When I started taking more and more pictures while out in nature, I discovered that I was finding heart shaped items everywhere I went.

My closest friends now know my famous question that typically comes as the caption to many of my photos. "Do you see it?" They laugh at me and some may think I am just plain crazy and create the hearts somehow.

Everything is up to our own interpretation and perception, but I choose to see and believe that what I need to see, hear, or feel will show up for me in that moment. I am constantly reminded to practice self love.

Throughout 2017, it has been my challenge and focus to put myself first. This was not just an occasional thing I needed to implement such as a once a week treat for myself. No, that wasn't enough. It was time for me to put myself first all day and everyday.

In this process, I started to spend more and more time outside. Pursuing my hobbies of exercise (walking), photography and exploring nature. I tend to explore alone and always bring my camera. My eyes are open to much more when I am in solitude and I pick up on minor details that are always what is most noticeable in my photography. I never know who or what is going to show up for me that day or even where I will end up. Sometimes I head out with a game plan, but most of the time, I simply go to wander and follow wherever the path and my heart may lead. This tends to be quite easy for me as hearts literally pop up into my path as well as wildlife and other things I find really interesting.

I should have been updating and documenting this process much more as I went along. However, I have only just recently felt that I have made it to a point where I could share some of what I have learned along this journey. Many of you have said how much you love my photography and that I have a great skill. I thank you for your kind words and appreciation of my form of art that has been a therapeutic hobby. I believe that the most influential and important part of my photos are the stories and the meaning that comes with them. I am working on sharing those stories on a regular basis...I take so many that may be a daunting task!

Next time you are out in nature, I challenge you to stop and look around and ask yourself, "What do you see?". See what shows up :) When you begin to allow yourself to see more than what society and our surroundings show, you open yourself up to infinite possibilities.

Sometimes there are hidden treasures right in front of you...camouflaging their way through their day so not to cause any trouble.

Today, I went on my regular explorations but took a slightly different path than I ever have before. As soon as I turned off from the regular route, I noticed something. A large feather that looked quite interesting. I am not very familiar with birds so I couldn't identify it and simply picked it up. Thinking cool, I'll look into this later and went on my way. I took only another two steps to find another feather! I found 8 feathers total... One looking slightly different than the others. I looked around above me assuming there must be a nest of something nearby...why would so many feathers be all over the ground in this area? Or....did I find what was left from a predator's dinner? I took my question to Instagram where I knew the fellow photographers, nature lovers, and bird enthusiasts would soon fill me in! It only took a few moments before I received a response of Turkey! Oh my goodness...OF COURSE it's a turkey!

Two years ago, I took a road trip with my best friend. During the drive, I called him a turkey in the car and he whipped his head around so fast believing there were turkeys on the side of the highway and SO disappointed when he "missed" it... I actually was sarcastically referring to him, there were no turkeys! This became the biggest joke and a huge laugh for us for quite some time. Ever since, turkeys have always reminded me of him. Over this past year, a lot of transformation has happened in my life and his and I have received many visits and chuckles from these turkeys as they surprise me when I least expect it. And even when I expect it, they never cease to surprise me in ways I didn't expect, such as these beautiful feathers. It's like a sweet reminder to slow down, smile, think of your abundance and laugh.

This feather in particular has me quite impressed. It looked dirty and drab at first and I almost left it where it was. But then I noticed it's sparkle. It has a golden sheen to it. Especially around the tips. It looks as though it has been through a lot. A war almost with how rattled the rest of it is. But it still isn't afraid to show off it's most beautiful attributes.

A strong lesson we could all learn every once in a while. Show up for yourself, with your golden feathers, no matter what you have been through or may be enduring at the moment. Let your sparkle shine through the mess.

Who and What will you find when you open yourself up?

Shine On, Feathers.

~AcornTales