I could have swam with Diana Nyad!

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Diana Nyad swims 48 hours in Herald Square

How many times do you find yourself saying, “If only…”? For me the latest version came when I walked over to Herald Square a couple of week nights ago and saw Diana Nyad at about the 12 hour mark of her 48 hour swim to benefit the New York victims of Hurricane Sandy. Being a swimmer myself, I thought how cool it would be to swim beside her for a few laps. I walked over to one of the security guards and asked how one would get to join her in the pool. Alas, I would have had to sign up weeks ago! If only I had found out about this opportunity to swim beside Diana Nyad in time to sign up, I would have had an experience of a lifetime! But, just standing along the edge of the pool, so close to the water that I could have touched it was still an amazing experience!

Diana Nyad is an inspiration! After 30  years she finally realized her life-long dream to swim 103 miles from Cuba to Key West this past September. Her failed attempts over the years never caused her to give up that dream. While the thought of all those hours in the water makes my skin prune, I admire her determination and I applaud her success. It just makes me want to keep on striving to achieve my dreams. After all, anything is possible if you keep going after it!

Life is Balance "Take a breath" inspirational t-shirt

Maybe I’ll send Diana one of my Life is Balance® “Take a breath” inspirational t-shirts!

Reflecting on the Past Year, Looking Forward to a New One

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Jewish New Year AppleTonight at sundown Jews around the world (myself included) will observe Kol Nidre, the start of the holiest day of the year… Yom Kippur. During the following 24+ hours we ask for forgiveness and atone  for our sins and transgressions of the previous year. And in the new year, Yamim Nora’im, 5774 we once again can start fresh.

I like this concept of getting a new start, a do-over, so to speak. It is particularly meaningful for me this year. Tomorrow I will reflect on the past year, the things I did and the things I didn’t do, the people I may have inadvertently hurt and things that I am not proud of. I will ask forgiveness, I will atone, and then I will set an intention to do better this year. This New Year brings with it the hope for a fresh start, new beginnings and limitless possibilities. I am going to embrace this new year with hope – for myself, for my family, for my friends, and for the world. I am choosing to be optimistic that this New Year will be a sweet one! Shana Tova!

Moonstruck…by a Supermoon!

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Super Moon over the east River in NYC

Sunday evening I was lucky enough to go down to the East River promenade in Carl Shurz Park on the upper East Side of Manhattan to witness the rise of the supermoon! This past weekend’s full moon was the closest that the moon will get to the earth’s elliptical orbit for 2013. As I stood on the promenade waiting for the moon to show it’s face I was in the company of other photographers waiting for the same event. A few had fancy SLR cameras on tripods, some like me a point and shoot or an iPhone. I used a Canon G11 point with a tiny tripod so that I could use the night shot settings without getting a blurred picture. It worked out pretty well although I must say that I was a bit envious of the fancier cameras, with long lenses, which could really get a much better perspective. But all in all I don’t think it’s too bad for a point & shoot! Below are a few of my other shots – some with a little added creativity! Enjoy!

supermoon rising behind Roosevelt Island in NYC

My first shot as the moon was peeking out from behind Roosevelt Island.

supermoon rising NYC

Supermoon

I experimented using a sunset mode and got this colorful photo!

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Dots of light… A minimalist view!

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