… won’t you let me go down in my dreams
~James Taylor, ‘Sweet Baby James’
Morning reflection at El Capitan ~d nelson (click to enlarge)
Dreamily remembering my 4 year old self
saying , “my favorite color is green.”
It remained favored for much of my life.
I still seem to like it a lot.
“When people see some things as beautiful, other things become ugly. When people see some things as good, other things become bad.”
~ Lao Tzu
Concentrating on this color preference
I have the insight to hold my liking
of green lightly, not too tight.
This feels freer to better appreciate other
colors of the wheel for the uniqueness each offers.
“Desire can be compared to fire. If we grasp fire, what happens? Does it lead to happiness? If we say: “Oh, look at that beautiful fire! Look at the beautiful colors! I love red and orange; they’re my favorite colors,” and then grasp it, we would find a certain amount of suffering entering the body. And then if we were to contemplate the cause of that suffering we would discover it was the result of having grasped that fire. On that information, we would hopefully, then, let the fire go. Once we let fire go then we know that it is something not to be attached to. This does not mean we have to hate it, or put it out. We can enjoy fire, can’t we? It’s nice having a fire, it keeps the room warm, but we do not have to burn ourselves in it.”
Ajahn Sumedho, in ‘Teachings of a Buddhist Monk’
brothers going with the airflow 
warm colors’ warm energies (click to enlarge)
A friend shared that she let go of her craving
for custard by eating too much of it at one time.
Now, she says it makes her sick.
Wonderful that we can comfort our
body & mind with compassionate friendship,
by being mindful of desire, then concentrating on it.
Then, when insight arises, right action occurs naturally.
No need to make ourselves green
or blue in the process of throwing out.
I can resist everything except temptation.
Oscar Wilde
greens dance with blue 
vineyard, forest, sky (click to enlarge) 
peach blossoms shine
(click to enlarge)
puffy dreams in the distance
I’m off on a road trip adventure. Will share the experience
when i return in a few weeks!
smilecalm 
Such beautiful images! I, too, have a preference for blues, greens and even purples (you should see my closet!). But I was favoring them to the exclusion of other colors. This week, I rediscovered tangerine, and now have vibrant juicy orange slices as my computer wallpaper at work. The result is invigorating and makes me smile. So different from the cool, calming underwater scene I had before. Different, but not any worse. 😊
thank you!
makes me happy knowing
of your colorful closet!
amazing how we can like
so many colors all
at once or at different times 😯
Beautiful post David and as always so deeply reflective. I love that little boy declaring his favourite colour without prompt or study. Simply, my favourite colour is green.
Your photos are stunning and contains a lot of green and blue.
Might it not be that all the colours dance together in nature.
miriam
thank you for your colorful words, miriam!
was funny how that memory came
seemingly, just out of the blue.
perhaps it was simply that i had
a collection of images that would
fit in a blue/green category.
and yes, don’t they dance
so beautifully together 🙂
Divine wisdom settles once again on David’s awesome photography!
thank you for kindly liking the words and pictures, Tom!
i’ve been quite fortunate to be in the presence
of some teachers with great wisdom.
slowly ripening with occasional insights
myself, along the colorful road 🙂
Thanks for sharing your passion and palette with us in full glory.
your colorful presence
always fills me with light, dear Linda!
may your day be painted
with all the colors of the heart 🙂
😀
Hi David. All colors are beautiful, though I have to say that I especially gravitate to the family of blues.
Bye till next time.
Neil
thank you for kindly sharing
your preference, Neil!
seems we’re both mingling
up there with the sky 🙂
Wonderful as it is true! 🙂
makes me happy hearing
from one so colorful
as you, Maria!
may you day
be joyful, david 🙂
🙂 🙂 🙂
Nature is alive with so many vibrant colors that I’ve never been able to settle on just one color.
i’m happy knowing of your openness
to all the colors of the rainbow, Rosaliene!
i’ve been moving in that direction,
albeit slowly! 🙂
my favorite color
is beauty
i’ll have to look
in my box of crayons
for that one, Tippy!
i hope it does
not look ugly
to me 🙂
Beautiful photos David. My great weakness is ice cream. If it’s in the house I have to eat it. Perhaps I should try your friend’s method 🙂
Alison
thank you for being so kind, Alison!
i’m willing to go with you to the shop.
hopefully they won’t run out of ice cream, though
as we’re not uptight about quantity
or turning green 🙂
Great quotes. I couldn’t help but think of the song ‘i’m blue, da ba di da ba da’ when I read the one about making ourselves blue or green.
kinda sounds like a fun song, Jina!
i’d like to hear that one.
thank you for your kind comment!
may your day be well, david 🙂
Likewise. It’s an old, but famous song, played in nightclubs a lot when released. Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68ugkg9RePc
fun dance song!
new to me, thanks 🙂
Lovely photos David. Nature teaches us many things in different ways and the colours are part of the teaching.
You used them so wisely.
makes me happy, Rupali
receiving this kind affirmation from such
an esteemed student of life’s wisdom 🙂
Ah! you are such a kind soul.
Stay blessed David.
Colors bring joy to our lives and make us feel so alive. 🙂
smiling to your colorful presence, Michele!
may your day be a rainbow of colors 🙂
Beautiful post David 😀
I do my best to view the beauty in everything, it helps me to stay positive. This doesn’t mean, that I see all else as ugly, I just appreciate fx. a beautiful flower, the sun, the moon, a tree etc. I see the rest too, this just didn’t catch my attention this time. Maybe another day.
Thank you for this kind reflection, Irene! So many wonderful colors adorn our eyes. Like you say, sometimes we prefer one more than another. This post was a reminder to myself to be aware of making the choice of discriminating one thing over another. It’s natural for us to make choices that bring us well-being. Nice to hear from you after so long. I’m remembering that there was a health problem that kept you away. Hope you’re well now and finding joy in the trees, moon and other colorful gifts of nature 🙂
Thank you David. I do feel better now and enjoy the gifts of our nature.
Wonderful wisdom, David!
thank you kindly, Cate!
wishing you the colors
of joy and happiness 🙂
I don’t believe I’ve ever had a favorite color.
I like different things about different colors. Some sound beautiful, some look beautiful, some feel cool or comforting, some have a kind of flavor. Weird, huh? 😎 Yeah, I get that a lot.
I love pink and purple skies. And yellow and orange skies. Sometimes red sneaks in. Nice combinations that feel good. Sometimes I want to taste them.
I love tan, brown and red rock formations, too. They sometimes stir feelings and feel like home – even though they are thousands of miles from the place I call home.
Beautiful words and beautiful photos.
Thank you.
how wonderful you are
able to enjoy so many colors
without discrimination!
they do all seem to,
in there own ways,
complement each other 🙂
I favour blues and whites in flowers because they make me feel happy, but only black in clothes (for the most), merely because I have so few clothes it makes it easy NOT to have to choose. I put on what is clean, never having to actually choose a colour (of clothing).
People think my furniture/decor (blue/aqua/earthy colours) is because I like that/those colour(s). Well I do I suppose, but I have colour in my furniture soft coverings as I am often housebound and black would make me depressed (I suspect).
I have a chair, because it is just a comfortable chair to sit on, not because it is blue. I have a shirt to cover my upper body, not because it is a certain colour, but because I can’t walk around with no shirt on. These days I have ‘just enough’, whereas 40 years ago, I had a different set of clothes and matching shoes etc for every day of the month.
I have let go my attachment to most colours and most material possessions (as Ajahn Sumedho describes).
What I DO have, is an attachment to ‘clean and tidy’ in my living (or old working) space. I can’t live or function/work in a dirty or cluttered space indoors. I have to have everything in its place. I have to have a calm and harmonious arrangement, or furniture/belongings arranged a certain way.
The two-page story is too long to write in this comment, but, I am the monk who took3 hours to pick up every leaf and twig and arrange the Temple garden to ‘perfection’ on page 7, The Temple Garden in Ajahn Brahm’s book, Who Ordered this Truckload of Dung (Inspiring stories for welcoming life’s difficulties).
Having described that OCD sort of personality trait, I also love the wildness and lack of perfection in Nature. I love the different textures and scenery in the country or mountains. I love the colour and sounds of Nature.
I also have Brahm’s second book of short stories – Don’t Worry be Grumpy (Inspiring stories for Making the Most of Each Moment), Some only half a page long, so can be read one at a time before you go to bed each night.
Both are highly recommended reading for accepting What Is (not what you think it should be, or What you Want it to be).
thank you for sharing your deep introspection
of colors’ affects on you, dear Vicki!
like a sage forgoing unnecessary things,
i’m impressed how you have let go of attachments
and more easily experience the jewel
of living a content, simple life.
Ajahn Brahm does offer quite
the insights with a touch of humor.
i’m fortunate to have a Thai Forest monastery only a half hour away.
similarly, the monks there are wise & witty.
wishing you joyful moments of sights, sounds, cleanliness,
and little birdies smiling for your camera 🙂
Beautiful colors and captures David. 🌈 Each holding their special energy in the spectrum. Practising being with the color that arises helps me. Of course, I often want it to be another color, but that just gets me into trouble. 😅🍥🌸
thank you for this amazing rainbow of thought, Karen!
i imagine all the colors embracing you
equally, without discrimination
as you do with them.
at least when you get
in trouble, just like me 🙂
Love green also David, colours have such an affect upon us, Colour is vibration after all 🙂
Thank you for this lovely post this morning David, setting me up for a beautiful calm and peaceful day. ❤
Enjoy your weekend
thank you, dear Sue!
wonderfully we can enjoy
those colorful energies
and the pleasant feelings
in our green and/or
blue moments 🙂
Life is a rainbow if you blend love and harmony. Sending nothing but rainbows your way David 💕
can’t wait to get
wet, Sue 🙂
Hahaha
thank you for this
good vibration, Sue 🙂
🙂 ❤
Lots to chew on here!
“I can resist everything except temptation. – Oscar Wilde” 😉
thanks David
thank you for chewing, leo!
wishing you happy moments
of temptation with any or all
of the colors of the day 🙂
And green does dance with blue…feels like here David 🤔☺️🤗 have a fabulously colourful day! Many smiles Hedy ☺️
it seems you
are right, dear hedy!
& they even chose
the soundtrack 🙂
You’ve created images and words that allow us to ponder the spaces of life.
thank you for such
a spacious reflection, Sally!
may your day be filled
with all the colors of joy 🙂
Beautiful post and pictures!!
makes me happy, Leyla
hearing this from an accomplished
photographer 🙂
Lulu: “Hmm, so it’s possible to beat a craving by eating so much of it that you get? Interesting.”
Charlee: “What are you planning to tell Mama and Dada you need to beat a craving for?”
Lulu: “Steak. You guys?”
Chaplin: “Tuna.”
coult be a fun experiment, oceanside animals!
my old rezdog once jumped on the table & took off
with a whole turkey. later she returned empty-pawed
but began barfing up turkey. after eating the barf
she looked pretty green. i don’t think she
ever liked turkey again 🙂
Great teachings about the harmfulness of our all too human inclination toward craving in the quotes you’ve included in this post, David – thanks! My favorite musical quote on this topic comes from Paul Simon’s plaintive refrain in his song “Further to Fly” on his album The Rhythm of the Saints … “The open palm of desire // Wants everything // It wants everything”. Three brilliant lines that sum up the entire tragedy of our human nature.
smiling to this clearly understanding of potential dangers that attachments & aversions pose, Tom! such a great musical reference, also. i still am quite fond of that Paul Simon masterpiece album. Yes, we just seem to relentlessly want. Yet, he gives us a reason to believe, if you will, with ‘born at the right time’. be well dharma friend 🙂
Awesome video, David! I was at that concert, but so far from the stage that I wasn’t able to see Simon and the band – nice to get the close-up view at last! And yes, what a great song, Born at the Right Time – perhaps, indeed, a reason to believe.
looks like many nyc neighbors
got there earlier 🙂
Greens and blues are the colours of Nature. So calming.
thank you for this reflection, Lignum Draco!
yes, helps me feel calm
and a bit cooler
in the summer heat 🙂
Nature has so many colors, and all are beautiful 🙂 There is no ugliness in Nature.
Hope you have a lovely week and many smiles 🙂
a wonderful observation, dear inese!
especially supportive of this post’s message
of non discrimination; as, like you say, there is no ugliness in nature. smiling to your kindness 🙂
I non-discriminately love, love, love your posts, David.
makes me smile when you share
all your special colors, Ann!
wishing you a happy moment 🙂
Don’t you let me go down in my dreams…James Taylor
For i want to be aware of your beautiful photos and words that calm the heart and mind.
So rock a by sweet baby James. James Taylor
Lovely post… jc
makes me smile hearing they’ve offered some calm, JC!
wonderful we can listen to the old tunes
and find joyful inspiration.
may your day be well 🙂
Very beautifully captured. The first one is magnificent!
my camera & i
thank you, Amy!
was a wonderful visit 🙂
Fantastic image, David. This spot in the park is magical. And, my favorite- JT. 🙂
i’m happy you like it, too, Jane!
i’ll likely go back after the summer.
fun to pick up the guitar
and play along with James 🙂
Choice is a pleasurable pastime. Color me intrigued by this “walk about” where I enjoyed so many colors!
always a pleasure when you choose to be present, dear Ka!
your visit inspires a song 🙂
ooO – Lovely song!
Such a wonderful and enlightening post! Thanks for the gentle and loving reminder on how to detach, yet appreciate all of life´s beauty! Also, loved the beautiful photos of nature, as always. Thanks for transmitting such peace and caring appreciation through your words, David! Wishing you wonderful travels! Blessings from Spain, Maria Elena
thank you for your colorful words
of happiness from Spain, dear Maria!
was a peaceful travel and gentle return.
may your day be well, david 🙂
Thanks for your kind words, they always bring a smile to my face 🙂 Happy to hear that you had a lovely travel time. Blessings to you 🙂
Awesome 🙂
thank you for your
colorful smile, joshi 🙂
Thanks for the reminder to go with the flow of passion, David. I loved all your blues and greens here, lovely photos, quotes; and great examples of staying both balanced and enamored. El Capitan is so majestic. I hope your road trip adventure was/is grand.
thank you for your kindness, Jet.
makes me feel colors of warmth and happiness.
yes, the trip was most pleasant. i’m trying to express it in not too many words. may your day be well 🙂
David, as I’m late to this post you might already have returned from your road trip … hope you as an amazing time and can’t wait to hear more about it! 😀 Wow! The first photo is sublime, my heart swooned as my gaze lingered on the image and I then showed it to the rest of my family; we are all in awe! Beautiful stunning photos of nature at its best. A wonderful post and study about temptation, learning to embrace but not be controlled by cravings, longings.
thank you for expressing your true colors
of happiness & understanding, dear Annika!
twas a pleasant journey and return.
wishing you success giving in
to the temptation of smiling 🙂
Lovely photos! Your site looks great 🙂 Wishing you a fun road trip!
I’m so happy you found it so, dear Frances!
the peaceful road trip was refreshing
and now I’ll think of something cool
to write about it.
may your day be well, david 🙂
Glad you enjoyed your trip David. Hope you have a great day too!
Deep greens and blues are my favorites. I used to sing “Sweet Baby James” to my children at bed time.
such a wonderful, relaxing song
to offer your children, JoAnna!
may your day be cool & filled with
your favorite colors 🙂
Thank you! 🙂 You’re favorite colors to you, too! 🙂
Love is blue. 🙂
may you continue
finding joy in all
the colors of the rainbow 🙂
Wonderfully captured colors of nature with classic JT reference!
smiling to your kind
added colors, dear Phil 🙂
More beauty in words and photos! 🙂
may you continue
finding joy in all
the colors of the rainbow 🙂
I’m not an artist, but I have a painting in my head of open green fields and a horizon of blue. I feel you.
smiling to your kind
artistic expression, Crystal!
may you be happy, david 🙂
Since I was a child, my favorite color has been clear. Not a color of the spectrum, but the prism itself. 🙂 So many possibilities.
smiling to your most
inclusive heart, dear one 🙂