I kind of did this theme on a whim — with nothing in mind. And honestly, I did this to force me to think about being present and what it actually means.
You hear terms like this thrown around, especially when it comes to mental health. That doesn’t mean we always know what the heck something means. It seems like a truly simple concept, but it really isn’t. There’s a lot more to it.
Doing a Google search gives you an AI overview, which reads:
Being present means being fully engaged and aware of the current moment, rather than being distracted by the past or future. It involves focusing on your senses, your breath, and your surroundings, and being mindful of your thoughts and feelings without judgment. It’s about being mentally, emotionally, and spiritually available in the here and now.
Again, it seems simple. But is it?
We live in a world where we are constantly hit by technology. Be it your phone or a tablet or a computer and then social media and email and …
We can go on and on and on and on …
I also feel being present means not being distracted by current events and the such. Let’s face it, our world is really messed up right now and filled with a lot of hate. It’s hard, at times, to be or feel present.
There are different ways I feel you can focus enough to be present. For me, I’ve worked extremely hard to find ways of being present. That often means putting my phone away (though I will use it for photos) and just diving into things with Harper.
Yes, Harper is my main key to being present.
With my series of photos, I’m going to talk deeper about being present — at least in the way I see it. I look forward to seeing what you all came up with and how you interpreted the theme!
Anyway, onward. Here’s my five for June!
1. Walking
Our morning and nightly walks can often take on different forms. But let’s be honest — how many of you when walking never look at your phone or something else. I’ve been trying hard to not do it as much, so my phone stays in a waist pack unless I am taking photos. This was a recent one where the clouds and everything looked so remarkable. That moment was beautiful for me, and Harper just kept wandering. There are times in the past I never would have been present in this moment — I’d have just been walking, without a sense of purpose.
2. Harper makes me present
When I travel, Harper is with me the majority of the time. And when I am traveling with her, I make sure she takes part in things. That means eating at places where dogs are welcome. I got lucky on a recent overnight trip to find this place that is so amazingly dog friendly, it has a pup menu! And talk about being present. Having Harper experience so many things like this forces me to always be present with her. She enjoyed this — and it was given to her slowly so she didn’t wolf it all down so fast — which made this place perfect. If I’m in this part of New Jersey again, you can better believe I’ll be dining at Paragon Tap and Table!
3. Smell the flowers
If you know dogs, you know they sniff… a lot. And Harper likes flowers. So when I can get her to pose with some, I love to do it. This one took a little bit. I got a bunch of photos I loved, including ones where she was smiling. But there’s something about this one that makes me feel like I’m present in the moment. Her gaze maybe, or the look on her face. But it’s a moment like this that I’m glad I could capture. Again, without Harper, I’m likely not present in a spot like this.
4. Don’t be afraid to push your comfort zone
I feel as though pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is something we should all do, especially to be present. Don’t be afraid to try new things, find new experiences, or break a few rules along the way. Maybe it’s a solo trip, or trying something that slightly scares you. But it will allow you to be present in the moment. I try and make sure Harper has as many experiences as possible, and sometimes that pushes my own comfort zone. And sometimes, it’s just sidestepping some “rules.” Side note: my alma mater has signs for no dog walking. I know, though, that people have their dogs on the grounds often for things such as athletic contests. So … sometimes I take a longer walk with Harper and we cut back up through the grounds (normally just on the roadway and when school isn’t in session). I understand the idea for this rule, but hey – I pay taxes and I don’t let her on lawns and I’d clean up anyway. But on this Sunday that we did this, I couldn’t resist trying this photo and she stayed long enough for me to get it!
5. Party on!
I’m lucky to have a yard that is made for Harper to have a place she can relax, roam and have as her own. I also am lucky to have neighbor dogs who come over and play well with Harper. This was a recent evening after a scortching hot day. Originally I only wanted a couple of the calmer ones, but then… why worry? So, over came the crew (one had wandered home already when I took this photo!)
Being present is a must when they are all over, just to make sure nothing goes wrong. But being able to be part of things like this and know these dogs are having a great time and enjoying life makes you really think in a more simple sense. This is being present in the simplest form.
BONUS
I had to do a bonus photo this month. It’s from a bark in the park game me and Harper went to recently. The reason I feel this is a be present moment is because I removed us from a spot where I felt it was too much, and then went to a spot we could enjoy. Our original seats were in the lower bowl and it was fine, but there were a lot more people than normal (I had selected the wrong section). I felt a little overwhelmed myself and was too worried about Harper. So, we walked around for a little bit and then went to the upper seating area and got a spot by ourselves. It was way more relaxing and enjoyable. I think Harper also approved, as per the photo. Being present, indeed!
There’s my five for being present! Let’s see what you came up with! If you took part in this month’s challenge, make sure to link up below.
And for those of you who participated, make sure you try and get to other people’s blogs and comment (here, too!).
Let’s continue to grow this challenge and have a strong community. Come back and check out the others who link later on, too! NOTE: We have a Facebook group for those who participate in the challenge and are interested. I’ll post any announcements there and hopefully ithere.
** CHALLENGE CHANGE **
From this point forward, I am going to do the next theme at the bottom of each linkup. Also, the posting date will now be the first of each month, thus giving you the entire month to take the photos etc.
That means it’s a one-stop shop! Hopefully this helps out with everybody.
So, below is the linkup for May. Make sure you drop your link there.
OK, so it’s time to keep on moving! And our theme for the month? Self care. Have some fun! Remember to come back on (hopefully) August 1 to link up and check out the theme for that month! I’ve set a calendar reminder for me, so let’s see if that works!
Photo Blogging Challenge: June 2025 results
Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook!
P.J. I enjoyed the theme and your pictures, especially the clouds and the flowers.
Of course Harper’s yummy meal makes me happy just by looking at it.
The sky on the first photo is stunning! I can’t use my phone while walking much because I can’t see the screen very well! Looks like you were very present last month in a lot of ways. It is hard with all the distractions….and not all of them are from social media. A focused mind is an art form these days!
Missed the linkup due to limited internet access while at sea. Will get around to leave Møre fulsome comments ASAP.
I had to do a double take on the Delaware Academy shot. Looks a lot like Baylor’s Pat Neff Hall! Always happy to see Harper’s smiling face.
It took me a while to get around to visiting the June posts…too much yardwork and too many raspberries to pick / wash / freeze!! That sky in the first photo = amazing! I call those kind of shots “cloudscapes” and think they are deserving of their own category in photo competitions. It seems to me that dogs are very good at helping their humans be more present…needing to get outside several times a day, wanting to be fed at regular times, and always up for an outdoor adventure.