We wait and hope for the first kind, the inspiration that arrives when we need it. A sign, a quote, a book, a mentor, a muse. Lightning in a bottle. This is the inspiration of serendipity, the magic of good fortune and good timing. There never seems to be enough of this sort of inspiration. And if there was, we couldn't bottle it fast enough. The other kind, though, is surprisingly abundant. This inspiration comes from acts of kindness and service. Doing or saying something n

There’s a certain bravery in slowing down and being a better noticer. Not the kind that earns applause or summit photos, but the quiet courage of leaping, eyes open, into the life you already have.   This is a story about choosing to notice. It's about finding the extraordinary nestled inside the familiar. Novelty not as an escape, but as a deep encounter with the ground beneath your feet, the wind on your cheek, and the world as it already is.   When we're young, life is ric

When we step into the forest, it’s tempting to imagine that nature is our teacher… an old, patient professor offering quiet lessons to those who listen.   But that’s not quite right.   Nature isn’t teaching. It’s simply being.   The invitation is ours to accept. The learning is ours to choose. When we decide to see  instead of just look, to listen  instead of just hear, the forest changes us. Not because it’s trying to, but because we’re paying mindful attention. That’s the d

The road ahead may be lonely, it may be joyful. You may not know where it leads, but something inside is pushing you onward. People will offer you directions along the way, some with love and some with malice. In the end, it's up to you to keep going until you figure it all out. Because you've got unlimited mileage and only you will know when you've arrived. *** I’m Michael Kennedy, a resident of Olympic Valley, CA (in photo above). I’m a visual storyteller and I love explori

Follow your curiosity. Explore nature, books, podcasts, conversations, or any rabbit hole that fascinates you. “Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” ~ Mary Oliver Make meaning from what you’ve found. Reflect, photograph, journal, or connect ideas in new ways. “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” ~ Carl Sagan Share what you’ve learned with others through creative acts or casual conversations. “Our goal should be to

in search of awe There are many mornings in Olympic Valley when the world feels newly made. When fog drifts low across the meadow and the first sunrays cut through the pines, turning every branch to gold if only for a moment. In that stillness, something wordless gathers us. Whether standing barefoot on a boardwalk or passing people on a trail, we feel it together: a quiet awe, a sense of sublimity, that connects us beyond words. Sociologist Émile Durkheim called this “collec

The Sawtooth Mountains A full moon fell on the mountains, the sun rose over the meadow and for a moment there was complete cosmic balance. This was my introduction to the Great Sawtooth Mountain Range and the Salmon River, also known as the River of No Return. I was there for my daughter's wedding, the perfect backdrop for such a happy occasion. Sunrise at Meadow Creek I walked across the meadow toward the mountains. With each step they were drawing me in. But as I approached

The Embryo You can read about it, hear stories, even see photos—but until you set foot in Tahoe’s National Forest, you haven’t truly felt...

Grace Kelly Getting there is never easy, but well worth the hustle up top to be in their company. I’m talking about the defiant and...

For a long time, I hesitated to share my photography. “There are already so many photographers out there.” Everyone has a camera....

The upside of unpredictability Baby Wood Stork's First Flight There's a great deal of discipline required in becoming a pilot. Pilots go...

Meet the Flinstones As we get older, one of the things that seems to fade along with our hearing, is our vision. Not just our eyesight,...

“The basis of all human fears, he thought. A closed door, slightly ajar.” ~ Stephen King, Salem's Lot “Fear is a strange thing,” says...

Leap of faith: first flight of a baby wood stork I love this simple Seek-Sense-Share model Harold Jarche uses to turn curiosity into...

Peregrine Falcon at Point Lobos, Big Sur, CA You won't understand the feeling at first because you've never experienced anything like it....

Inside a Palisades Tahoe Snowcat with a veteran groomer Jeff Morrison, Groomer Have you ever wondered what it’s like to ride in a 600...

Sunset Happy Hour at High Camp delivered more than we expected, including a rare phenomenon: a halo, rainbow-like ring around the...

“And you may ask yourself, ‘Well, how did I get here?’” ~ Talking Heads, Once in a Lifetime Our beliefs, standards, friendships,...

A glimpse of the marvelous Moon Over Headwall Express A man is climbing up Tram Face above Olympic Valley, and as he passes through the...

Once I was nothing but a twig. The softest breeze rocked my world. I’ve been stepped on, defiled, and worse, ignored. In winters, I...