• Black and white photo of a park with trees, a winding path, and a bench.

    I care for a loved one with early-onset Alzheimer’s Dementia, 24/7.

    Here I chronicle and reflect on how an appreciation of the small things of life can have profoundly healing consequences.

    I take my lead from Simone Weil. In her essay ‘Attention and Will’, Weil contrasts attention with willpower. She warns that when we try to force understanding or moral effort through will alone, we close ourselves off to things.

    Skilful living comes from seeking consent, waiting, and a desire directed beyond the self. Proper attention to things is not a form of exertion, but a kind of openness to change.

  • A black and white landscape photograph of a valley with a body of water in the foreground, surrounded by mountains and cloudy skies.

    ‘Freedom’, says Frédéric Gross in his book, ‘A Philosophy of Walking’, ‘is a mouthful of bread, a draught of cool water, and the open country.’

    And we rejoice in the simplicity of walking, the skilful use of equipment and being carefully attentive.

    Much of what I have to say here comes from my reflections when in ‘The ‘Great Outdoors’.

  • A close-up of a vintage black camera with a textured body, labeled 'Rollei 35 S,' featuring a silver lens and various dials for adjustments.

    I do hope that those who love the Great Outdoors, and especially carers, will find something here that nourishes.