20 Nov 2025 ~ FACE TO THE SUN

The very first quote I saw on my first visit to Stonehaven is written on a rock near the entrance. It is a quote by Helen Keller:

“Keep your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows.”

In my experience, when you focus on the shadowy side of life, when you constantly see only the scars and the bruises left by change and adversity, then life has a way of covering you with a blanket of darkness and despair. But when you are intentionally directing your thoughts to the good rather than the bad, to the light rather than darkness, to what is beautiful instead of what is ugly, to the inspirational rather than what is discouraging, there will inevitably be more and more rays of sunshine finding your face.

Change and adversity have always been part of my life, and the scars it left will always serve as a reminder that it crossed my path. But I try my best not to allow it to take hold of my existence and determine my state of being. Admittedly, at times this is easier said than done. At times, the darkness can be so overwhelming that the light seems nowhere to be found. But I know that I will eventually find the light if I keep turning my face away from the darkness. I know that finding the beauty and focusing on it is essential for my mental wellbeing. And I know that where I look determines where I am mentally …

So, actively keeping my face to the sun is part of what I do every day…