Out and About

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

I enjoy being outside. With the pleasant weather, I have been spending as much time outside as possible. Last weekend, I just sat outside with my laptop and a cup of coffee. I might have been doing work, but at least I was somewhere I wanted to be. When the weather is nice, I am always looking for an opportunity to be outside. At work as an elementary school teacher, if it’s not raining, my class goes outside for recess. If I am taking a break from something, I usually take a 10-minute or longer walk. Taking moments to be outside has been proven to enhance our overall well-being and help us improve overall. Taking time to be outside helps our mental health by decreasing cortisol levels, anxiety, and stress while boosting mood, self-esteem, and relaxation. It is also effective in reducing burnout and supporting cognitive function. It also improves our physical health and immune system.

One thing being outside also does is help improve our creativity. While I am outside, I like to bring my camera with me. I could use my cell phone, but I prefer to stay off my phone while I am on walks. I usually bring my Nikon Z7ii with me and capture photos with it. I like to take photos of anything I see while I am out. My neighborhood has changed a lot in the last few years. We have more walking spaces and places to go. Here are some street photography shots I captured a few weeks ago while I was out on a walk. I prefer to showcase them in black and white to bring out all of the details.