“The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.” – Mike Murdock
Routines are what keep us on track. There is a lot of power in having a solid consistency to keep us focused on what matters. Routines are how we set ourselves up for success. Keeping those routines is important as well. As a teacher, I stress attendence with my students and their families every year. Ever since 2020, school attendence has taken a dive. Many parents leave their kids home when they need to be at school. I get it when children are sick and have appointments, but missing a day of school per week is a little much. For students to be successful, they need routines and consistency. There have been studies that have proven this. We as adults are the same. We need routines, from eating right to exercise to learning new things, to help us be better.
Imagine walking up to a place so unexpected that you don’t know what to say or even think. You walk on a path, expecting to see a shore with a view of the sea. You expect to see nothing else but a great view. As you get closer to the shore, the ground is dotted with marine life. It takes you by surprise. You look down, and you see several clams, some jellyfish, an octopus, and several starfish. The tide was low when we approached the shore that day. The low tide revealed several treasures that live under the sea. We were careful not to disturb the life that was there. We only observed and stared in amazement. These are the types of moments I live for when I travel. I love the moments when I encounter something unexpected. When I encounter something that wasn’t in the plans, but is something that I will never forget.
I captured these photos and many more when we visited Icy Strait Point. When we planned the trip, I didn’t realize I would be visiting a rainforest. Alaska is home to the largest temperate rainforest in the world, the Tongass National Forest. This vast rainforest stretches along the coast of Southeast and Southcentral Alaska. It receives significant rainfall and boasts a unique, mild climate compared to other parts of the state. On average, the area gets around 200 inches of rain per year. Compare that to where I live in Charlotte, North Carolina, which gets 42 inches of rain a year. This area is home to the Sitka spruce trees that can grow over 200 feet tall. The rainforest supports a wide array of wildlife. These include brown bears, wolves, salmon, and bald eagles.
Through Griffin's Lens 