It began with a walking habit
This photo ended up becoming the cover of my Chastain Park coffee table book. Something that ironically, was just an afterthought.
The only reason I was interested in the 75th anniversary walking challenge sign in Chastain Park that morning is because I’d gotten into the habit of walking around the park a couple of years earlier. At first, I told myself I was doing it for my health. And I was. But walking can get monotonous. If I’m being honest, I’m not sure I could have kept going had it not been for the incredible sunrises.
Every morning held the possibility that something beautiful might happen. Some mornings it did. Some mornings it didn’t. But there was always the chance. And thankfully my iPhone was good enough to capture what I was seeing.
The power of beauty and nature
Most of the photographs in my book weren’t planned. They were simply moments I noticed because I was out there on the PATH.
Looking back, I’ve realized something. Habits aren’t always driven by discipline. Sometimes they’re sustained by wonder. Those early walks led to thousands of photographs, countless conversations with neighbors, a deeper appreciation for this community, and eventually even walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
None of that was part of the plan. It all started with one walk.Maybe that’s one of life’s quiet surprises. We don’t always know where a small decision will lead. Sometimes the best thing we can do is just show up and stay open to what unfolds.
I hope you find something this next week that’s worth getting out of bed a little earlier to enjoy.