The first thing I noticed were the turtles

I don’t have anything against nature, but historically, I haven’t been someone to seek it out.

Over the past two years, I have tried, most mornings, to walk the path around our local lake. I walk to get it done, distracting myself with podcasts or phone calls to pass the time. It took months of this routine to start paying attention.

One day, a sodden log, floating close to shore, caught my attention. Turtles of all sizes covered every inch of surface space. They seemed so comfortable together, propping themselves up on each other. I took a picture. 

 The next day, I saw a large and a small turtle sitting together, sticking their heads out at identical angles.

Every day, a new configuration. These were little families. By taking the time to capture them in photos, I started to think about them. Their regard for one another looked a lot like love.

The more I noticed, the more I took out my camera. I watched the leaves change in a stop-motion manner, day-to-day. I became curious about the ducks, and the light, and the infinite patterns of tree barks.

These experiences were the genesis of my Reservoir Collection and a springboard for my soul to start looking out for inspiration. It’s been a game-changer. I invite you to try it!

xo, Dina