Wednesday, December 29, 2010

THE ART OF SIMPLICITY

Xmas snow 1.4 bis

Xmas snow 7.3 bis
The week that follows Xmas and precedes the New Year is always a little strange. It is a period during which one feels totally out of reality, displaced and so strange. There is a very good reason for that. According to our Georgian (Western world) calendar, those few days between the end of December and the beginning of January mark the closure of an event which most people have looked upon with too much expectation and hope, the conclusion of yet another year with it's ups and downs as well as a new fresh start that inspires people to feed out of reality dreams doomed to get shattered.

No wonder we are depressed and disappointed during the end of year celebrations! We put the bar far too high, have too many unfulfillable desires and aspire for things that we cannot get. Life is so deceptive if you don't keep your feet on the ground. Then it is impossible to suffer from the soufflé effect. Having no illusions ensures us to be happy with what we have and thankful for the little things.

Xmas snow 3.3 bis

Xmas snow 6.2 bis

Xmas snow 4.2 bis
Just take a look at the vast majority of the human beings around the planet who were frenetically getting ready for the festivities, stressing and even loosing sleep over the whole Christmas hype. Now that it's finished they are once more under extreme pressure at the approach of the 1st of January 2011. Another big decadent feast is soon going to take place and the circus kicks into full speed again.

All are exchanging their gifts, buying loads of unnecessary objects with the money they received and going apeshit trying to organize the big day that lies ahead. What a beserker world! We can never stop for a little while, breathe, take our time to enjoy the present moment and stop focusing on the future or what is out of reach and not under our control.

The past is gone and the future doesn't exist yet, so try to center all of your attention on what is happening pronto. You are living now and not yesterday or tomorrow. Today is the day. Everything else is built on fiction or memory!


Our lack of peace, perpetual quest for more, constant need to be busy and occupied has such a negative influence on us and is characteristic of our modern world, so in order to let you relax a bit and concentrate on what's important (youself and the present) I thought that you might like to enjoy the zen-like atmosphere of my wintery pictures.

Xmas snow 5.2 bis

Xmas Snow 2.1 bis

65 comments:

  1. Rosa what a lovely post about this special but sometimes confusing time of year! I so enjoyed reading it and looking at your gorgeous pictures! I hope you have a wonderful and prosperous New Year my dear!

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  2. Wow! On dirait des paysages de film ! Bonne fin d'année à toi Rosa ! :)

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  3. Rosa you are so right. I don;t quite romantasize the holidays, I definitely live with reality in mind and this I believe lets me enjoy the holidays for what they should be. I try to find a nice mixture of things from running at 100mph to sitting on my couch cuddling my daughter.

    Lovely post.

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  4. Love, Love, LOVE this!!

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  5. I love this series of photos and your take on between Christmas and Year~

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  6. Those r some breathless shots! They speak exactly the language n idea that you wrote on ur post. Love it!

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  7. Superbes photos Rosa! J'aime beaucoup ton billet également. Moi mon Noël a été très tranquille puisque le but était de profiter au maximum du temps très précieux que je passe avec mes 3 superbes fils et mon mari. Ça, c'est un véritable cadeau de Noël. Caroline B. Bisous

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  8. Rosa absolutely amazing photos, are so special am
    nd beauty, have a nice and Happy New Year, gloria

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  9. Simply beautiful! And, lovely texture in the fine lines of the bare trees.

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  10. What a deep insighted post Rosa. The photos are just spectacular and looks like a full blown winter time I would so want to be in right now. Here in Texas, by little one is confused if it is winter or fall :-)

    I think the best gift we can have is the nature itself... there is so much to it and no mundane, and nothing to get bored of after a couple of days.

    Have a wonderful year Rosa.
    Hugs

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  11. Gorgeous photos Rosa. Cheers to living in the present moment!

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  12. Rosa--beautiful photographs.
    Thank you for sharing how you feel.
    I feel one act of kindness is cool and acting kindly no matter what is way cooler.
    Best to you in the New Year.
    I always look forward to receiving new blog posts from you.
    Amities,
    Melanie

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  13. Was hast Du für schöne Worte gefunden für diese triste Zeit des Übergangs. Danke ! Robert

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  14. Absolutely right.
    There's a Japanese proverb which roughly says :" On the morrow, the wind of tomorrow will blow" (ashita wa ashita no kaze ga fuku)
    Enjoy the last days before 2011

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  15. simply stunning pictures..happy holidays!!

    sweetlife

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  16. Rosa, these photos are simply stunning. thank you so much for sharing them!

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  17. Hear, hear Rosa. I'm with you on keeping it simple. May you have a gentle, healthy & peaceful New Year.

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  18. Really beautiful photos! You are so talented Rosa.

    "Today is the day. Everything else is built on fiction or memory!"

    I think I will save that line to help me remain present in the moment! Thanks so much!

    ((hugs))

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  19. Lovely post & beautiful photos!

    Happy New Year!

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  20. Beautiful post and wonderful pictures !

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  21. Stunning as usual... I didn't fret this year with all the shopping mess. I did it all in about an hour when I arrived in DC. I refuse to allow all the pressure take away the meaning of Christmas for me... it's too special and lovely to get caught up with other stuff.
    I love your country side.

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  22. What a well written post Rosa.The pictures as usual are stunning.I feel confused these days..there is a excitement about the new year vacations & celebrations amid hopes that the next year will be better than the one past. I really want 2011 to be far better in its givings-both professionally & personally!
    A happy new year to you in advance!

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  23. Simply beautiful and well said. Hope your new year's celebration is fabulous.
    Sam

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  24. Incredible snowy pictures Rosa and yes this time of the year is very special some good but for others aren’t.

    I'm here with 35C on this week sending you Happy New Year!!

    Cheers,

    Gera

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  25. WOW ! Can't even find a word to describe this beautiful shots ! Gorgeous !

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  26. Your photos are beautiful as always. Please send some snow over here.

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  27. breathtaking photos! Happy New Year,Rosa!

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  28. Beautiful pictures Rosa!
    Happy New Year and heres hoping happiness and fun are long lasting!

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  29. Ah yes, the souffle effect...you're absolutely right, simplicity is key. Gorgeous photos, as always!

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  30. The stuff you wrote for this post reminds me of a book about the teachings of Confucius!

    Happy New Year Rosa. :)

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  31. Wonderful post, Rosa, and amazing pictures as always! I hope you have a great new year!

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  32. Your photos truly have a Zen-like aura and when I visit I'm always transported to a more peaceful place, I'm grateful that you have chosen to share them with us. I agree with your thoughts about living in the moment and one of the reasons I practice yoga for is to remind me of this and quiet the mind.

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  33. Wonderful thought-provoking post, Rosa.

    ...I want to live in that red house!

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  34. So true! Thanks for the reminder to stop and smell the roses.

    Great pictures!

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  35. Wow wow and wow. What amazing photos. So wonderfully and beautifully taken.

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  36. Beautiful captures..loved reading your post!

    Season's greetings and best wishes for a happy new year dear Rosa :)

    US Masala

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  37. What a perfect post, Rosa, with stunning, mysterious, zen-like photos. I agree with you 100%. These last couple weeks of the year, all the holidays are best spent calmly with those one loves the best, sharing, laughing and thinking, pondering all we have done and all there is left to do. We never allow ourselves to get caught up in any frenzy or wild expectations. We go with the flow, our meals are a mixture of the easy, premade and our favorites in a sensible and doable fashion. We spend the holidays quietly together en famille and we go from Hanukkah to Christmas to New Year's smoothly and happily. A very Happy, Healthy & Prosperous 2011 to you, my dear friend and your friendship has come as a great gift this past year! xo

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  38. Ouah c'est splendide!! Bravo pour toutes ces magnifiques photos!! ;)
    Bise

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  39. It does have a soothing effect Mistress Rosa. Thanks for reminding us to breathe. You have a wonderful year end yourself.
    Kisses.

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  40. what gorgeous photos...so peaceful. Have a great New Year, rosa!

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  41. Those photos are just so expressive. The bleakness of winter, the stillness, the beauty, all combined to be so poignant. What a lovely post.

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  42. Tu as vraiment beaucoup de talent Rosa.. Bonne journée à toi XX

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  43. How beautiful can beautiful be...this is ethereal. Happy New Year sweet Rosa...

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  44. I agree Rosa, my goal is to always seek the now. I remind my kids of that often :) The happiest place to be. xo
    ps: can't wait to see your trifle

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  45. Gosh Rosa, how did you set up your camera? I really want to learn how to take some good landscape pictures.
    I wish you a happy and peaceful New Year!
    Angie

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  46. bellissime immagini, e foto davvero molto suggestive :) adoro questo tuo stile^^

    Meilleurs voeux pour la nouvelle année!
    Bises

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  47. I love to see the changing season under your lens. Beautiful winter.

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  48. It is a strange week in some ways. I think it's because after all the festivities of Christmas and what-not, it hits you that another year is about to end and a new one about to begin. You start looking back, contemplating if you achieved all that you wanted, and look ahead to what you need to accomplish in the new year. It can be stressful.

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  49. Je suis tout a fait d'accord avec toi; pour moi Noel et le reste devrait être un temps de calme et de méditation. Tes photos sont très belles et pleines d'atmosphère.

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  50. I couldn't agree more. Happy New Year Rosa and all the best to you and your family!

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  51. W O N D E R F U L!!!!
    Mglòria, Gourmenderies

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  52. wonderful!!

    happy 2011 to you! god bless xx

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  53. Love the pictures :) Happy New Year to you, Rosa xx

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  54. Oui c'est tout à côté :) Mais je n'arrivais pas à voir si les photos étaient prises du côté pays de gex ou plus du côté haute savoie. Mais là, je n'ai plus aucun doute, je reconnais !
    (Désolé de répondre sur cet article, mais je rattrape mon retard dans l'ordre de mon reader ^^)
    A bientôt !

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  55. Fantastic post, Rosa! I couldn't agree with these sentiments more!

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  56. Lovely post, lovely wintery pics.

    Happy New Year to your Rosa!

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  57. Beautiful pictures Rosa! Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

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  58. Great pictures, as always. I wish you all the best for the New Year, in good health and filled with joy and happiness.
    Eric

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  59. breathtaking and beautiful!

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  60. People do put the bar too high. Ironically I have a post about that topic coming up.
    What stunning photos by the way Rosa!
    Happy New Year to you!

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  61. Love your post. Had the most low-key holiday season every (seriously, ever) and it has been the best. Sending lots of love and all the best for the new year! Hope that the beauty of simplicity envelopes your days....

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