Sadness

Sadness is a funny thing. It can roll in with no warning, like a surprise thunder storm on a sunny day. Why the rain? Why the tears. As water gives life and is needed for growth... The same can be said about tears. In this moment I'm deeply sad. Waves of emotion are rolling in. Today my inner ocean is not calm. Like a crashing sea - An internal storm. I've lost something dear to my heart.
Deep sadness helps one appreciate moments of ease and joy. I know the calm will come. But now I sit in the deep blue... To embrace the moment and be present is a noble thing. To be present can be very peaceful, yet it can also be hard.  It is said that one must experience pain to know joy. Happiness is a part of life just as is sadness. We can not have one without the other. But why does the sadness hurt so? Maybe a life lesson, maybe a time for growth... A chance to learn and move on, holding in my heart both joy and sadness.

Israel

I was not expecting to be surprised at how much I liked this country. It's beautiful. From the coast to the beautiful desert mountains to Jerusalem... Stunning! I find The Dead Sea fascinating. In Israel, the people are friendly and even fashionable. When arriving in Jerusalem all of my senses were over taken. There is the Old City where the street markets are to die for. Then you have Mt Zion, Mt Sinai, The Jewish Quarter, The 12 Stations of the Cross, Via Dolorosa, The Western Wall... Literally I could go on and on. Jerusalem offers to much to see and it's just one city in Israel. There is also Tel Aviv and coastal cities like Eliat. History runs deep in this region. Religions are varied from Jewish to Muslim to Christian. Languages spoken and written within the area are Hebrew, Arabic, and English - it's common to see a street sign with all 3 languages. I feel like Israel represents the old and the new all in one. Tradition meets modern lifestyles. It has it all from cobblestone streets to street graffiti to diamonds. I want to return...and not only because they offer the best hummus I've ever tasted in my life! Honestly, this is a place a I will visit again and bring my loved ones with me... It's that amazing! Some of my favorite photos were taken while walking the streets in Jerusalem. Enjoy...

The Dead Sea

A place like no other. Honestly, I live by the ocean and I've never seen anything like this before in my lifetime. Located on the coast of Israel, The Dead Sea is famous for its richness in minerals. People come from all over the world to soak in this water. High in salt, known for this amazing mud it produces, and rich in so many other minerals it's no wonder Dead Sea spa products are sold everywhere, yes practically everywhere. The water is a combination of blues, greens, and turquoise so bright and stunning. It is said that the waters of this sea are healing. Good for almost any skin condition and supposedly does wonders for the body and face. When entering the water locals recommend that you be over 16 and not stay in for longer than 20 minutes. All I can say is this... I can't wait to return. The Dead Sea is truly amazing!!!