Welcome! I am a contemplative thinker and photographer from Colorado. In this blog, you'll discover photographs that I've taken on my hiking and backpacking trips, mostly in the American West. I've paired these with my favorite inspirational and philosophical quotes - literary passages that emphasize the innate spirituality of the natural world. I hope you enjoy them!

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In the Spirit of Wildness,

Stephen Hatch
Fort Collins, Colorado

P.S. There's a label index at the bottom of the blog.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Sometimes two conflicting views of ourselves can create a new - third - reality that is independent of BOTH views!


Sometimes the "shadow" our presence casts on others is very different than how we actually experience ourselves. For example, others may experience us as being overly stubborn, while we simply think of ourselves as being focused on a particular goal that is in line with our most cherished values. At first, the difference between these two views causes us to feel conflict. We don't like having our own positive view of ourselves challenged by someone else. But I wonder if we can instead learn to embrace BOTH views, realizing that - together - the two form a new - third - and more interesting reality? A reality that is independent of both our own view of ourselves AND that of the other?

Photo: Late-day sunlight creates shadows of aspen leaves in the snow; Red Feather Lakes, CO; October 18, 2013

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