I have just returned from my trip out to Pennsylvania (beautiful) and it was a truly amazing, refreshing, and inspiring roadtrip, couldn't have asked for anything better. There was one sort of funny thing that I noticed; however, along each stop on the trip the residents of each city seemed to think less of their city than the people visiting it. So the residents of dry Texas were awed by the wide plains of cropland in Illinois and Ohio & the residents of Ohio were mesmerized by the mountains of the East and so forth and so on. I am really interested in this phenomenon of not appreciating what is already around you, the "grass is greener" taint on life.
And so, knowing that all three of us will be getting the opportunity to go to an entirely new location in the coming months and look upon them with fresh eyes, my challenge this week is for us to look at a place that we are already familiar with and try to find the "hidden gems" or the unappreciated aspects that we never noticed before. I triple dog dare you to LOOK!
I took a few photos on my trip, because I felt the camera lens was the best medium for me to work with, but if you prefer to write a poem or discuss something or just point something out, go for it! The point is simply to look at things newly!
Peace!
Liz
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI Triple Dog Dare You: First Challenge// I dare you to LOOK: "I have just returned from my trip out to Pennsylvania (beautiful) and it was a truly amazing, refreshing, and inspiring roadtrip, could..."
ReplyDeleteLiz, these photos are beautiful. I accept your challenge. But first, I have a confession. When I read your challenge I thought that because you and Stephanie just visited my most familiar place, Lakewood, and because I got the chance to look at my city through new eyes, as it were, I might have a slightly unfair advantage. However, all such thoughts were laid to rest when I immediately thereafter realized that all the pictures you have posted, (they truly are gorgeous though) are pictures of places new and unfamiliar to you i.e. this would be something akin to Steph posting pictures of Japan (which I guess is what she will have to do when she gets in on the challenge), or me posting pictures of China. Just saying...
But, enough of that, on to the challenge. Well, since I'm perfectly inept at most tasks involving technology, I forfeit uploading pictures (though once I finally bring myself to do this, I have some adorable pictures of Charles I owe you Liz), and instead, will just make a little list with explanations. Things I like about Lakewood: I've always loved libraries and Lakewood has two public libraries - sort of a major and minor. Though I have some good memories in the smaller one, I love all the times I spent in the main library. Before I got my dog, that was my go-to place to learn about dog behavior, breeds, stories, anything to convince my parents that I did in fact deserve that dog I'd been begging them for for the last six years. I also loved the fantasy stories, the philosophy books, novels, movies, and just about everything else. Every time I go into the library, I have the sense that I should just devote the next few years to reading everything I can get my hands on. If only somebody would pay me to do that... oh well. The new library (the one you girls saw) is a little bittersweet for me. The new library is clearly amazing! It's about twice as large, the children's section makes me want to raise any future kids here and nowhere else, and the selection is unbelievable. But somewhere in my head I have the old setup memorized and wish I could go to that library instead.
Another thing I absolutely love about Lakewood is the... Lake! I almost couldn't believe it when Stephanie said she'd never seen Lake Erie even after living in Ohio for some eight or nine odd years. I mean, I don't really encourage anybody to go swimming in the lake on any beaches near Lakewood, but it serves as a nice background for some amazing sunsets. I also like that everything is within walking distance here: the town center, my elementary, middle and high school, the parks, the pools, the libraries, etc.
I think what I like most of all about Lakewood though, is that it's a city that has been willing to make some major changes for the better. In just the last seven years, the public schools have either been rebuilt or updated, the parks are looking much better with new playground equipment and other such improvements, a dog park has opened, even the cafes are looking more trendy. I truly don't think I ever appreciated this city as much when I lived here full time. Now that I'm only passing through, it seems like there is so much more to this place. But maybe it's just a sign that I should keep moving to keep appreciating... maybe. Okay all, I will catch you on the flip side.
-Dragana
P.S. Steph can't wait to read yours!