View allAll Photos Tagged optimism
Daffodils, with their bright trumpet-shaped blooms and sunny yellow or creamy white petals, are among the first flowers to emerge in spring, often pushing through the last traces of frost. Their scientific name, Narcissus, comes from Greek mythology, where the youth Narcissus was said to have been transformed into the flower after falling in love with his own reflection.
Across cultures, daffodils are seen as harbingers of hope, new beginnings, and resilience. In Wales, the daffodil is a national emblem, often worn on St David’s Day. In the language of flowers, they represent rebirth and unrequited love, but also optimism — a reminder that brighter days follow the cold of winter.
Daffodils belong to the Amaryllidaceae family and thrive in well-drained soil with plenty of sunlight. They are hardy perennials, returning year after year with minimal care. Varieties range from the classic golden Narcissus pseudonarcissus to delicate white and orange hybrids.
From Wordsworth’s famous ode to their “host of golden” blooms to their appearance in art, folklore, and seasonal festivals, daffodils have inspired countless works. They are often gifted in bunches to celebrate springtime or to bring cheer to someone’s day.
Their cheerful faces seem to nod in the breeze, quietly reminding us that even after the darkest winters, life blooms again.
An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight. . . The truly wise person is colorblind.”
~ Albert Schweitzer
I'm so thankful for all of your examples in finding those green lights in life! (even the bokeh kind!!) You are all so sweet and some of the nicest people in the world!
Christmas has evolved for me over the years. As. child, it started out as magical and joyous time. The spectacle of lights and decorations and the anticipation of gift giving (gift receiving is more accurate) that began to build as early as Thanksgiving. But the holiday has darkened a bit over time. Gift giving has superseded gift receiving. I suppose that's a good thing. But I sense the magic has worn off. Much like paint on an abandoned house; you can still see traces of it here and there, just enough so that you can sense what it once looked like. But on the whole it looks chipped, faded and largely beyond repair. The anticipatory buildup between Thanksgiving and Christmas that felt like an eternity as a kid now passes in what feels like the blink of an eye. I grew up knowing exactly how four weeks felt in terms of time passage. But somewhere along the way that changed, and dramatically so. That's a whole different subject. But I mention it here because without that sense of buildup, Christmas simply arrives like any other day; here and gone before you know it. And quite possibly that has contributed in the erosion of the magic. All of this said, I'm not emulating Ebenezer Scrooge. I don't dislike Christmas, I'm just not as charmed by it as once before. I think another factor is the memories that begin to pile up this time of year. Because it coincides with the year end, Christmas inevitably brings about a sort of life review and those are not always enjoyable. I do look for the positive and try to use the negative events as teachable moments as guidelines for what must be improved upon in the coming year. There's almost always a glimmer of hope if you look carefully.
Before I took this photo, he told me : "My family and I travelled many miles to get here, But I just got a new job last month. So I feel that my journey is just beginning"
As in countless years past, a pair of Canada Geese begin work on their new nest at Hubbard Pond, near my home. Sadly, this may be the last year to witness this inspiring event.
On their home located in one of Ann Arbor's premier residential neighborhoods and without a Comprehensive Environmental Impact Report, public review/input, or apparent alternative site consideration, and in return for 185 VIP parking spaces on their Athletic Campus, the Regents of the University of Michigan are about to approve the relocation and the construction of a huge, high activity, high-traffic generating, smelly and noisy, brightly-lit 24/7, dusty, heavy industrial type facility.
Unfortunately, these handsome creatures have no effective way to argue their case. Even if they could get a hearing, parading their delightful goslings, plus indignant hissing, squawking and honking will never work. Instead, they need human help... your help.
To learn more about the proposed project and how you can give Mother Nature a human voice, you are invited to visit:
glacierhighlands.org/wp/?p=335
UPDATE: In a 12 March 2016 letter, the President of the University of Michigan indicates the proposed heavy industrial project for this site has been "paused". Plus, all applications for various construction permits are suspended and no construction contracts have been awarded.
While this turn of events appears positive, all it takes is will and a whim to re-activate the project. Until the final determination is STOP, the possibility of this easily preventable man-made disaster remains. Again, Mother Nature needs your voice. Now is the time to stand-up and sound-off !
UPDATE: 18 March 2016 - UM President apologizes...
www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2016/03/u-m_presid...
How you can help...
www.change.org/p/boycott-university-of-michigan-s-bus-yar...
Stay thirsty, my friend...
Few things in the world are more powerful than a positive push. A smile. A word of optimism and hope. A "you can do it" when things are tough.
~ Richard M. DeVos
....
For Debbie...Cheer up!
The leaves have fallen, but not the trees. They stand their ground firmly, refusing to surrender to the tides of time (Canon EOS 700D).
EXPLORE: March 27, 2009
These Lilac buds are optimistic that warmer weather is just around the corner. After several days of blizzard like conditons we are all ready for some Spring time. Last night it got down to ten above zero. My first photo with the Nikon 105VR lens. In fact this is my first macro posted on Flickr. If it does not have wings, does not quack or honk or is a critter with four legs and teeth, I feel totally out of my element. Your support is deeply appreciated.
My friend and fellow flickrista, Linda Plaisted (aka Linda's Many Muses) has had her artwork nominated for Daily Candy's Sweetest Things of 2008 in Washington DC's "Best Nest" (home decor) category.
I'd really appreciate it if you could help Linda out by giving her your vote. She's an amazing artist, fully deserving of the recognition. But don't take my word for it, go on over to Daily Candy and see for yourself.
Voting is open until January 16th. Thanks, everyone!!
Another good one: “If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you can bet the water bill is higher.”
The 1904 built Whipps Block at 301-309 Main Street, Kalispell
reflects the optimism of Kalispell’s leading citizens the year the Great Northern Railway arrived.
Whipps became the first elected mayor of Kalispell in 1893.
Called the “Czar,” Whipps accomplished much toward the development of Kalispell during his four terms as mayor but often met with opposition. Whipps was also an active advocate for the creation of Glacier National Park.
Mollie is looking brighter and happier but still in the Paediatric Neurological ward at the LGI, in Leeds. The staff there have been wonderful, first saving her life and then nursing her back to health. We don't know the extent or results of our Granddaughter's injuries but are just glad she is still with us. This is another shot from my visit to Staithes for dawn on the day she was, later, rushed into hospital.
...this was the beach at Rhosneigr yesterday morning, Traeth Llydan, where the stream that runs from Llyn Maelog enters the sea. It was cold.
Just after shooting this I saw an egret passing by at a rate of knots - a lovely sight but not really a surprise. Further along the beach I saw a sight that did surprise me in mid November - a swallow, zig-zagging its way along the seaweed line presumably harvesting flies. It didn't fill me with optimism, sad to say, and I wondered whether this was one that had fledged too late in the season to make the long journey south to Africa. Hope I'm wrong on that score.
(っ◔◡◔)っ♥ THE BROWNS ARE BACK IN TOWN ♥っ
Here we have a couple of images of a magnificent adult female Eastern Brownsnake (Pseudonaja textilis) of a little over a metre in length. I found her while I was out strolling on the volcanic plains on the urban fringe just north of Melbourne recently. It was a warm day and I was enjoying the spring sunshine when I had the fortune of making her acquaintance. I lifted a sheet of tin out there and without much optimism I might add, as it was the middle of the day and too hot for anything reptilian to be sheltering beneath the cover-or so I thought. I was pretty surprised to find an adult male Eastern Brown coiled loosely on top of and practically covering this girl. He was a much lighter snake and around the same length as her. I suspect that they had been, or were about to get into a little hanky panky. She was promptly returned to the metallic love shack after a couple of images.
Taken on a Fuji GFX 50S coupled to a vintage film era Medium Format (6x4.5) Bronica Zenzanon PE 105mm/ f. 4.5 1:1 macro lens from the 1990’s.
How Do You Think
If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't!
If you'd like to win, but you think you can't,
It's almost certain you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost;
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow's will;
It's all in the state of mind!
If you think you're outclassed, you are;
You've got to think high to rise.
You've got to be sure of yourself
Before you'll ever win the prize.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the person who thinks he can!
~Author Unknown
HBW my dear flickrmates!
How fine it would be to have the optimism, strength and will of a weed.😎
As far as this pretty, flowering weed is concerned, there is just enough morning sun and dew to make a "garden plot" out of the bit of dirt in the crack where a wall abuts the asphalt sidewalk.
Location: A stretch of asphalt sidewalk abutting the wall of a building, near the village center, Riehen BS Switzerland.
In my album: Dan's Weed World.
You can sit in the shadows and go nowhere or you can take the path and find the light.
(an original quote by me. I think)
Walking the dog at Astbury Mere. A rushed, handheld shot as a Chinese couple were coming up behind me.
A grass spider, sow bug and salt grass continue after a controlled burn at the San Louis National Wildlife Refuge.
Just because I liked the ribbon writing.
Oh fancy that, it got into Explore! I thought it didn't like me any more, it's been so long... ;-)
Observatory House on the left and Dugald Stewart Monument on the right.
Observatory House, part of the City Observatory.
Edinburgh's City Observatory, also known as the Playfair Observatory, is a fascinating place, where the optimism and excitement of early scientific advances can still be felt.
Inspired by a Greek temple of the Four Winds, the Observatory was designed by William Henry Playfair in 1818.
The first Astronomer Royal to work in this building was Professor Thomas Henderson, appointed 1834, who had discovered how to measure parallax and the distance to a star while in his previous job in South Africa.
Explore
Working with The City of Edinburgh Council, Collective redeveloped the City Observatory site as a new home for contemporary art: conserving and reinstating the original Playfair designs and constructing a new exhibition space and panoramic restaurant. The site is now fully to the public for the first time in its history.
www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/venue/city-observatory
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Dugald Stewart Monument
The Dugald Stewart Monument is a memorial to the Scottish philosopher Dugald Stewart (1753–1828). It is situated on Calton Hill overlooking the city of Edinburgh and was designed by Scottish architect William Henry Playfair. It was completed in September 1831.
Background
Playfair's design is based on the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens, Greece, and is a circular temple of nine fluted Corinthian columns around an elevated urn, on a circular podium. This example of the architecture of ancient Greece had been brought to wider attention by James "Athenian" Stuart and Nicholas Revett's illustrated survey, The Antiquities of Athens, published in 1762. The monument is a category A listed building as of 19 April 1966. The choragic form was also used for the nearby contemporaneous Robert Burns Monument, designed by Thomas Hamilton.
Dugald Stewart was a professor at the University of Edinburgh, holding the chair of moral philosophy from 1786 until he died in 1828. The Royal Society of Edinburgh commissioned the monument and selected its site in 1830.
Playfair also designed the nearby National Monument of Scotland (with Charles Robert Cockerell) and was also responsible for the thoroughfare that encircles Calton Hill on three sides, comprising Royal Terrace, Carlton Terrace and Regent Terrace
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dugald_Stewart_Monument
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See also:-
edinburghtourist.co.uk/blog/walk-calton-hill/
www.edinburgharchitecture.co.uk/newtown-dugaldstewart
britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/200365173-dugald-stewarts-mo...