Taking My Own Advice.

Its easy to let things get away from you when you are busy trying to achieve an productive day.

Interestingly, while compiling the next Art Therapy work book for the Studio resource collection, something from in the office yesterday had stuck with me into my morning commute today.

In a casual conversation with my other half, chatting about the joy I was experiencing in the universal fluidity of the mornings sequence of events taking me by pleasant surprise, it took 4 hours of me being awake and the trip heading back to Penola from Mount Gambier for me to realise the sage wisdom of an activity that I was mentoring in my book, but which clearly I could benefit from.

So in the middle of Riddoch Highway on the 'home strait' I suddenly pulled over when I caught my creative self contemplating with my sub-conscious ego about how the scenery was magical but then my ego self was arguing with my creative self that I didn't have time to take it in, rather instead I had to 'do-do-do!'

I took some photos on advice of my art therapy research yesterday which said 'Take the time to stop for just a minute and take in the world around you. Take a random photo even of the most ordinary thing, and reflect.' …and that's what I did.

So here are the random photos taken by a very ordinary low budget phone camera. Where perfection of imagery was not the focus but simply rather, just a moment captured in time in its pure raw beauty.

It all started with a visit to my Daddio at the cemetery on my way through:

View of Mount Gambier Lakes from Carinya Gardens

But it was this next scene which brought the need to suddenly stop and pause for a bit... (so not my 'usual' habitual self)

View of Wattle Range Vineyards Riddoch Highway, Penola Environs

View of Wattle Range Paddocks Riddoch Highway, Penola Environs

And that's where I realised just how lucky I was to live with such scenic views everyday. Up until now, I had a knowing of how lucky I was to live in such a magical natural landscape. But maybe I took it for granted more than I should have.

So by the time I did hit the road again and was heading back home into Penola, I decided to do it again with the studio cottage. And again, I knew what special simple things I had chosen to embrace and surround myself with, but had I taken it for granted by not taking the time to actually 'smell the roses'.

Well, metaphorically speaking, as it is dead middle of winter and the roses are all dormant. But that doesn't stop nature creating it's own stories.

Like for instance. Take this bird's nest randomly perched in the stem arms of a rose bush. How often do you see that, and now one has a myriad of questions about how it came to be....

Quirkiness Of A Birds Nest In The Stems Of A Rose Bush In The Cottage Garden July 2025

Or who would have thought that a simple flowering gum nut lying on the ground against a backdrop of grass would look so delicately pretty?

Lone Flowering Gumnut From Cottage Front Garden July 2025

That's also when I noticed the connectivity of other nearby delicate flowering plants emerging to showcase their graceful pretty forms.

White Violets Emerging In Cottage Garden July 2025

And those that added their own sensory glory to the perfumery that already the lavender and rosemary had contributed into the garden.

White Jonquils Emerging In Cottage Garden July 2025

Again, I realised, wow, look at what I am missing out on because I am too busy to take a moment to truly notice what's there and reflect on their place and purpose in the ecosystem that I take for granted.

Studio Cottage View Overlooking Pasture, Vineyards and Native Reserve with Forestry Backdrop July 2025

So here's the thing.

Take some photos on advice of my art therapy research yesterday which said 'Take the time to stop for just a minute and take in the world around you. Take a random photo even of the most ordinary thing, and reflect.' …and do what I did.

Just a few moments could change your whole day.

No regrets.