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Tissot Peak Walk, Glacier 3000
I have never been a thrill seeker, but I am completely drawn to Switzerland’s many mountain adventures and excursions. Maybe I trust the “Swiss Made” persona, or perhaps I am getting older, and I am gradually letting go of fears and inhibitions. Either way, the Tissot Peak Walk was something I wanted to do for months. I took the one-and-a-half-hour drive to Les Diablerets, Switzerland, a mountain village in the heart of the Vaud Alps. On this beautiful, clear early morning, I was met with a stunning sunrise and a lovely view of the descending moon over the Alps. (I had to stop so many times to take pictures that…
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Man vs. Nature
There is something innate about humans; when we face nature, we believe we can conquer it. We think we can win. Maybe it is ego. Perhaps it is just human nature or more of a “guy” thing. Or perhaps it is the result of the “first fall.” Nevertheless, time and time again, when we confront nature in its purest form, we soon realize that we can never conquer that which is unmovable. Unconquerable. That which is undefeated. This is where I have found grace time and time again. And it is also why I continue to confront it. The humility that comes from challenging something that can’t be conquered unveils…
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The Swiss Alps from Another Time
Every year during the last week of January, the Swiss village of Kandersteg transforms into a period around the turn of the century, 1884-1914. This week is known as the “Belle Epoque.” I have always secretly wanted to live during this time. The fashion, decorum, culture, and etiquette all come alive in the beautiful scenery of the Swiss Alps.
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The Image
(The picture is inside of the Duomo di San Martino Cathedral in Lucca, Italy) There is an image that gives me comfort,I love it with every ounce of my being.Like a teddy bear or a blanket,I grip it tightly and bury my thoughts into its disturbing appearance.I have been drawn to its presence all of my life,I love this image with every ounce of my being. There is an image that I resist,I despise it with every ounce of my being.Like a teddy bear or a blanket,I am drawn to the comfort that I feel in my avoidance,I am addicted to the smile that is birthed when I dismiss it,I am…
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The Story of Paris
There is something about the telling of a story that captures our imagination. It could be the anticipation of discovering the plot and then feeling the excitement of watching it unfold. Or maybe the landscapes, culture, and time frame in which the story takes place allow us to enter these places just for a moment. Yet, above all else, it seems the characters themselves arrest us the most. Their personalities. Their virtues. Their vices. Their achievements and their failures. We love the characters because, deep down, we know that we are taking part in our own stories. Therefore, we imagine ourselves within their roles because maybe we need to escape,…
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Buildings
“I call architecture frozen music” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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The Gray
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be older. Maybe it comes from my tendency to avoid the present, or maybe it is a desire for what I view to be simpler times ahead. Either way, I often think about what my life might be like 30 to 40 years from now. Turning another year older over the weekend brought me physically closer to this reality, but it hasn’t extinguished the desire. In some ways, celebrating my birthday has only further ignited my passion for simplicity. A passion to be at peace within the gray. If we pay attention to our souls, growing older forces us…
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Feeling the Falls
Photos were taken at Trümmelbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. They are considered to be the largest underground waterfalls in Europe. Growing up, I remember thinking that my tendency to be introspective was a deficiency, almost a sign of weakness. So much so that in certain circles, especially when participating in sports, I often felt less masculine. I had bought into the “men don’t feel, men don’t cry, men don’t show emotion” mantra. I remember feeling like I always had to turn off my thoughts but never could. As a result, my natural tendencies to feel and think brought about many insecurities. I am less insecure about it today, but I…
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Love Is
We use love in many of our sayings. We attach love to all kinds of emotions and feelings. We believe we love others when we are satisfied with how we order them into our world. We do these things believing we know what love is. We do these things believing we are in control. It is natural to try to control the very thing we desire most because, in some ways, we want to believe that having control will make us safe and secure. Safe from pain and free from feeling empty. But somehow, we know better. Deep down, we know that love can’t be caught and controlled. Instead, it…
