Nature, Photo challenges, Photography

Happy Place – WPC (11 Images)

79 Comments

Happy place. I taste the words. A place where I feel happy. Where I go to let go of stress and frustrations. And worries. A place where I can laugh or cry. And where my soul can rest.

There are many such places, I realize. For different uses. But all my happy places have one thing in common. Water. On the water. Near the water.

There are everyday happy places right here at home. Like standing barefoot in the shallow water watching the sun dive into the Gulf. Or a catamaran sail into the sunset.

sunset on sat ud26 sunset sail ud26Or sitting on “my” bench next to the deep water at the salt marsh, listening to Mockingbird’s song and watching Mama Osprey enjoy her garden.

salt marsh next to the osprey nest HPmama osprey in the nest UD26

These are everyday happy places. Places to run to whenever I feel in need of soothing stillness surrounded by nature.

And then there are special happy places. Treats of complete happiness not enjoyed every day. Like an afternoon on a small island inhabited only by birds and dolphins.  Or a day spent on the water with family.

3 rooker bar island boat hp

Or hikes on old, unspoiled islands. Diving into happiness as it used to be long before my time. Special treats of happy.

caladesi island beach hphiking 2 on caladesi hp

And then there are forever happy places. Places with traces of my short history here on earth. Places that remember me. From the time my tiny feet felt the cool water for the first time. Where I return to find peace. Sitting on a rock alone with the moon. Enveloped in warmth on a summer night.

Lake in the fall hp

I wish you all a happy week.  Wherever your happy place might be. You can find other responses to this challenge here.

79 thoughts on “Happy Place – WPC (11 Images)”

  5. Wow Tiny, your happy post filled me with happiness! You have so many lovely places on earth to access happiness, and it sure shows in your gorgeous photography. Thanks for spreading the joy…. 😀

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    1. Thank you, Jet. Nature has a way to brig us back into our natural happy state 🙂 I am grateful for all these places…and planning to travel to my forever happy place again this fall.

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  6. Your experience is very kindred to my own, thanks Tiny for sharing it, how wonderful to re earth ourselves in such beautiful surroundings, we are so blessed, and we do feel happy when we come back to a place that brings peace and quietens the soul. Have a wonderfully interesting week:-)

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    1. This is so true! There are beautiful places in nature that refresh and nourish us in special ways. Their touch is felt deep in the soul 🙂

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  7. Beautiful places and photos Tiny. Thanks for sharing them. 🙂 Nature brings me much happiness and peace too. And after hard work (inner and outer), my yard is becoming a happy place. One day I hope to carry my happy place inside wherever I am and whatever I’m doing.

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    1. Thank you for your beautiful comment, Brad. I thought about writing about the inner happy place, but realized it was too difficult to photograph for this challenge 😀

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    1. Thank you Sylvia. The last photo is a few years old now, but it’s a picture that was etched deeply in my heart. It was around midnight in the Nordic summer that really doesn’t get dark until about 1-2 in the morning…and for a couple of hours only 🙂

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  25. I like the different types of happy places! One thing I like about your blog though is that you find “happy” in your own backyard. I think that’s one of the best gifts of all.

    Nancy

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    1. Thank you Tina. That last picture represents a wonderful memory for me. Moon at midnight, but not really dark as yet, such is the Nordic summer.

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  29. All my happy places are on or near the water, too. Even growing up inland, the swamp behind our house was a favorite place to spend my time. Are the last two pictures in Finland? Loved seeing how Mama Osprey’s garden is coming along. 🙂

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    1. Yes, the last two pictures are in Finland, at my dad’s place, where I lived from the age of four. Mama Sandy enjoys her garden almost every day now, and it’s been going strong for five weeks now….she has a green talon for sure 🙂

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  30. Very nice post and gorgeous photos. My happy place is in my heart when trekking in Lapland on some of our Arctic hills. The sound of silence, roaming reindeers, pure nature, fragrance of coffee and the beloved beside me, they make me feel happy.

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