Perseverance by Bodhi Smith

Mar 13, 2020

"perseverance" a new impression from bodhi smith...
 
"in its most simple form, perseverance is waiting and being patient...sometimes you need to "let it be" and pause for a bit: really listen, and wait before you respond to something, or buy something, or react to something...just take it easy for a bit, slow down, breathe in and breathe out...persevere with patience"  ― bodhinku, perseverance
 
i truly hope you enjoy this blog about my newest impression, and enjoy all the quotes, and the musical tunes found with in here...i truly hope you enjoy this blog about my newest impression, and today's deeper message/meaning, plus enjoy all the quotes, and the musical tunes found with in here...
 
"love is patient, love is kind. it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres..." ― anonymous, holy bible new international version
 
“know others by knowing yourself. overcome others by overcoming yourself. understanding what is enough is enough. presence is perseverance. coming to stillness is forging ahead. find life by accepting death" ― lao tzu, tao te ching  
 
and here is a poignant tune to listen to as you continue to read my new blog, this is one of my favorite tunes in its message and feeling of perseverance, one that i believe everyone should be heeding, beautiful tune, and perfect in its message to the world almost 50 years later... let it be by the beatles ...(just click on the blue link to listen to the song) 

"when i find myself in times of trouble, mother mary comes to me speaking words of wisdom, let it be. and in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be. let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be, whisper words of wisdom, let it be...and when the broken hearted people living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be. for though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see there will be an answer, let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be...there will be an answer, let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be...whisper words of wisdom, let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be, whisper words of wisdom, let it be...and when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me, shine until tomorrow, let it be. i wake up to the sound of music, mother mary comes to me speaking words of wisdom, let it be...let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be...there will be an answer, let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be...whisper words of wisdom, let it be" ― the beatles, let it be
  
"even if i knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, i would still plant my apple tree today" ― martin luther 
 
"never give up on something that you can't go a day without thinking about" ― winston s. churchill   
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MEANING
"a tree growing in the middle of a lake is beautifully symbolic of true perseverance, such an inspiration to us all...for if a lone tree can do that, then you too can also continue to grow and blossom with perseverance, even when surrounded by an world so seemingly unforgiving" ― bodhinku, true perseverence 
 
"perseverance" is defined as: "persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success"...
 
pictured here is the lone willow growing in the middle of a lake...the  wanaka tree (pronounced like "monica") under the northern portion of the milky way on the south island of new zealand...this tree is truly a beautiful symbol of perseverance for us all to behold and find inspiration...a tree growing in the middle of a lake is beautifully symbolic of true perseverance, such an inspiration to us all...for if a lone tree can do that, then you too can also continue to grow and blossom with perseverance, even when surrounded by an world so seemingly unforgiving...
 
leading into from me, a little commentary and social discourse to add here... to all that is happening right now in the world with the covid-19 virus, we all need to persevere right now and find the virtue in our own perseverance...stop all the talk that is hearsay or unproven, stop buying things in a panic, stop being afraid of something that is natural and let it run its course...breathe and think first before acting or speaking. quit being so selfish and become more selfless. begin listening to the environment, listening to our pets, listening to those around us, listening  to our true self...
 
this corona virus is not as nasty as others in the past and its type has been around forever, we need to focus on the positive, the fact that so few people are actually paying the ultimate price and sacrifice after falling ill (my heart goes out to all those who have lost loved ones to this virus)...there is a 98% recovery rate of this virus, and its symptoms are really not all that bad and not difficult to get over (runny nose, cough, fever). none of us like to get sick, it is no fun, but getting sick and getting past a virus is part of life as we know it. and afterwards you will be stronger from fighting it off instead of running from it...
 
and we truly need to let this covid-19 run its course...it is natural in the scheme of life. humans have no natural predators, other than the virus. and like a predator, it is only doing its nature by attacking and weeding our the sick and the elderly, which nature has been doing with all species for millenia. it is natural, normal, so do not fight it. let it be, breathe, do not panic, everything will be alright...human beings have earned our right to be here and live on this planet by building immunity and strength up against these tiny organisms through the years, lets just let our nature do it one more time for us...let it be and live on with our lives
 
"don't panic (and carry a towel)" ― douglas adams, the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy
 
"a person is smart. people are dumb panicky dangerous animals, and you know that" ― tommy lee jones, men in black 
 
another tune to listen to, one that i have always held true and loved to listen to when i used to backcountry splitboard and i was climbing a mountain in deep snow and freezing cold, and needed to dig deep and persevere all the exhaustion and corresponding pain at high altitudes ... boulevard of broken dreams by greenday ...(just click on the blue link to listen to the song) 
 
"i walk a lonely road, the only one that i have ever known. don't know where it goes, but it's only me, and i walk alone. i walk this empty street on the boulevard of broken dreams, where the city sleeps and i'm the only one, and i walk alone. i walk alone, i walk alone, i walk alone and i walk a...my shadow's the only one that walks beside me. my shallow heart's the only thing that's beating. sometimes i wish someone up hill will find me, until then, i walk alone....i'm walking down the line that divides me somewhere in my mind, on the border line of the edge, and where i walk alone. read between the lines, what's fucked up and every thing's all right. check my vital signs to know i'm still alive, and i walk alone...i walk alone, i walk alone, i walk alone and I walk a...my shadow's the only one that walks beside me. my shallow heart's the only thing that's beating. sometimes I wish someone out there will find me, till then, i walk alone, i walk alone, i walk a....i walk this empty street on the boulevard of broken dreams, where the city sleeps and i'm the only one, and i walk alone...my shadow's the only one that walks beside me. my shallow heart's the only thing that's beating. sometimes i wish someone out there will find me, till then i walk alone" ― greenday, boulevard of broken dreams
 
"if you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too; if you can wait and not be tired by waiting, or being lied about, don't deal in lies, or being hated, don't give way to hating, and yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise...if you can dream - and not make dreams your master; if you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; if you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two impostors just the same; and so hold on when there is nothing in you, except the will which says to them: 'hold on!'...if you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds' worth of distance run, yours is the earth and everything that's in it, and - which is more - you'll be a man, my son!" ― rudyard kipling, a father's advice to his son
 
"to everyone who suffers, perseverance brings good fortune"― jalaluddin rumi, poems of ecstasy and longing 
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STORY BEHIND THE IMAGE AND THE HISTORY
"when you cannot have exactly want you want, be happy with what you have, focus on the positive instead of what is not possible right now...persevere with hope and continue to dream, believe that one day you will finally have that which you have always wanted" ― bodhinku, persevere 
 
...i am still breathless and humbled by the beauty ...and i hope you love the picture i was able to create here before you today, and that it can transport you to what i got to experience and feel on this beautiful evening as the dawn turned into day...
 
when i visited new zealand a few years ago in april of 2015, i was there during a terrible drought, and there was no water around the wanaka tree...i had envisioned this image, and truly wanted to create it, but was unable to succeed on that trip, since the water level of the lake was so low...
 
so i waited, knowing i would have to come back again...and i did finally go back five years later in 2020 with good graces befalling upon me, and as a result you see this image of perseverance before you...
 
"it is a big mistake to try to look too far ahead. the chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time" ― winston s. churchill
 
framed by the south island’s stunning southern alps, a lonely willow tree has grown up to spread its wings just off shore in roy's bay at the south end of lake wanaka.  known as the “lone tree of lake wanaka,” it is said to be the most photographed trees in all new zealand. however, there are no signs directing people to the solitary tree, but it still gets bothered by too many tourists who have seen the tree on social media and did their research.to find the tree (can be found now labelled on google maps)...

walking along the lake to find the lone tree is a beautiful sight. when you arrive, you’ll find beach access on the shore just a stone’s throw away from the tree, the perfect place to have a picnic and watch the sun set or rise. if you can stand the cold but refreshing water of lake wanaka, swimming is a great way to awaken the senses.  

the lone tree is right at the foothills of mount aspiring national park, a world heritage site, acting as a doorway into even more of the breathtaking landscapes that embody the south island of new zealand...

the tree started life as a fence post at least 77 years ago. wanaka artist and writer gwenda rowlands, 85, is a keeper of local history and remembers the fence line from 1939, when she first visited it in a little dinghy her father built for her and her older brother.

she has watched it evolve from a "hacked off branch from nearby willows" to a symbol of determination.

"it was 1939. i remember it growing there, and that is not yesterday. so it has been growing slowly all that time...it was just big enough to lift the wire up with a bit of tension on it. i can remember a gap where the tree is now, on the beach, and the sheep could just wander off into the town shopping if they wanted."

rowlands agrees the tree "seems to be getting a bit of an overload" but has not let that overwhelm her enjoyment of the site's natural history.

rowlands suggests otago artist brian halliday (1936-1974) made one of the earliest images of the tree while it was still a post...a copy of halliday's painting graces the cover of wanaka and surrounding districts: a sequel to wanaka story, by irvine roxburgh (1990).

so what does she make of the famous tree? "It shows anything that is alive has a determination to live," she said.

and in the latest installment of "tourists behaving badly" yet another natural landmark has been damaged by overzealous travelers. the victim this time around was this tree here...you've probably seen it all over instagram, or even on its dedicated facebook page: a lone willow marooned in the lake, with branches skimming the surface. It makes for breathtaking pictures; however, as we've often seen with viral vacation photos, it's paying a terrible price.

though the "wanaka tree" is, well, in a lake, the water levels are often low enough for tourists to walk through and climb the tree, which causes a lot of strain—a branch even snapped off just before christmas in 2017. this is in part due to the delicate nature of the species: the wanaka tree is a crack willow (salix fragilis), named for brittle wood that easily breaks. but the tree's environment is also challenging to begin with. because the roots are often totally submerged by cold water, the tree's growth is slow, making it difficult for areas that have been damaged to regenerate.

in order to prevent further deterioration, the new zealand tourism board will be installing warning signs around the tree, written in both english and mandarin. and, just to make it abundantly clear that climbing is a no-no, there will also be an accompanying graphic. the queenstown lakes district council is hesitant to put up fencing, fearing it might detract from the surrounding natural beauty. though, should any further damage be sustained, the council may have to look into more substantial solutions to the issue around people climbing and damaging this very unique tree.  
 
"when things go wrong, don't go with them" ― elvis presley
 
“gently eliminating all obstacles to his own understanding, he constantly maintains his unconditional sincerity. his humility, perseverance, and adaptability evoke the response of the universe and fill him with divine light” ― lao tzu, tao te ching  
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MORE MEANINGFUL QUOTES
here is another song to listen to if you like... beautiful song that is full of hope and love (just click on the artist name or title of song for the music)... top of the world by imagine dragons ...

"if you love somebody, better tell them why they're here because they just may run away from you. you'll never know what went well, then again it just depends on how long of time is left for you. i've had the highest mountains, i've had the deepest rivers. you can have it all but not until you move it. now take it in but don't look down, because i'm on top of the world, i'm on top of the world....waiting on this for a while now, paying my dues to the dirt. i've been waiting to smile. been holding it in for a while. take it with me if i can. been dreaming of this since a child...i'm on top of the world. i've tried to cut these corners, try to take the easy way out. i kept on falling short of something. i coulda gave up then but, then again, i couldn't have because i've traveled all this way for something...now take it in but don't look down, because i'm on top of the world, i'm on top of the world. waiting on this for a while now...."― imagine dragons, top of the world
 
"the man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones" ― confucius, the analects 
 
"it does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop" ― siddhartha gautama buddha, the dhammapada
 
“a large oak tree is just a little nut that refused to give up”  ― siddhartha gautama buddha, the dhammapada
 
"knowing others is wisdom; knowing the self is enlightenment...he who knows he has enough is rich. perseverance is a sign of will power, and he who stays where he is endures" ― lao tzu, tao te ching  
 
"no matter what is going on, never give up. develop the heart. too much energy in your country is spent developing the mind instead of the heart. be compassionate. not just to your friends, but to everyone be compassionate. work for peace. in your heart and in the world, work for peace. and i say again, never give up. no matter what is going on around you, never give up" ― dalai lama xiv, the art of happiness
 
“without you i feel hollow and small, like a seashell washed up on a sandy shore. and if somebody were to push their ear to my chest, i am certain they would hear only the howl of your name, echo through me, over and over" ― beau taplin     
 
"i wonder if you can seek asylum somewhere from the conspiring energies of the sun and moon?...i give up....dropping my guard i give in; i don’t need the shields anymore, not where i’m going....where i tread forward, to the place of dancing openly with the unspoken as it makes its way into the light, i just don’t need all the masks. they would be unwelcome in the glaring brilliance of truth. the dress code for this party is bare, raw and naked...come what may, this is when i shall come undone" ―  c. ara campbell

"a storm howls in my soul
a wild torrent of madness
feral, dark and raw
echoing my longing
through the ancient pines

the forest bears witness
to the spell that forms upon my lips
a ritual woven of hope and aching desire
whispered to the swaying trees
witnessed by a blanket of starlight

there i stand in the darkness
digging my roots deep into the moss below
anchored in the solace of the earth
awaiting the rebirth that comes
with in the illumination of the moon

i am the altar
upon which the winds of change do blow
here i wait in silent worship
surrendering at the edge of the unknown
opening to all that lies beyond

at long last she rises
a jewel shining on the horizon
calling to the depths of my spirit
a feast of nightsong to sooth these weary bones
her great strength granted to my outstretched branches

here my spirit is born
here my eyes finally see
here where all things
are eternally free" ―  c. ara campbell, a storm in my soul  
 
"in short, without your presence: without your coming suddenly, incitingly, to know my life, gust of a rosebush, wheat of wind: since then i am because you are, since then you are, i am, we are, and through love i will be, you will be, we will be" ― pablo neruda, the book of questions 
 
"a warrior of light respects the main teaching of the tao te ching: 'to persevere is favourable.' he knows that perseverance is not the same thing as insistence. there are times when battles go on longer than necessary, draining him of strength and enthusiasm. but a warrior always returns to the fray. he never does so out of stubbornness, but because he has noticed a change in the weather" ― paulo coelho, warrior of the light 
 
"love perseveres, its people who change" ― paulo coelho, the alchemist
 
"when you are self-conscious you are in trouble. when you are self-conscious you are really showing symptoms that you don’t know who you are. your very self-consciousness indicates that you have not come home yet" ― osho, intimacy: trusting oneself and the other
 
“if humankind is to advance, there must be installed permanently proud instances of courage. acts of daring light the pages of history and the soul of man. the sunrise is an act of daring. to venture, to defy, to persevere, to be true to one's self, to grapple with destiny, to dismay calamity by not being afraid of it, to challenge now unrighteous powers and now victory run wild, to stand fast and hold firm...these are the examples that the peoples need, the spark that electrifies them" ― victor hugo, les miserables  

“the difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will and the other from a strong won't” ― henry ward beecher
  
"let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them"― rabindranath tagore  
 
"if you are going through hell, keep going" ― winston s. churchill  

"it is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we must do what is required" ― winston s. churchill 
 
"the greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes" ― winston s. churchill  
 
"i pass with relief from the tossing sea of cause and theory to the firm ground of result and fact" ― winston s. churchill  
 
"you may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. in fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it and persevere..." ― maya angelou 
 
"in the silence we listen to ourselves. then we ask questions of ourselves. we describe ourselves, and in the quietude we may even hear the voice of god”― maya angelou, even the stars look lonesome  
 
"a bend in the road is not the end of the road…unless you fail to make the turn" ― helen keller, the world i live in
 
"no matter how heavy the challenges we face in our life, embrace optimism, perseverance, tenacity and courage. never lose faith and hope. never lose a generous heart who lives and breathes with a timeless love" ― angelica hopes, rhythm of a heart, music of a soul  
 
"sometimes the trick to getting the best of a situation was just to wait. if you didn’t like the weather, you didn’t rush into the storm—you waited until it changed. you found a way to keep from getting wet" ― leigh bardugo, crooked kingdom  
 
“the wise remind themselves that ‘this too shall pass’ even when things are good; the foolish, only when things are bad" ― mokokoma mokhonoana  
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ABOUT THE IMPRESSION
"in this time of crisis, he was amazed he really did not need to buy any extra supplies...he had everything he needed, only thing he was missing was her..." ― bodhinku, the missing supply   
 
this is a two-frame long exposure composition of the wanaka tree under the stars in the wee hours of the night and then later for sunrise morning of the 17 february, 2020 (17-02-2020)...a stable and sturdy tripod was an absolute necessity in order to keep the images in sharp focus in the places i wanted sharpness (i use selective focus on most of my images, similar to the way our eyes see things)...for this i used a dolica 70" carbon fiber tripod because it is sturdy, tall, and perfectly compact for hiking to remote places, or travel to locations where amounts of permitted luggage and equipment you can travel with is limited, such as new zealand...for me, this shot would never have been possible without my friends daniel and april at dolica tripods.

in my photography i always use filters to create longer exposure effects and to balance the light in my composition in camera...i often use as many as four filters at time, and i always use at least one filter...no filters were used in the exposure of the stars, but for the exposure of the tree to get the effects and balance i was looking for, i used two filters...for this, i chose to use the magnetic 3.0nd progrey antarctica filter (and progrey g-120z holder) to allow for a much longer exposure (10 stops) and help saturate all the greens in the tree leaves as well the blues of the lake wanaka waters, plus in combination with the 0.9gnd progrey g120 aurora filter to help balance in-camera overall the image the way i envisioned it, as the sky was much more brighter, about 3 stops brighter than the rest of the darker parts and shadows of the foreground of the image composition...
 
i wish to openly thank my sponsors who have always supported me through both the good and bad times...for truly this semi-long exposure impression would not be possible without the use of my trusty dolica tripods in combination with the progreyusa filters which i use with every photo i take...
 
"let her be, let her be in heart, spirit, body. let her be free. and let everything be love" ― bodhinku, let it be love 
 
"contemplate without thinking. stop the world. slow down everything. shut off the noise. relax. seize this moment. reconnect. feel and sense what surrounds you. listen to all the colors of light that envelope you. see the melody and harmony that floats about unnoticed. taste the solitude of all this wonderment. smell the beautiful silence. now discover your peaceful serenity. then, reach out and touch your faith with all your senses. this is my world. awaken!" ― bodhinku, my world
 
above all else as always, i hope this message and impression find you well.

namaste,
bodhi
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