from the trailhead already, with a 400 mm lens, and further cropped. I did take pictures of the bears in the trail, but that was when they were at a distance I know they couldn't get to us because they were far up on the mountain at the other side of the river. 

6. Experiencing the Action and Colors in Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park

I thought after seeing all the erupting geysers and all the beautiful lakes and waterfalls at Yellowstone, I could not be more awed anymore. I thought I have seen the best, of what I came for. But I was wrong. 

As we were approaching this geothermal feature, we passed by a river, a waterfall, and a Crater Geyser, which all of them took my breath away. I did not want to leave  the Crater Geyser for it was just so fascinating to see. But then, when I looked around, I saw a thick blue vapor rising. I was wondering what it was, so with hesitation I left the crater geyser and continued my walk. I am glad I did, for this was my most beautiful experience at Yellowstone.

It felt so unreal what I was seeing that time for I have not seen such action of thermophilic bacteria before that resulted in such a beautiful sight. Just like my other chosen experiences in this post, I froze for a bit, overwhelmed by such beautiful feature of Earth in front of me. My heart was singing thanksgiving and praises, and at the same time taking joy to every passersby who would show equal admiration and saying, "ahh, heaven on Earth!". It's only after a while of letting the experience sink in that I slowly dug my camera from my backpack and took pictures to help me bring these so joyful memories home.

I am so glad and grateful for these experiences, for they directed me away from things. Though I am not denying the fact that we do buy things, but most often, they are to help us gain better experiences when we go outside to explore, to make our experiences more pleasant, not frightening that will cause us to fear and not explore nature.

There are so much benefits to exploring nature. For me, all I know is that my Flonase, Proventil, Claritin, and other maintenance medications I used to be dependent on when I was younger now simply expires because I hardly need them since I started to pick up Nature Rx as medicine. 

Also, I used to whine before a day or two in a month of being not able to do anything because of very bad stomach cramps, but since I picked up the Hiking Rx to spend with nature, I am very glad to say that there's no wrong time of the month anymore to go hiking and exploring nature. 

Bouts of allergies,asthma, monthly pains, migraines, are becoming less and less the more I take the natural prescription of Nature, which thankfully I don't feel I am getting overdosed.

And the more I take Nature, the more joyful memories I have that I could flip through whenever I need lots of doses of it. 

Bishop Mini Get Away

This was actually a last minute trip. Before coming to Bishop, we had reservations at John Muir Lodge in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. However, there were 3 wildfires developing in these 2 National Parks. The day I had to cancel our reservation ( guests could cancel at least 72 hours for full refund), the Rogue fire north of Grant Grove was not threatening the area yet, and all of the roads leading to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park were open. Despite no closures at that time in the park yet, I canceled our reservation since I wanted to be safe. I know, I can always pursue my dream to shoot the Perseid meteor shower and Milky Way with the giant sequoias ( world's largest trees) at some other time.

some places we explored around Bishop

After canceling our reservations last Wednesday, I tried to look for an alternative location to shoot the Perseid meteor shower and Milky Way. Of course, there is Anza Borrego Desert State Park, the one closest to San Diego. However, the desert this time of the year is very hot. I am not yet at that level of braving the desert heat in the summer. I looked at the weather forecast for Big Sur, since I thought the Milky Way and the ocean would be so perfect. Though I live close to the ocean but the city does not have enough dark light to allow residents to gaze at a beautiful starry filled sky. Sadly (though I expected it ), there were no more vacancy in all of Big Sur being a very popular and world known summer destination.

I thought then of hiking in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. I called Bishop Chamber of Commerce if they have health hazards warning in the area from the Rogue fire in Kings Canyon National Park, which is in the western side of the Sierra Nevada. The lady told me their mountains are not affected by fire and they do not get health warnings yet. I asked then for sky quality for possible Milky way photography in the night, and she told me the southeast sky is very clear, so should be very okay. After that call, I checked availability in Bishop, and felt so thankful I was able to book 3 nights, Saturday-Monday nights.

When we reached Bishop about noon time Saturday, the sky was very blue and so clear. I was like, "wow! great! I would have a grand time tonight!" To escape the heat in the desert valley ( the town of Bishop is in the desert valley, its mountain however is about 20-30 degrees cooler due to high altitude), we went up Bishop Creek Canyon to do some hikes. Since it is our first day hiking at high altitude, we chose a short one for our acclimatization hike. We hiked North Lake to Grass Lake.

Grass Lake and North Lake at Bishop Creek Canyon

Nature and Exercise

La Jolla Shores from Up the Cliffs to Land

Nature makes me high. Thankfully, enjoying nature makes me exercise as well. Though exercising alone would be very tough for me to do probably despite I know the great benefits our heart, body and mind gets from it, simply because I do not have the motivation to do so had I not found the joy of being out in nature. But with nature, I am motivated. I am motivated to lace up my shoes and hike. I am motivated to put on that very hard to wear wetsuit to endure the cold water to swim with the fishes for hours. And each time I go home from enjoying nature I always have something to take home, such as priceless memories and some pictures from my cell phone. :)

photos from Torrey Pines State Reserve

Or some videos from my cell phone and point and shoot camera(if underwater),

One Fine hiking, snorkeling and tidepooling day at La Jolla Shores

Oh before you get scared for us swimming with the leopard sharks, they are very harmless species of sharks that are bottom feeders whose very small mouth are not capable of biting or endangering humans. If in case you are in La Jolla Shores, some kids may scare you shouting, "shark...shark...", and when you show a frightened face, some kids are quick to tell you, "oh, they are very friendly sharks, you can swim with them!" Not all sharks are born equal, just like whale sharks, leopard sharks are harmless to humans.

Anyway, all pictures above from last weekend's wanderings in nature, where we get not only nature inspiration and therapy, but also exercise, rejuvenating body, heart and mind.

"Wholesome exercise in the free air, under the wide sky, is the best medicine for body and spirit." -- Sarah Louise Arnold

Thankful Thursdate with Myself: Alone But Not Lonely

 

I love having a date with myself. :) I think I have been doing this since I was a kid. Though I love the company of my brothers, but I always would find a chance to spend time with myself even just outside the house, watching the leaves flutter with the wind, watching the passing clouds, or if it as night, watched the twinkling of the stars. Actually, since I was a child, my favorite praying place is my playing place, outside.

When I was in college, I started dating myself far from home. I would take time out to go to the nearest beach. I enjoyed my time alone, walking, eating, listening to the waves. It's during those times actually I problem solved complex problems I was working at school, or simply writing essays. 

From the nearby beach, I started going to the mountains by myself, as I love the sound in the woods and in the river. It's during those times I found I could come out with very good ideas for my thesis writing. Though I always need to go back to school for the experimentation part of my research, but when I need thorough examination and processing of data, I would prefer out from school, and to the mountains I go.

But I don't seek out a date with myself only when I need to process deep thoughts. I go out alone when I am happy, when I feel celebrating, when I am full of thanksgiving, when I feel sad, etc. My favorite date with myself is at the beach since somehow the powerful sound of the crashing waves sets forth a deep sense of peacefulness within me. 

Thus, I am okay alone, life is good! I am okay with friends, life is good! I am okay with family, life is good. I am okay with husband, life is good! Life is good, for God is good, all the time!

So yesterday was one of those many days of summer I go out on a date with myself. :)  Hubby is at work, while I am still in summer break. 

I started my date of course with a stop at Grill City in Mira Mesa, which is a Filipino eatery that serve grilled sea foods and meat, and the more common Filipino vegetable dish. 

from top left going clockwise: grilled milkfish or grilled bangus, mango slush with boba, laing or taro leaves cooked in coconut milk, and grilled squid

After a very heavy early lunch, I went to La Jolla Cove. First thing I did was to take a picture and texted hubby, "enjoying life!" :) Of course, I am a tease!

first picture I took to text hubby, @ the La Jolla Coast Walk

On Kids and Nature

Child and Wave

I recently saw Nature's Valley commercial about kids being out of touch now with nature, having a different childhood experience from their parents. That was sad to watch and listen to, but at the same time, I believe kids do what are being offered to them. If the adults around them only expose them to technology, then kids would be like those kids in the Nature Valley Commercial, describing 13 hours of their day into playing computer games or into social media/texting communication. Then, there are parents who bring their kids outside, let them explore, let them learn from their experience of their surroundings.

Father and Child Tidepooling, could you see the happiness expressed in the little girl's smile?

My childhood days was totally different from these days. Back then, it was so much easier for the kids to enjoy nature without the constant presence of our parents. Our playground was nature, our treasure hunt was finding wild vegetables to bring home such as amaranth, watercress, mushroom, and many more. When my nieces and nephew were growing, they already had a different childhood than us, there's technology, and then, there's nature. Did we choose one or the other? No, we combined both.

Playing Around With Mobile Photogrid App

Had been having fun with PhotoGrid lately, a free mobile photo collage app. Here are some samples of the photo collages I made whenever I find myself sitting in the bus. :)

Hiking and Birding @ Lake Hodges

The Birds of Lake Hodges, 1/2/2015

2014 Adventures

Colors Around Home

Color Me Pink :) Color Me Happy :)

The Challenge of Choosing That One Picture

La Jolla Coast Boulevard Tidepools @ Dusk and Sunset

Whenever I am faced with the challenge of choosing that one picture and I have a hard time choosing which one, my answer always is to make a collage, then, I do have one picture, a picture collage! :)

In the above collage, I asked the help of hubby which one to choose. From the collage above, at first, his choice was the top left picture. But then, after I showed him two at a time, and asked him which one he likes better between the two, the choice for that one picture changed. Could you tell which one of the 6 pictures below finally ended to be that one picture? 

TOP LEFT PICTURE

2014 Summer Staycation

collection of photos from my summer 2014 Staycation

Life is simply wonderful. It does not have to be extravagant to be one. There's so much beauty and happiness in simplicity! To feel life is wonderful is a choice. I am so glad and thankful to have that choice.

Though we may have taken a 10-day Canadian Rockies adventure vacation,  but that does not mean Canadian Rockies adventure is more joyful than my staycation's adventure. They're different, nothing is better than the other, both gave me joyful memories to treasure forever. :) Yes, FOREVER!! Afterall, everyday is like a staycation for me, even when I have work! :) I always take time to rejuvenate in nature so I stay inspired everyday, whether at home, at work, or anywhere! Perhaps, that's the reason why I could not say that staycation is better than work days. They're different, both work and staycation are JOYFUL for me.

Anyways, here are some reasons why summer 2014 staycation is so WONDERFUL. :)

1. Joy swimming with the fishes. Ahhh, probably this is the very reason why summer is my MOST FAVORITE SEASON! It's a time to enjoy swimming with the fishes in the ocean. The underwater world is amazing, and thankfully, I do not really have to take vacation to enjoy it.

Summer 1014 Snorkeling

Swimming with the Fishes: One of the Simple Joys in Amazingly Wonderful SIMPLE LIFE

Snorkeling At La Jolla Shores, August 11, 2014

music: Simple Life from Karl Kohlase's Simple Life Album
**note: leopard sharks are NOT AT ALL HARMFUL TO HUMANS, they are one of the harmless and friendly sharks, such as THE WHALE SHARKS, that you could swim with them safely, and not get harm for they DO NOT HAVE THE PHYSIOLOGICAL MAKE UP to bite nor cause harm. 

Let me take a break from my Canadian Rockies vacation post to share the simple joys of my summer staycation here at home sweet home San Diego. :) I still have about 2 weeks of staycation, though of course I used some of those time preparing also for the school year ahead. 

One of my simple joys in simple life is of course being out in the sea. Though this blog shares mostly hiking stuff, but my summer actually is mostly about water. :) 

2014 Snorkeling here in San Diego

Photographing Peregrine Falcons

Peregrine Falcon In Flight

camera settings: f/8, 1/2000 seconds, ISO-400
Single Point AF AI Servo

Peregrine falcons are probably my most photographed birds. I simply enjoy watching them. Photographing them in flight is a big challenge though, as they are not only very fast, they are the FASTEST ANIMAL on earth. They could dive up to 200+ mph when taking their prey. Oftentimes, my camera and lens is not fast enough to focus on them. The happiness however, of capturing them in flight is un-explainable, no words could describe, haha!!!

Lately however, I have learned some strategies when photographing birds in flight. That is to observe their behavior. When birds are perched on a cliff and on a tree, I watched them til they poop, which is a signal that soon they will leave and fly.  I prepare then my camera to be able to catch them in flight.

Sometimes, when I see them flying, I aim my camera at them, even it has difficulty focusing right away because of their fast speed. I however, still continue to follow them with my camera because I know there is a chance they could slow down, or find a place to perch, where my camera would have greater chance of focusing. Patience on following them while they are in flight until the camera and lens focuses do pay off. :)

Peregrine Falcon About to Perch

camera settings: f/8, 1/2000 seconds, ISO-400
Single Point AF AI Servo

A Peek Into My Joys of Simple Life

**Originally posted September 2009**

"Do you enjoy life at all, like going to clubs or bars?"....... "Don't you enjoy shopping? No woman doesn't, right?" ---- these are some of the questions I used to get before when some probably wonder why they don't see pictures of me, or from me, clubbing or shopping. 

Do I enjoy life at all? I DO, so happy, contented and at peace with the joys of simple life. Let me share with you my simple joys 

......

In my regular days, when most people are probably still in deep slumber at 5:00 am, I am already awake and preparing for school. Though still sleepy, I have to be awake. By 5:45 am, I am sitting on the bus on my way to school. During the ride, I extend my sleep for even just 30 minutes :( Sometimes, I would take a peek at the bus window to gaze at the beautiful sunrise. If I am inspired enough, I would take out my cell phone and take a snap shot of the early morning rising sun.

Sunrise Using a Cell Phone Camera

But most of the time, I am just too sleepy that I simply close my eyes and continue to be in dreamland. However, when I get off the bus, I am as energized as I can be, for after-all, I should! I should not look more sleepy than my students. At school, I am transformed, no more sleepiness. I just have that inherent joy to share what I love to do the most, that is to teach.

Now, after school or after work, here in America, work continues at home. We have to clean the house, water the plants, do laundry, cook meals. Another simple thing in life that I have learned to take joy in it is to be self-sufficient and not relying on helpers to do household chores that we ourselves can do. Of course, at first, I thought it was hard, but as time passed by, I find so much happiness in doing household chores. Self-sufficiency has opened my world not only to how much we can save in the process but also to the ultimate joy of being free at home, free from prying helper's eyes. I am free to enjoy every corner of our house in whatever physical appearance. 

At home, I cook our own meals since I believe it is healthier. Thankfully, cooking is not work at all for me, it is one of the simple things in life I love doing best and take joy in it. I love to whip up everything from scratch.

We prefer to just simply eat at home and take control of what we eat.

When the day is longer, that is late spring to early fall, between school and home, there is enough time for us to explore our beautiful world outside. During weekends, instead of dining out and spending money in the mall shopping, we just take our simple delights to the trails or to the ocean, or both.  

finding joy in hiking, our local work-out @ Torrey Pines Trail

finding joy in hiking, our local work-out @ Lake Hodges 

Either we hike, snorkel, boogie board, or do them all in one day.

finding joy in snorkeling

We have fun, we get exercise, all for free!

Now, if not working, or not outdoors to energize our body and spirit, at home, when there is free time, I blog. I blog because I find joy in sharing the joys of simple life. I blog because I see blogging as an opportunity to  learn from others and also earn on the side to give the gift of education to some deprived kids and some who may be in the most need.

Working meaningfully as a teacher, enjoying life at the great outdoors, being self-sufficient, saving money for the future, earning a little bit more from blogging to sponsor some kids to school and sharing some of our blessings to meaningful causes, are what I call, "The Joys of Simple Life". Come, enjoy life as simple as it can be. 

Flower Happiness :)

I have been quiet here for a while, with so many things going on. But thanks to "flower happiness", I find myself awake. :) However, pardon me if I don't have much to say, but have so much flower happiness to share. :)

I apologize if I have to include myself in the middle of all these flower happiness. :)

The Joys of Simple Life Shirt

While reading about customized t-shirt printing in  web2print, what I had been thinking before of customizing t-shirt that would carry the banner of this blog, "The Joys of Simple Life", has been awakened. However, the plan has never been materialized. I kind of think however it would be a lot of fun to wear my shirt, I mean, "The Joys of Simple Life" shirt when hiking. There would be pros and cons to that though. :) 

Pro:

It will promote this site. :) Hmmm, as if I wanted a lot of traffic here, haha! I am not so sure about that, though the business aspect is kind of exciting to think about.

Con:

Hmmm, I still have to think about it. :) Haha! Right now, all I see is the fun of having "The Joys of Simple Life" shirt, like the one below.

The Joys of Simple Life Shirt, go or no go? 

Random Pictures....Random Thoughts

Sometimes, life can be confusing......isn't it?

But then, after the passing tides,

 We see the beauty of it all, the beauty in challenges, the beauty in tears, the beauty in success, the beauty in everything....

that we couldn't help but celebrate life with one another......

Ahhhh, life is joyful.....so joyful....says these two harbor seals.

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Take a moment to stop and enjoy the beauty around you, and if you could, freeze those beauty in your photos. All images above are old photos that I took from La Jolla Ellen Browning Scripps Park- San Diego. Meanwhile, let me leave you with a photo I took today at Lake Hodges.

White Pelicans, Lake Hodges, San Diego, CA