Live Your Truth

I feel in this crazy new world I may have lost my way for a brief time. But I’m back and I realize that it’s more important now than ever to live life with guiding principles and a life motto.

My personal motto is… To live with PURPOSE, TRUTH and OPTIMISIM. To Embrace the Deep LOVE, I have for my family, friends and this earth. To be CREATIVE and CARING. To Inspire others and be inspired by NATURE. What inspires you to live your truth?

“Rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness, give me truth.”

“I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright” and allow us to go with the flow in a world gone a little bit mad.

“Let your life be a painting, let your life be a poem. Let nature be the source of your inspiration. Let nature wash your spirit clean.”

Take CARE friends. Stay TRUE to yourself. And have a bright and happy holidays!

xo

Angie

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Talking With Wildlife

Since my return to Alberta for the season I am pleased and happy to once again be living in natures backyard. In the midst of all the chaos in this world I have found happiness and sanity surrounded by nature and the wildlife that live in these forests and mountains.

Big Horn Sheep

Athabaska Falls

Mama Grizzly and Cubs

My Girl Dakota-Born To Be Wild

Kootenay River

Coyote Kananaskis Country

Elk Spring Kananaskis Country

Athabaska Falls

Baby Rocky Mountain Goat

I love the experiences I have grounded in nature’s reality. I love the wildlife I encounter and photograph. I also love talking with them, it feels like they understand what I say because I say it out of love and respect. It has been said that in order to understand someone you have to love them. I think that is probably why I can understand the wildlife I photograph a little, because I love them. For me it’s not just about seeing them through my lens, but seeing the world through their eyes and getting to know them.

The popular portrait of a lot of our misunderstood wildlife has had huge consequences for them and for us. This misinterpretation is the foundation for policy and practice, with the result that wildlife numbers are now a fraction of their former population not only in Canada but worldwide.

If for example a bear should wander their territory and meander into a designated picnic area or campground, they are at risk of being darted, drugged, dragged away in a sling under a helicopter and deposited far from their home in unknown territory.

Having witnessed the disrespect of these amazing beings over the years, it always amazes me that they are so restrained. Most bears and other wildlife are still open and willing to be friendly with humans. We too need to be more open, understanding and compassionate for the wildlife in our coexistence. Because life is so much better lived with compassion and love.

We are all children of nature and we are all Born to be Wild.

Happy Friday and Happy Weekend!

Stay safe and take care.

xo

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When I See The Grizzly Waiting My Cares Fall Away And I Am Happy

Anyone who spends time in bear country will most likely have an unexpected encounter with a grizzly bear. These experiences make us present, enrich our lives and humble us. What is remarkable is the restraint of the bears, who almost always want to avoid trouble with us.

Grizzly Bear Mama and Cubs in the Canadian Rockies

I breathed in her mama bear, I worshipped her. You look at one of these poetic creatures…you have a million transports of joy.

The grizzly bear is the perfect symbol of the untamed wilderness, the grizzly bear is one of the most magnificent and prestigious wildlife species on earth. And are an essential part of a healthy, full functioning environment. The bear represents strength, family, vitality, courage and health. The bear is thoughtful and independent. The bear is self-sufficient and strong-willed in nature.

The truth is the grizzly bear is a reminder to protect nature, to fight for what is right and to restore balance to the natural world so we can coexist having mutual respect for all members of our planet earth.

If the truth is one thing to me and another thing to you, how will we choose which is truth? We don’t need to choose. The heart already knows. They all touch the heart, and what the heart holds to becomes truth.

Happy Heartfelt Hump Day!

Stay safe and take care.

xo

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When I See The Coyote Waiting My Cares Fall Away And I Am Happy

“Whenever the pressure of our complex life thins my blood and numbs my brain, I seek relief in the trail; and when I see the coyote waiting, my cares fall from me – I am happy.”

I love the outdoors being in nature and the opportunity to photograph the wildlife I come across during my hikes and adventures in the wilderness. I have a reverence towards the wildlife that inhabit the wild places and have been in situations where I have been closer to the wildlife than expected; I’ve enjoyed these moments but I have never sought them out or purposefully intruded on them.

I believe in ethical practices while pursuing my hobby of wildlife photography. And I also believe that whether you are a professional photographer or a hobbyist it is important to never intrude on wildlife or their habitat for the sake of a photo opportunity.

We must respect and maintain safe and healthy boundaries at all times. Let us all strive for ethical actions towards wildlife and wild places.

It is good practice if you post a location on social media to keep it general, not specific, to allow wildlife and their wild places to remain safe from intrusion.

Whether you are a professional photographer or a hobbyist like me, we all need to ban together and keep the privacy and safety of wildlife at the heart of all the photos we take. In some situations, a zoom lens can get us close but keep us at far enough away to not intrude and risk lives for that perfect shot.

Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!

Stay safe and take care.

xo

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You Matter: We All Matter

We need a world where all lives matter, not theoretically, but actually. The idea that some lives matter less is all that is wrong with the world.

At this time on Earth, it seems there is no escape, no exit from global antagonism. Nor is there any escape from the ramifications of treating one another poorly. Without mutual respect, kindness, diversity, inclusion, equality and equity, we will continue running around our collective sink hole with no way to climb out. It is this “opposite direction” that holds my heart and that I am personally deeply committed to.

Global human rights embody core values. Among them are the dignity of all human beings, their equality of fundamental worth, and their need to live in world with respect and empathy for others, but also with some measure of individual liberty.

I don’t understand why it has been labeled offensive to say “all lives matter” because they should and they do. All lives matter and should be equal because we are all one. I think our perceptions about human rights consciousness, sentience and awareness needs to change and together we can make that happen. Together, we can be the change.

This is just one example of human rights consciousness that I have personal reference to; growing up in Los Angeles in the 60’s I experienced firsthand the Watts Riots. The riots were about inequality and a protest against poverty and the hopelessness of life in the inner city. They were about diversity, inclusion, respect and equity. They described the challenges of joblessness and the lack of basic services in South-Central Los Angeles. We need to be the change because sadly, half a century later, the gap in perceptions of the riots and racism remains shockingly huge.

From the time I was very young I never saw people differently as much as being the same. And I never saw people as being coloured black, white, yellow, brown, red; in my eyes everyone looked the same. And this is something that has never changed for me. Every person has their unique and different personalities but the core essence is the same, we are all connected as conscious beings.

ALL LIVES MATTER. ALL CRITTERS GREAT AND SMALL. YOU MATTER SO DO I. ♥

What about the critters? It is a fact that humans are not the only conscious beings and that non-human animals, including all mammals, birds and other creatures possess consciousness. All lives matter, their life force, their essence is the same. It is interesting to note on a carnal level that the pigmentation, skin colour in animals just like humans has a range from black to red.

SHINE YOUR LIGHT. YOU ARE HERE FOR A REASON. YOUR STORY MATTERS.

Uplifting words from some inspiring people.

Although we may come from vastly different stories and very different walks of life, we are one people who possess common values and common ideals; who celebrate individual excellence but also share a recognition that together, we can accomplish great and wonderful things we can’t accomplish alone.

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.

I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.

Together we can help create a peaceful, just, sustainable and healthy world.

The greatest danger to our future is apathy.

Each of us has the ability to act powerfully for change; together we can restore that ancient and sustaining harmony.

I believe in change. I believe in the power it has to unite us and ignite us.

Together, we can bring our planet’s heartbeat back.

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.

Your story matters.

Wherever you stand in this world, in life at this moment, always remember that your presence here on earth matters as much as everyone else’s.

xo Angie

Peace out. ♡✌

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Welcome 2021

Wow…what a year, right!? Finally, this rollercoaster of a year has come to an end and the anticipation of better times is contagious and catching and spreading. Thank you for your support and engagement throughout this very different year of 2020! I am grateful for all of you and this community.

Here are my top nine photos highlighting some of my adventures in 2020 @justsimplyangie.

I would like to introduce you to the newest member of my family the wonderful rescue dog Dakota.

Having lost our 2 family dogs after 17 years of companionship was difficult and meeting Dakota helped ease the pain of the loss.

She is a devoted companion, an adventure seeker, explorer, traveller and enthusiastic sled dog. She is free-spirited and at times can be prone to wanderlust. When we both needed rescuing, this pup came into my life to adopt me into her pack. She has since filled the void in my life with devotion, enthusiasm and a fun-loving crazy spirit to match mine.

I was matched with my girl through the Great Pyrenes Rescue.

She came in their care after her and five siblings were taken into the rescue from the north. She was just three months old when she came into my life. The rescue had called the litter the “K Pups” giving each pup a name using the letter K. My puppy was given the temporary name of Kate but she took to the name Dakota right away and it seemed to suit her perfectly with a meaning of “friend or ally”.

“Origin of the name Dakota: Derived from the Siouan word dakóta (allies, to be thought of as friends). The name is borrowed from the name given to the tribes of northern Plains Indians, also known as Sioux and Lakota. Dakota name meaning is allies and the associated lucky number is 7.” Coincidentally, 7 is my lucky number.

Dakota is a mix, Shepherd Samoyed and Red Husky with a little DNA dash of Coyote, a hybrid mix known as Dogote or Coydog. This mix breed is known for its intelligence, friendliness and loyalty and love of the outdoors (just like me) making us a perfect fit.

This year after semi-retiring from my life long career in mental health support services I decided to take a seasonal position as a campground manager in Alberta, pursuing a dream I had of travelling and working in the great outdoors. This life change gave me the opportunity to live in nature and be in close proximity to the wildlife I love so dearly.

Dakota proved to be a natural assisting me in some of my duties and being a big hit with the families and children camping there. She also surprised me with an innate ability to sniff out the coronavirus and proved herself to be not only a fitting co-worker but a blessing in every since of the word.

In this photo she and her best friend Fiona are commemorated on the Host Haven bus by the artists and my fellow co-workers at the campground.

Despite the pandemic and missing my family, children and grandchildren and my dear friends while temporarily relocating to Alberta for a season, things for me were really not too bad. I stayed healthy and I managed to find the good in life in spite of the difficult circumstance and challenges this year.

Cheers to this new year and another chance to get things right. Warmest thoughts and best wishes for 2021 stay healthy, stay safe and may peace, love and prosperity follow you always.

xo Angie

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Every Picture Tells A Story

While every picture tells a story and each one is worth a thousand words, I believe photographs tell stories more directly and with more impact and emotion.

The photographs I select to share are the most closely related to the experiences and emotions I have at the time when telling my story.

I have lived through much and found happiness in the simple things in life. This journey hasn’t always been easy or everything I wanted it to be but it has been everything I needed. And because of that I have learned so much about myself and who I am. My experiences have shaped my life in many ways and allowed me to grow in many ways I never thought possible.

I have found peace of mind in being my own person and discovered magic in the world all around me. I have a wonderful family for who I am so grateful and cherish every moment we have together. I have met people on this journey who are kindred spirits and people who are just not meant for my story. And I have learned that sometimes our lives have to be completely shaken up, changed and rearranged to relocate us to the place we’re meant to be.

This is my story… @justsimplyangie

I believe you will make your own connection to the images and while reading any accompanying thoughts, ideas or descriptions with the photographs I share to my Instagram page. I know that when I choose and publish a photograph that image has meaning for me and is just as important as what I have or have not written.

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2018 A Year of New Horizons

It’s been a minute and here we are into 2019! A review of 2018 brings to mind, new experiences, lessons learned and promises made; a year jam-packed with new adventures and aspiring dreams. It was also a year of personal growth—finding and sharing happiness and realizing that the act of sharing happiness is part of happiness itself.

From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There’s more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done

There’s far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round

It’s the circle of life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope

Through love and happiness…

With a lot of self-reflection and alone time behind me, I realized that the real moments of happiness aren’t about the things we do, the places we go, the sights we see or even the wildlife we encounter, they’re the happiest of times because we do them together. And most often behind the scenes of the photos I take there are loved ones sharing the experience with me.

Thank you, my very special people, for sharing this wonderful life and the amazing adventures.

2018 Best Nine on Instagram

Thank you, my sublime friends, for following along on Instagram @justsimplyangie and for all of your support, engagement and encouragement in 2018!

Cheers! Wishing you much happiness, new experiences, and amazing adventures in 2019! Live life well.

xo Angie

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2017 A Year of Transition

2017 has been a year of transition. It has been a difficult year in many ways and through it all my wonderful children, dear family and friends have been a great support, loving me through some of the more difficult times. A lot of the ups and downs of the year are reflected in the photos I’ve taken in 2017. This creative outlet and a community of liked-minded photographers has keep my spirits up and encouraged me to continue pushing forward. Still, I admit in the face of adversity I lost myself a bit in 2017 but I will be working to change that in 2018.

The morning sun rose calm, majestic, embracing clouds with the dawn. The skyscape blushing brilliant gold. Surreal it was, and my heart pounded with me as I moved slow—languid through the thick muted paleness of half-light embracing the solitary glory of the gray.

2017 best nine on Instagram justsimplyangie…No surprise, those adorable pine marten, deer and great gray owl are top picks! Thank you for your support!

Cheers my friends! Wishing you a Happy New Year and all the Best in 2018! xo Angie

 

 

 

 

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Here’s to 2016! It was an inspiring year

In 2016, we took a few road trips, ventured to new destinations, checked a few things off the bucket list and learned extraordinary things about life in our own backyard, life is about the journey, not the destination. It’s about igniting our passions, following our dreams and discovering the amazing world we live in. We hope your year was filled with joy, adventure, health and love, here’s to 2017—it’s going to be a spectacular journey.

@justsimplyangie – 2016 Best Nine Collage

xo

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A Year In Review: 2016

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A Year In Review: 2015

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365 Project Moments

The 365 project was no small undertaking—a few of those moments.

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