Marking Five Years
May 1, 2012 
One thousand...eight hundred and twenty seven.
Five full years of practicing the 'art of practice'. Five full years of daily postings. Five full years of change..of growth..of becoming.
The prize has definitely been in the practice. In the 'just doing' it - every single day. In the regularity..in the routine..in the discipline. The reward has been in resisting resistance..in doubting doubt..in making fear my very best friend.
Rolling out my mat. Pulling out my camera. Looking and seeing the world thru my 'feeling' lens. At times - it's imperceptible - the subtleness of change..of growth.
My restless body - needs to know. Where it is I'm going..and when it is that I'll arrive. There are too many parts that want to live in the answers to questions that I haven't - yet - had the courage to ask. Often - I'm not even sure what it is I'm hoping to discover. I can't even begin to comprehend.
At times - the greatest challenges and obstacles have been those of overcoming. Me and myself and I.
But then - there are those moments when I can stop and look back..and I do see. From where I've been..to where it is I am today. The journey has no words that do it justice. The story is much too long to even begin to tell.
Too far along this path to return from where I began...and not far enough along to have any end in sight. At times - I'm nothing but a peaceful weary warrior..soldiering on. Rolling out my mat. Picking up my camera. Practicing on..and on..and on.
With this practice - comes a self awareness. A knowing. Where I begin..and where I end. What parts are mine to own..and what parts are not.
As I embark upon this 6th year - my wish is to nurture a little more self-compassion... self-love. Yes - I'll continue to push and demand and encourage myself to practice daily...but that I will also take time to rest. To receive. To soak in and enjoy all that I've cultivated..created..produced.
One thousand..eight hundred and twenty seven images and postings. The number exceeds anything I would have ever imagined possible.
But - therein lies the beauty of practice..where everything and all that is possible can and will be found within.
With a heart wide open..and the deepest of gratitude for all of your endless support. I thank-you for these five years..and look forward to the road less travelled..and whatever it is that is yet to come.
Reader Comments (62)
Congratulations and Happy Five!
Stay inspired!
Awesome achievement! I did a 365 project so I know how difficult it can be to keep it up. Congratulations! And I love the bokeh in the background of this shot!
That's amazing Marcie, and I'm glad you're sharing it with us.
That's amazing Marcie! Yay for you!
Amazing accomplishment Marcie. Your photos, writing and consistency are wonderful. You should be so pleased. I have that questioning spirit, where is this leading? what's the point? but am trusting the process. You inspire me to keep on going. Thank-you.
Congratulations, Marcie. That's an amazing achievement. As a fairly recent follower, I'm looking forward to seeing where you go from here.
Congrats on five years Marcie. Just looked at my first post and didn't realize we both started our blogs around the same time back in 2007. It's been a pleasure visiting your blog and viewing your lovely images over the past 5 years. Hope to see you continue with your postings. Take care Marcie.
Congratulations on five creative years.
That is impressive! I have only been along on the recent part of this journey but I am so amazed with your photos and writing. Todays shot is so beautiful!
Your passion and ability to shoot daily is inspiring. It is so easy to put it off or get absorbed in other projects. Your work shows the thought that you put into making the photos.
Marcie - so much heart, so much gratitude, so much accomplished. I am deeply touched by what you have shared. Thanks for showing up every day in my in-box. Thank you for all the beauty that you've created every day for more than 1000 days! Amazing! With hugs from Toronto.
Kudos to you, this is one huge accomplishment!
Amazing and inspiring Marcie. Daily practice is the secret and the treasures you are sharing keep me wanting to improve in this direction.
Marcie -- congratulations! This is an awesome achievement!
I am in awe... truly. You are an inspiration and a wonder. xoxo
You can be darn tootin' proud of yourself, Marcie. It's appropriate you won the 2011 PhotoBlogAwards before you finished this 5th year. That says everything! Here's to the next 5 years....
very beautiful image - excellent framing and colors
Congratulations! I'm sure aware of the work and discipline that has taken and applaud you for it!
Such an inspirational blog today Marcie
Huge kudos and hugs for a marvelous commitment, weary peaceful traveler. You inspire me. Your art is gorgeous, and even better, your spirit shines through it. Self awareness is a gift that you have brought to yourself through this. How great is that? Here's to another One thousand...eight hundred and twenty seven!
its been an honor to be along for the ride ...
Yesterday (May 1) I was also celebrating...122 days of my 365. I was proud, in fact somewhat boastful and yet always, always that niggling doubt in the back of mind wondering if I will see it through. And then I come here and find THIS, 1,827. It seems I have miles to go before I sleep.
Congratulations on five years of perseverance and self discovery. I'm looking forward to seeing where your journey takes you.
Congratulations Marcie, what an amazing journey you're on. Here's to the next five years.
Wow, congrats!
Congrats on the beautiful 5 year accomplishment. Thanks for revealing us so many wonderful moments with your camera.
We are all so lucky to have your 1,827 inspiring images and words!
And THANK YOU for taking us along on your incredible journey! What an inspiration you have been (and will continue) with your words and your photography! Namaste!
Congratulations, Marcie!!
What a wonderful and amazing accomplishment!
Enjoy receiving your posts in my email inbox each morning! :)
Amazing accomplishment, congratulations! Very inspiring post, one day at a time you've created an excellent body of work.
Congratulations. That's quite a milestone. Looking forward to seeing at least another five years of your art.
Much Practice, and a lot of patience! Congratulations!
Congratulations, Marcie, on five years of daily practice! I love the dew-coated dandelion you've shared today.
five years of blessing for you and all who step into the light of the beauty you express...yasher koach!
congrats! that's an achievement surely
Marcie - what an amazing accomplishment. You continue to provide me with daily inspiration - through your commitment to beauty, your willingness to explore, your ability to share, both with your words and your images, this path that you have chosen. Shining a light so that those of us on our own paths can see a way it can be done. Encouragement to go on, to continue to pick up the camera, to place fingers on the keyboard - and not give up. Thank you for it all. Here's to year six and all those beyond.
Congratualtions on your milestone, Marcie. I've enjoyed getting to know you and of course, viewing your valuable posts. :)
Congrats on the milestone. You chose a rather bleak and weathered image to commemorate the event, yet your daily postings do not reflect that attitude. I have had my blog going since August of 2004, though I have not been quite as religious about posting EVERY day Even then, I probably have not missed a 100 days in nearly 8 years. So I appreciate your dedication.
Excellent photo ,congrats Marcie
Awesome with the water drops on it.
Congratulations, Marcie, for the five years of wonderful pictures .... and many, many more in the next years ! :-)
`Love your "choice" picture - it has a great mood !
That's a stunning statistic. Congratulations. Your writing is like no other that I read on the Net. It should be published in book form, seriously it should. You are right - it is about the journey. I had always wanted to write, I have a half complete novel. But I've found huge satisfaction in combining my life-long passion for photography with a bit of writing around my images. Stringing something together. I've no idea where this is heading, but for each day I write I derive a lot of enjoyment. Keep going, I'll be reading.
As you know, I'm a recent follower..and so enjoying your journey!
Congrats of five and so many great images. Looking forward to the next five.
Congrats! :) Well done and still going strong. I love to come over here, and will keep doing so in the future! Here's to another 5 years! :)
Congratulations :-)
Self discipline is the key to wisdom and through that self discipline you have shared a lot of beauty with the world.
I love your words today. They soak right into my soul. Wow! Five years...that's quite an accomplishment. I am just starting to focus my love inward. I have to remember the art of practice! :)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow! I'm so very impressed! Good for you! Daily Practice it is.
The line I most identify from what you wrote is this: "Too far along this path to return from where I began...and not far enough along to have any end in sight."
The one that makes me the most happy is this: :As I embark upon this 6th year - my wish is to nurture a little more self-compassion... self-love." I so hope you are able to do this.
I forgot to comment on the image, which I like very much! So like you to make beauty out of a Dandelion, a dying one at that.
Congratulations of five years Marcie. I hope your journey never ends. :)
An amazing milestone Marcie--congratulations!! Can't wait to see what you find in year six!