UFOs (UnFinished Objects)

Starting a new project is like falling in love. It is exciting, emotionally arousing, infused with the natural motivator of novelty. Perhaps we even get obsessive about this new activity. We image it as "all good" and do not pay much attention to potential obstacles, negatives, or challenges we may soon face.

Then, after some time goes by, the activity or book or lessons (or whatever) turns into harder work than we expected. It takes longer to complete than we had hoped, or there is some tedium and drudgery involved. We realize we are not sure about the next step. Stuck, we grind to a halt.

Not that we recognize that we have essentially quit trying. No, we just put off the "getting back to it" until such a time as we imagine it will be effortless again. This sort of procrastination may or may not be fueled be perfectionism and the fear that the next steps may not be excellent enough.

Let's talk about UFOs. (That is craftspeak for unfinished objects; in other words, a craft project you started but never finished.) Most of us have at least a handful of unfinished projects: a half-written novel on our virtual shelf, a blog that never made it past the first three posts, a body that is not quite as healthy or fit as we want it to be, craft projects left undone, etc. Sometimes we made conscious decisions to put aside these projects when we realize they are not worth the time or something else is more important. But most often, unfinishing is not so much a choice as a result as of a lack of discipline.  Without discipline, you will not finish anything that matters.

Discipline is not all that important when you start a project because the excitement and adrenaline and potential are enough to drive you forward, to keep you making progress. This beginning stage is when each endeavor is typically the most fun; it is new, it is challenging, it is enjoyable; however, the longer you work on a project - especially a creative one - the more difficult it becomes to stick with it. Once you pass through the initial stage of excitement, you will enter into a phase that is far more challenging.

Finish The Projects You Have Started Or Call An End to Them

I realized a source of clutter in my house, and a significant drain on my energy is the uncomfortable presence of unfinished projects. Every time I see evidence of an unfinished project, I get a jolt of annoyance or guilt. The thought "I should finish that..why haven't I finished that" makes me flinch.

Unread magazines. Half-read books. Half-completed craft projects. I decided that one of my 16 goals for 2016 was to finish an unfinished project a month or put an end to it. I wanted to get them out of my way, one way or another.

I am lucky, though, because my half-finished projects do not make much of a mess, or at least you cannot see them. I have friends with bedroom corners and dining room tables that permanently house half-built Lego castles, dusty piles of recipes, or scrapbooks with half the pages filled in.

Unfinished projects are irritating in themselves, and they also contribute to clutter, because it is so tempting to leave an unfinished project out in the open, as a reminder to finish it, but then it does not get finished! For days, weeks, months!

For me, one of the most persistent, nagging, draining, unfinished tasks is dealing with photos. I enjoy the process of making scrapbooks, but if I do not keep up with it, I can get overwhelmed really quickly or I will have to deal with a million photos at once. I love looking at photo albums, and I know that in the long run making these photo albums will bring great happiness. Happy memories of the past are an effective way to make me happier in the present. (Thus turkey hat was one of those projects that looked better in theory than finished; ever had one of those?)

I went through my entire house looking for unfinished projects, and I pushed myself to either finish them or call an end to them. They were weighing me down. How about you? Have you ever felt this way about an unfinished project? I would encourage you to either finish it or call an end to it. You will feel accomplished either way. (This bib was a project that I started more years ago than I can remember - it is a counted cross stitch. It was supposed to say "Spit Happens" I would need a magnifying glass to do it now. The only project I threw in the garbage without finishing.)

Gratitude - turns what we have into Enough

As most of you know, each year I pick a few year-long projects that I work on throughout the entire year. One of my 16 goals for 2016 was a Gratitude Jar. As I chronicled my thoughts, I had a meaningful reminder of the everyday things that make my life unique and wonderful. I will admit that there were days that challenged me; challenged me to be as good as I can be, to be thankful for the blessing of another day even when I felt that everything had gone wrong and that I had not lived up to my full potential. For this very reason, the Gratitude Jar. It made me stop for a few moments each day to think about one thing or moment or deed that I felt grateful for on that particular day. This helped me realize that
each day IS a gift.

We go through life hoping we will find the prize – the whole, perfect loaf of bread if you will, but while we are focusing so intently on that goal, we are missing all the crumbs, walking right by them. If we would just gather those crumbs, they would add up to a full loaf before long and feed us in the same way. I began trying to see and appreciate all the crumbs in my life. There were so many little things that mattered – meeting a friend for coffee, watching my grandchildren play, enjoying the perfection of peaches in season at the farmers' market. 

As I became practiced at noticing the little things to be thankful for, the bigger things began to come into focus as well. Some of them had been there all along, but I had not been able to see them for what they were: important learning experiences that were teaching me more about who I am, how I relate to others, and what I want out of life. Yes, even those parts of my life that I had not imagined or wanted also helped me to see the person I really am, and lead me into an even better future. I could learn to be thankful for it all.

* Gratitude puts situations into perspective. When I can see the good as well as the bad, it becomes more difficult to complain and stay stuck. 

* Gratitude helps me realize what I have. This can lessen my need for wanting more all the time.

* Gratitude strengthens relationships, improves health, reduces stress, and, in general, makes me happier.

Both the years and experiences have brought me here to where I stand today, but it is the thankfulness that opened the windows of opportunities, of blessings, of unique experiences to flow my way. I am also very thankful for the people, for the ideas, for the chance to work and labor, and to produce results, all of that has brought me to this place. I am grateful for it all.

Gratitude means thankfulness, counting my blessings, noticing simple pleasures, and acknowledging everything that I receive. It means learning to live my life as if everything were a miracle, and being aware on a continuous basis of how much I have been given. Gratitude shifts my focus from what my life lacks to the abundance that is already present. To say I feel grateful is not to say that everything in my life is necessarily great. It just means I am trying to be aware of my blessings.

I took for granted the good that was already present in my life. I began to start finding joy in the small things instead of holding out for big achievements–before allowing myself to feel gratitude and joy. Another way to use giving thanks to appreciate life more fully is to use gratitude to help you put things in their proper perspective. I have found that when things do not go my way, I need to remember that every difficulty carries within it the seeds of an equal or greater benefit. In the face of adversity I need to ask myself: “What is good about this?” “What can I learn from this?” and “How can I benefit from this?”

Once I became oriented toward looking for things to be grateful for, I found that I began to appreciate simple pleasures and things that I previously took for granted. Gratitude should not be just a reaction to getting what I want, but an all-the-time gratitude, the kind where I notice the little things and where I constantly look for the good even in unpleasant situations. I wanted to start bringing gratitude to your experiences, instead of waiting for a positive experience in order to feel grateful. 

If you are inspired to create your own gratitude jar this year, if you stick with it, you will quickly see that it is more than a fun craft project. Here are a few lessons to keep in mind if you decide to adopt this practice.

1. Gratitude is a verb - While it is one thing to see a photo of a gratitude jar and think ‘How cute! I should do that!’ it is a completely different story when it comes to actually sitting down and expressing the reasons why you are grateful. Gratitude is deeper than an ‘attitude’ or filling a jar with pieces of paper. Through this process, I learned how much it demands you to be more present every day. Think about how often our minds drift to how much we do not have and how far we have left to go. Take a moment and think about what you have right now. The wisdom that you have, how far you have come and notice the difference in how you feel.

2. Seek out the lessons during the hard times - It is easy to feel grateful when everything is going well, but what do you do when you are having a bad day? Trust me, there will be days when you do not want to write anything and that is okay. Sit with that feeling and write about that instead. During the periods when I felt really down or round myself wanting to resist the process I had to dig deep and ask myself - 'How do I feel in this moment? 'Why do I feel this way' or 'What am I learning?' Looking back now as I read the entries, I am proud that I let myself feel and express my emotions instead of glaze over them.

3. Do not try to be perfect - If you miss a day, it is not the end of the world. You do not have to ‘keep up’, or write a certain quota per day. This is a record of your life and you do not need to impress anyone. Author your own story.

4. Create your own rules - When you start your jar you may be tempted to create or follow a set of rules. If you find yourself thinking: You should write at least 3 things you’re grateful for each day; Don’t open your jar until Dec 31^st; Only record your happy moments. Forget the ‘rules’ and do what works for you. If the picture of the jar that you saw on Pinterest says that you have to wait a year before reading what’s inside and you don’t want to, then don’t. Break the rules and create your own. Your jar. Your life. Your Way.

My outlook on life has shifted. A quick glance at my Gratitude Jar reminds me that life is full of wonderful things to be grateful for and I have the strength and support to overcome anything. Appreciating yourself for your strengths AND your imperfections (not in spite of them), allows you to find a sense of belonging and to feel more connected to life. Sometimes it is the simple things that make life wonderful: the beautiful sunrise, fresh strawberries from a farmer's market, a smile from a stranger, or an encouraging text from a friend. Taking time to appreciate those moments of joy helps you to cherish your life and yourself.

After this year, I am viewing things in a new way. I have a renewed appreciation and a sense of not taking things for granted. I am thankful for the things I have as well as the things I no longer have. These are my teachers, and I am blessed to have them in my life. I would love to hear about the challenges that have made you more grateful for life. 

My Life Verse Is.../My Word is...

Hebrews 13:5 - New King James Version (NKJV): Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Adam was in paradise, yet not content; some angels in heaven were not content; but the apostle Paul, though humble and empty, had learned in every state, in any state, to be content. Christians have reason to be content with their present lot. This promise contains the sum and substance of all the promises; "I will never, no, never leave thee, no, never forsake thee." In the original, there are no less than five negatives put together, to confirm the promise: the true believer shall have the gracious presence of God with him, in life, at death, and for ever. Be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

I feel this verse isn't saying that one should never be ambitious about earning more money. The point is not about trying to either earn a living or even about financially doing well in life. The point is about contentment. It is a human desire to want more. In fact, most advertising is based on the fact that people are never satisfied with what we already have. This verse is also not saying that one has to take a vow of poverty to be a good Christian. The issue is about contentment in life. How do we be content with what we have? It starts by letting go of jealousy. That is why the 10th Commandment is to not desire our neighbor's "stuff". The idea is to learn to have contentment in life while still being ambitious to accomplish our goals. One can go through life either thinking, I need more to be happy, or I can learn to be content with what I have. There is nothing wrong with being ambitious or trying to earn more. The challenge in life is to say, What if I do not make any more, can I still be happy with what I currently have?

I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee - These words were spoken to Joshua in Joshua 1:5: "As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." They were spoken also by David to Solomon in 1 Chronicles 28:20: "David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed; for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." There are no less than five negatives in this short sentence, and these connected with two verbs and one pronoun twice repeated. To give a literal translation is scarcely possible; it would run in this way: "No, I will not leave thee; no, neither will I not utterly forsake thee." Those who understand the genius of the Greek language, and look at the manner in which these negatives are placed in the sentence, will perceive at once how much the meaning is strengthened by them, and to what an emphatic and energetic affirmative they amount.

This promise is made to those who are patiently bearing affliction or persecution for Christ's sake; and may be applied to any faithful soul in affliction, temptation, or adversity of any kind. Trust in the Lord with thy whole heart, and never lean on your own understanding; for he has said, "No, I will never leave you or forsake you.” 

Indeed, God has NEVER left me or forsaken me!

 

Truth, like knowledge, is surprisingly difficult to define. I am not going to define truth, I am just going to say that my year was based on honesty and genuineness. New hope arose and made me very happy. This word guided me through 2016! It supported me in my daily struggles and situations that at times appeared hopeless. This word always showed me the silver lining so that I do not ever need to worry.

52-week Photography Challenge

***UPDATE*** you can now go to Flickr and see the 52 images at https://www.flickr.com/photos/140273864@N03/ if you so desire.  I am always looking to get better at my photography. In 2015, I did the 365 Challenge, a photo a day. That one was a bit tough so in 2016, I opted to do a 52-week photography challenge that forced me to complete regular assignments throughout the whole year.

It is proven that photography “students” grow the fastest while repeating a weekly assignment around three categories.” The three categories are: portrait, landscape, and artistic impression (expressing yourself in your own creative way). With these categories in mind, there was a 52-week list of assignments. Unlike most photography challenges which are just a simple list of ideas, I chose a 52-week challenge that was designed to push my photography to the next level. This list was challenging to complete, but sticking with it to the end, I have become a better photographer for it.

The Challenge List

Week 1	Portrait: Self Portrait	Start things off right with a “selfie!” Explore the self-timer setting on your camera.
Week 2	Landscape: Traditional Landscape	Shoot a beautiful landscape and share it with the world. Find a nice foreground and don't forget the sky.
Week 3	Artistic: Red	Shoot whatever inspires you. Red should be the focus of the image. Don't be afraid to be creative.
Week 4	Portrait: Headshot	You shot a selfie, now shoot a "selfie" of someone else!
Week 5	Landscape: Black and White	Look for a scene with great contrast that will make a great black and white.
Week 6	Artistic: Candy	Your artistic interpretation this week should be inspired by something sweet. A great chance to play with macro photography.
Week 7	Portrait: Faceless	Tell someone's story without showing their face.
Week 8	Landscape: Wide Angle/Panorama	This is a great opportunity to explore panorama stitching and create a wide sweeping landscape.
Week 9	Artistic: Shadows	The opposite of light is dark, the absence of light is shadow. Interpret this into a masterpiece.
Week 10	Portrait: Environmental	Show a subject in their natural habitat. Their place of work or hobby is a great start. Tell their story with the environment
Week 11	Landscape: Reflection	Find a way to show your landscape/natural beauty in reflection. The mirror world revealed.
Week 12	Artistic: Transportation	Our world is one defined by how we get around. Literal or interpretative, find inspiration in transportation.
Week 13	Portrait: High Key	Expose to the right and create a light, airy high key portrait.
Week 14	Landscape: Zoomed in	Most landscapes are wide sweeping images. Try an alternative and zoom in instead.
Week 15	Artistic: Metal	Cold, hard steel, shiny aluminum or even rusted and broken down. Find your inspiration in metal this week.
Week 16	Portrait: Movement	Most portraits are stationary, so this week explore adding some movement; dancing, twirling, or even hair flips.
Week 17	Landscape: Urbanscape	Most landscapes are wide open spaces of natural beauty... this week find the beauty of the urbanscape/cityscape.
Week 18	Artistic: Texture	The artistic inspiration this week is texture. You should almost be able to feel the image.
Week 19	Portrait: Messy	Take an amazing portrait of someone, make a mess while you are doing it.
Week 20	Landscape: Nightowl	A tripod is going to be handy this week... time to shoot a night landscape. Look for some light for the scene! Car lights, city lights, or maybe just moonlight.
Week 21	Artistic: Fantasy	Is this real life, or is this just fantasy... Your artistic inspiration this week is fantasy.
Week 22	Portrait: Hands	Usually the face is the strongest element in the frame; with the hands being second. Make the hands the most important element in your image this week.
Week 23	Landscape: Weather	This week should be as unpredictable as the weather! Feature the weather in this week's landscape.
Week 24	Artistic: Sparkle!	Shoot what inspires you this week, just make sure it sparkles.
Week 25	Portrait: Silhouette	Expose for the background and let your subject fall into shadow. Shape is important this week.
Week 26	Landscape: Simplify	Simplify the scene to make your primary subject stand out.
Week 27	Artistic: Blue	You were inspired by the fiery red earlier, now be inspired by calming blue.
Week 28	Portrait: Family	Whether it's the family you are born with or the one you choose, show the world what family is to you.
Week 29	Landscape: Waterscape	Ocean, lake, river, pond, or puddle. Make water the primary subject of this landscape.
Week 30	Artistic: Patterns	Get inspired by the rhythm that patterns bring to your images.
Week 31	Portrait: Street Candid	Candids on the street, show us life in your town through the lens.
Week 32	Landscape: Colorful	Shoot a landscape that packs as much color as you can find into the scene.
Week 33	Artistic: Collaboration	Doesn't matter what you shoot, just do with another artist. Share vision and ideas. Collaborate.
Week 34	Portrait: Child	Candid or posed, capture an image of a child. Try getting down on their level for a unique perspective.
Week 35	Landscape: Nature up Close	Get up close and personal with nature in this natural beauty shot. Flowers, bees, bugs and spiders might all make great shots
Week 36	Artistic: Food	Take your food photography to the next level. It's not lunch, it's art.
Week 37	Portrait: Fashion	Avant-garde to commercial to traditional, and everything in between. The focus is the clothes this week.
Week 38	Landscape: Get Low	Time to look at the world from a different angle. Shoot a landscape from a low point of view.
Week 39	Art: Handmade	Your artistic interpretation should be inspired by another artisan's handmade work. Literal or interpreted.
Week 40	Portrait: Sitting in a Chair	Either a formal sitting portrait or a re-interpretation of this classic. Photograph your subject sitting in a chair.
Week 41	Landscape: Get High	Everything looks different when you are high. Find a high perspective to shoot this landscape.
Week 42	Artistic: Minimalist	Isolate your subject using the minimalist approach. Inspire someone with your art.
Week 43	Portrait: The Elderly	Tell the story of an elderly person through the power of your camera. Capture the lines of their life.
Week 44	Landscape: A Tree	Some of the most famous landscapes in the world feature a tree. Time to see what you can do.
Week 45	Artistic: Nostalgic	Use nostalgia as your inspiration this week. Long for the moments we want to recapture. The good times.
Week 46	Portrait: Backlit	The sun makes a great back light, as well as a flash. Don't forget the fill light. A flash or reflector can be used to fill in the subject.
Week 47	Landscape: Abandoned	Capture an image of that which others have forgotten. It may be the last image before it's gone from us forever.
Week 48	Artistic: Bokeh	A shallow depth of field is often used to isolate the subject. Create an artistic interpretation using shallow depth of field.
Week 49	Portrait: Dancing	Whether it's a professional dancer or just some kids in the street. Try experimenting with slow and fast shutter speed to both blur and freeze the subject.
Week 50	Landscape: Symmetrical	Often considered one of the hardest compositions to pull off, symmetry. Challenge yourself this week by shooting a symmetrical landscape/urbanscape.
Week 51	Artistic: Art	It is time to really challenge yourself. Your artistic interpretation should be art, about art.
Week 52	Portrait: Another Self Portrait	For your final challenge, we end where we started. Take one last self-portrait, and be amazed at how far you have come in a year.

I will not bore you with all 52 photos, but here are just a few of my favs:

Taking My Photography To The Next Level

I will take my photography habit to the next level - This year I will start charging for my photography. I have come to realize that if I do not value my work, why would anybody else.

My first opportunity to achieve this goal game early in 2016 when I was approached about doing an engagement shoot. I even wrote up a contract...it was my only contract for the year. This was my first paid gig. It was SO hard to charge, but boy did it feel good to receive money to help fund my 'habit.' Here is just one of my favs.

While I have been the second shooter once before for a wedding, I had the chance again to do it, but this time I was paid for my services. What an honor to be asked to be the second shooter for a wedding. There are so many out there who would jump at that chance so I feel blessed that Sarah felt I was worthy enough to be her second shooter. I'd love to post more, but there just isn't enough room.

I also had the opportunity to give back with my photography as a piece of my work is blown up and hanging in the Depot at church. This is a train-themed room where parents drop off their kiddos for Sunday School. Last year I went hiking at the only railroad tracks in Oregon that are legal to hike. It is very humbling knowing that one of my photos, larger than life, is hanging on the wall at the church where I attend.

This summer, I was hired to shoot a combination anniversary/birthday party for a couple at the church I attend.  If you know me, you know I would much rather shoot landscapes, nature, etc., than people. People can be difficult; it can be a challenge to get everyone in the group to look at you, or to smile, or to be comfortable, etc.  Again, God is good though as he grows me, as well as my photography. It was an honor that the couple felt that my skills were what they wanted to document two large events in their life. Bartering my skills is just as good as money, and for this occasion, I received a weekend at the couple's beach house. I was able to take my family for a family beach weekend. I hope they enjoyed their pictures as much as I enjoyed their beach house.

I had another opportunity to develop my people photography skills even further when I was asked to volunteer my skills for the annual Woodburn Firehouse Cookoff and be the official photographer of record. I was apprehensive about doing this as this is a huge event in our community and I did not want to disappoint anyone; however, if I truly want to grow my skills, I am going to have to step out of my comfort zone. It was a very hot and exhausting day, but it was a lot of fun.

This goal was about taking my photography habit to the next level, and I think I achieved that. The last opportunity this year came in September when I was approached about doing a shoot for a preschool that was opening at the church where I attend. One of my photos was published in the local newspaper, The Woodburn Independent. What an honor that was. While I still prefer to shoot items in nature, I am every thankful for the opportunities to develop and improve my skills. http://www.pamplinmedia.com/wbi/152-news/321665-201435-woodburn-couple-opening-bilingual-preschool

I had yet another opportunity to reach this goal a few months later when I was approached about selling five prints. Don't tell them, but I would have given them the prints for free. I did feel a sense of pressure though since she worked at the Tulip Farm, was moving out of state, and wanted prints as a reminder of her time there. No amount of money could have brought more satisfaction than knowing out of all the people and pictures they could have chosen, they chose mine.

Smartphone Detox Anyone?

Detoxes are often given major publicity from celebrities everywhere, but they are also beaten down by health professionals because there is not proof to back up half of the cleanses that are trending around the social media world. For all of you who are sticking their noses in their air, thinking that you are too good to follow the detox steps of the Kardashians, I dare you to do this one. The Smartphone Detox.

We are the first people to joke about being addicted to smartphones, but being too obsessed is unproductive and unhealthy. When you cannot go 20 minutes without checking your phone or you sleep with it under your pillow, it is time for an intervention.

This weeklong plan is practical and doable but totally effective.

Monday - Unfollow people who aren't your real friends, unsubscribe from unwanted email lists, and delete apps you don't use.

The detox starts off easily.

I unfollowed roughly 30 people on Instagram and 15 to 20 ‘friends’ on Facebook. I thought I was going to notice that these people were off of my timelines, but I never did. It was actually extremely satisfying. I deleted probably 10 to 15 apps off my phone that I found I was never using. I unsubscribed from 15 email lists. I recommend doing this even if you do not want to take part in the whole week. My inbox became a little less cluttered and the annoying notifications came fewer and further between.

Tuesday - Turn off push notifications.

This was my favorite day. I turned off every notification besides my text message notifications. Everything else I turned off. No more Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, or Yahtzee.

After this day, I honestly found myself looking at my phone less and less. You do not realize how often your phone is notifying you of something until you turn off the notifications. I started believing in this detox after Tuesday.

Wednesday - Resist the urge to look at your phone first thing in the morning.

This is where the detox started getting difficult. The first thing I do every morning is look at my phone. I usually even lay in bed 15 minutes longer than I should because I find myself on Facebook and catching up on my games. Even when I tell myself I am not going to, I still do it. When I woke up, I immediately went to the bathroom, then down the hall to my office to start my computer for work before heading to the kitchen for coffee. I never checked it one time. I began to start my day without my phone because I forgot about it. I could not believe how fast I got ready for the day without my phone.

Thursday - Set up a charging station outside of your bedroom, and do not look at your phone an hour before bed.

Again, another difficult day. If you are anything like me, you spend an extra half hour in bed reading social media before going to bed. You head to bed at 11 to 11:30 pm but do not find yourself putting your phone down and rolling over until 11:30 to 12. It happens every night, even when I am not tired.

Friday - Go out to dinner, and leave your phone at home.

I did not end up going to dinner, but, I left my phone in my bedroom for the entire meal. I never realized that my phone is such a distraction even when it is in my purse or my pocket. I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner without any interruptions on my part. I recommend doing this even if you are not completing the whole week. It is necessary for this day and age.

Saturday - Spend the day not looking at or posting to social media.

Again, this one was a bit tough as I had started making my Christmas cards with friends this day. I picked up my phone, took a picture, and began to post and then remembered...no posting. I do my share of posting, but I am more of a looker. Early in the day, this was much more difficult, but it did get easier as the day went on. It is surprising how it can just be a habit to check your social media.

Sunday - Turn off your smartphone for the entire day.

Literally impossible, right? Now I did keep my phone on for the texts, just in case somebody needed to contact me (most did not know I was doing a smartphone detox so were not aware that I would not be available via my smartphone). I did make a conscious effort to act as if it was off. Let me tell ya, my day was great. No distractions, no notifications; just a calm, happy Sunday.

All in all, this was necessary for me to really part ways with my smartphone. Yes, I broke some of the rules here and there, but overall it was so worth it. If you even think for a second you might be obsessed with your phone, you need to do this detox. It’s a week later and all the apps I deleted are still off of my phone. I only turned back on a few of the notifications, and my phone charges in the other room. It changed my life in more ways than one.

TRY IT.

4T - Train, Trail, Tram, and Trolley — Oh My!

Looking for a great way to spend a Saturday? Experience an adventure on Portland’s Famous 4T Trail Loop — where a trail, a tram, a trolley, and a train combine for a one-of-a-kind, multi-modal way to enjoy Portland, one of the nation’s most walkable cities! The unique 4T trail is a self-guided urban nature tour that lets you explore the city — and see some of the best views — without a car. All it takes is about 4 hours (lie #1, it took us 5-1/2 hours), $5, and a bit of leg power (lie #2, it took a LOT of leg power). The route is well marked with signs (lie #3, there was NOT one sign telling us where the tram portion was), and includes about 2.5 miles (lie #4 because my Garmin Vivofit says I walked just over 7 miles) of walking. Here’s an overview:

Train - Starting downtown, we caught the MAX line near Pioneer Courthouse Square to the Oregon Zoo stop. (Before boarding, we purchased an all-day pass for $5 — this is good for the train and the streetcar.) The zoo stop is 260 feet below ground level, in the nation’s deepest tunnel. Ride the elevator to the surface, where you have the option of exploring the zoo before following the “4T” signs for the next leg of the journey.

 

 

Trail - We headed downhill, crossed the Highway 26 overpass, and exited the city landscape on the well-maintained Marquam Trail (also signed for the 4T). We hiked 1.3 miles up a wooded trail to Council Crest Park, the highest point in Portland at 1,073 feet. As we rested our legs from the moderately steep, hour-long climb, we savored some of the city’s best views. On a clear day, from the top of the hill, one can see five mountains in the Cascade Range: Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, Mt. Jefferson, and Mt. Rainier. In addition, the park boasts a fantastic 180 degree view of Portland and surrounding towns.

 

 

Tram - We walked downhill from Council Crest and and picked between 1) following the trail on a 2.2-mile hike through hilly Marquam Nature Park, or 2) taking a 1.6-mile walk downhill on city streets without sidewalks. Both paths lead to the Oregon Health & Science University campus, where 4T signs point to the upper terminal of the Portland Aerial Tram. We opted to take the longer path as we chose not to walk on the streets meandering through the city as they did not contain any shoulder. Everybody knows I have a horrid sense of direction, but something you probably do not know – Rebecca's sense of direction is way worse than mine. After hiking our way out of over 2 miles of uphill mountainous terrain, I made the mistake of asking Rebecca, right or left (she was holding her GPS so I figured she knew what she was doing AND she worked at OHSU for years) and she said right so away we went. We started our trek up the VERY steep hill, and I was panting and breathing heavily. Rebecca literally stopped EVERY stranger along the way asking if the hospital or the tram was up the hill and each had some comment of “I don't know.” Finally, a jogger she stopped told us it was down the hill. Yes, down the hill that took us the last 45 minutes to traverse our way up. If looks could have killed, Rebecca would have been dead. She looked at me and knew I wanted to kill her. She kindly told me I could give her one punch. I was afraid if I punched her once, I would not stop and would have pummeled her with punches so I just pouted and started stomping my way down the hill, numb toes, hurting knees and all.When we reached the park that we had emerged from a good 45 minutes early, yes, the point where I had asked Rebecca right or left, it was there that had we gone left the hospital was maybe 7 or 8 minutes DOWN the hill, oy vey.  The tram’s shiny, pod-like cars whisked us downhill while providing panoramic views of the Willamette River, the city’s east side and the Cascade Mountains. There is no cost to ride the tram downhill (round-trip tickets originating from the lower terminal cost $4 each). Portland’s Aerial Tram runs Monday through Saturday, traveling 3,300 linear feet between the South Waterfront and OHSU’s main campus at 22 miles per hour. The tram cabins rise 500 feet for the three-minute trip over I-5, the Lair Hill neighborhood and the Southwest Terwilliger Parkway, offering stunning views of downtown Portland, the Willamette River, Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens.

Trolley - The final mode of transport is the Portland Streetcar, which we boarded from the stop near the tram terminal. Running about every 15 minutes, the European-style streetcar — or trolley —  carried us back to downtown Portland, only one stop away from our starting point near Pioneer Courthouse Square.

When we finished with the trolley, we headed over to Salt and Straw for some ice cream, we definitely deserved it!