Giving Myself Time
Explore Landscapes #15
I’ve just returned from a weekend of hiking, exploring, and camping in Joshua Tree National Park. This is something that I now never take for granted.
A stormy day in Joshua Tree © 2023 Jon Norris Photography, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
In July 2022, I contracted COVID, which triggered a deep vein thrombosis in my left leg and, a week later, led to pulmonary emboli (blood clots) in both lungs. While in ER, waiting for my chest CT-scan results to come back, I can remember clearly thinking, “crap - this is really serious; I need more time with my family; there’s so much more that I want to do.” Fortunately, I have a strong heart (I’ve since learned), and the lung blood clots did not lead to a stroke or a heart attack. I was incredibly lucky and vowed to myself that I needed to get healthier and fitter - to give myself more time.
Fast forward six months, and I’m still on blood thinners, but I can happily report that I got the all-clear from my pulmonologist, who confirmed that the blood clots are gone. So far, I’ve made good on my promise to myself (and to my family) that I’m going to give myself time.
In October 2022, I started on the Zoe Food Plan, a personalized nutrition program that determines how to optimize your blood sugar, blood fat, and your gut biome. It’s been amazing - and three months in, it’s changed my approach to eating. I’ve eliminated almost all processed food and have a predominantly plant-based diet. I have more energy and more focus, and I’m losing weight.
Another way for me to give myself time has been establishing a morning and evening routine - that I try to make a non-negotiable part of my day.
My morning routine now includes foam rolling, lifting some weights (dumbbell exercises), and reading for an hour. That hour of reading every day has been fantastic - no phone, no distractions, just me and my reading list. Over the last ten days, I’ve caught up on my On Landscape backlog - I’m embarrassed to say that I had over 30 unread issues of the magazine. I’ve enjoyed all the photographer interviews with Tim and Charlotte Parkin or Michéla Griffith and superb articles by photographers such as Joe Cornish, Guy Tal, Matt Payne, and Theo Bosboom.
I now look forward to a 3-4 mile walk in the evening, enough to get me to 10k steps daily. My goal for 2023 is to walk/hike 1,000 miles by the end of the year. I’m not counting steps around the house or office, just deliberate walks/hikes. As of today, my total is 63 miles - not bad for just over two weeks.
So this past weekend in JT, despite the weather being decidedly average (for SoCal), I hiked two peaks, Warren Peak and Lost Horse Mountain (16 miles in total), and had a thoroughly good time. I explored, experienced, and created, but more importantly, I gave myself time.
So please give yourself time, preferably in the outdoors, with nature and your camera.
Until next time, explore, experience, and enjoy our wildlands responsibly. Think before you geotag. Adopt the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace and practice Responsible Nature Photography.
Bye for now,
Jon
