Sharp Contrasts

Sharp Contrasts
            Starkly delineated shadows of roots, trees, rocks, people… Contrasting shadows trigger emotional sensors. Why does the silhouette of a lone figure—human, animal or tree—stir our hearts?
            The frequent foggy, overcast days in my ocean beach neighborhood mean that my typical visual landscape is subtle shades of gray. On a bright, clear day, though, watch out. The dark shadows against zingy blue skies stand out like a Maxfield Parrish painting.
            There is always something dark happening in the world, something tumultuous occurring in our individual lives. Enjoying calm moments despite rough stretches is a key to survival.
            A walk along a beach, a hike on an earthy trail, a brief neighborhood stroll, a moment tending plants, or just looking out the window watching birds, have been the magic tricks for turning dark times to moments of gratitude for me and my family.
            May we all learn to enjoy the bright spots as we navigate unpredictable waters. Keep putting one foot forward!
            This week’s Hike Notes, Crissy Field East Beach and Crissy Marsh, leads readers along a stretch of beach at Crissy Field that has amazing views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge facing one direction, and a sparkling marsh dotted with water fowl on the other.
            Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area (was Quick View Hike List) page. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact.
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Please feel free to share, and follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism
New this week:
Hike Notes 137: Crissy Field East Beach and Crissy Marsh