Thoughts and Reflections I borrow a simple quote from Wendell Berry relevant to our trek along the Awesome Trail: Outdoors we are confronted everywhere with wonders; we see that the miraculous is not extraordinary, but the common mode of existence. It is our daily bread. Inhale and absorb Nature’s elixir. May Nature Inspire, Inform, and Reward you! Note: All blog post images created & photographed by Stephen B. Jones unless otherwise noted. Please circulate images with photo credit: “©2020 Steve Jones, Great Blue Heron LLC. All Rights Reserved.” Another Note: If you came to this post via a Facebook posting or by an another route, please sign up now (no cost… no obligation) to receive my Blog Post email alerts: http://eepurl.com/cKLJdL And a Third: I am available for Nature-Inspired Speaking, Writing, and Consulting — contact me at steve.jones.0524@gmail.com Reminder of my Personal and Professional Purpose, Passion, and Cause If only more of us viewed our precious environment through the filters I employ. If only my mission and vision could be multiplied untold orders of magnitude: Mission: Employ writing and speaking to educate, inspire, and enable readers and listeners to understand, appreciate, and enjoy Nature… and accept and practice Earth Stewardship. Vision: People of all ages will pay greater attention to and engage more regularly with Nature… and will accept and practice informed and responsible Earth Stewardship. They will see their relationship to our natural world with new eyes… and will understand more clearly their Earth home. Tagline/Motto: Steve (Great Blue Heron) encourages and seeks a better tomorrow through Nature-Inspired Living! Steve’s Three Books I wrote my books Nature Based Leadership (2016), Nature-Inspired Learning and Leading (2017), and Weaned Seals and Snowy Summits: Stories of Passion for Place and Everyday Nature (2019; co-authored with Dr. Jennifer Wilhoit) to encourage all citizens to recognize and appreciate that every lesson for living, learning, serving, and leading is either written indelibly in or is powerfully inspired by Nature. I began writing books and Posts for several reasons: I love hiking and exploring in Nature I see images I want to (and do) capture with my trusty iPhone camera I enjoy explaining those images — an educator at heart I don’t play golf! I actually do love writing — it’s the hobby I never needed when my career consumed me Judy suggested my writing is in large measure my legacy to our two kids, our five grand kids, and all the unborn generations beyond And finally, perhaps my books and Blogs could reach beyond family and touch a few others lives… sow some seeds for the future All three of my books (Nature Based Leadership; Nature-Inspired Learning and Leading; Weaned Seals and Snowy Summits) present compilations of personal experiences expressing my (and co-author Dr. Wilhoit for Weaned Seals and Snowy Summits) deep passion for Nature. All three books offer observations and reflections on my relationship to the natural world… and the broader implications for society. Order any and all from your local indie bookstore, or find them on IndieBoundAlabama State Parks 07.07.20 JWSP Multi-Use Trail, Old Rec Area, Signage