Today's Picture to Ponder Photos
Parrot Tulips in different stages of opening

The sensory experiences are so strong from these two images that I invite you to simply be with them, without further descriptive words from me.

The APDA and Walk Story
The TULIP, a pink-edged one, is the symbol used for Parkinson's Disease. Thus in March/April, for the fourth year now, I have been purchasing tulip plants and photographing them.

April is Parkinson's Awareness Month and each year, the American Parkinson's Disease fund-raising walks are held throughout the United States. All MONEYS raised goes to RESEARCH for a cure for Parkinson's Disease.

Thus, though not always the "correct" one, I have featured two to four photos in Picture to Ponder and created special Tulips pages with more. Starting with 2006, TULIPS 2006 you can follow links to the issue that year. Links for Tulips 2007 and 2008 can be found at the bottom of that page.

I also used Picture to Ponder and the above-mentioned pages, to offer subscribers to make a Walk donation to Research through an Amazon page. Given that my husband Sam (see Remembering Sam) had Parkinson's Disease, I remain active in support groups, so intended to offer you the same opportunity this year and I learned that the service offered before is no longer available

I therefore invite anyone interested in supporting research for Stamping out Parkinson's Disease and the walk to go directly to the South Florida "Make a Donation" page. Simply type "WALK" in the "Person's Name" space, and or in the "Special Instructions" box, before your final payment submission.

The South Florida Walk will take place in Lake Ida Park in Delray Beach on Saturday, April 18th. Registration starts at 9:30 AM, the walk at 11 AM.

I invite you also the check for scheduled walks in your area in the United States and certainly feel free to make a donation to your local chapter, should you be interested in getting involved and that be your preference. Scroll down the APDA national site page for locations and more information.

Today's Photos Story
Back to today's Picture to Ponder photographs. I was thrilled with how these photographs turned out and simply want to take some time to luxuriate in them. Then last night, so you could see more of this year's tulip photos, and more, I uploaded them onto my Flickr pages. See TULIPS set

Almost immediately I received an email inviting me to add each of them to the Parrot Tulips Group on FlickR. I went to the group and was in awe of many of the photos. I had never before paid attention to the beauty of this particular variety of tulips, though I've photographed them in the past.

In writing to the administrator, thanking her, we also gained a new subscriber to our Picture to Ponder community and I've made a new friend.

Today's Self-Reflecting Queries
Part of putting together today's issue had me looking at my own issues around money, asking for it for my services and asking for it for someone else, or for a charity to which I'm committed in supporting. I would assume that there are many of you out there who have neither of these issues around "asking" or "inviting."

And, as I write, I'm reminded that the same emotional issues are not even always about money. I'm recalling times that I did not invite someone to do attend a party I might be giving, go with me someplace, or into a myriad of other situations. I make the prejudgment that they would not be interested in my invitation, so I don't put myself out, take a chance on a refusal. The bottom line result is that ultimately neither of us benefit as I stay stuck in my "fear of rejection."

I invite you to look and see if you find yourself anywhere in the above scenario. If so, I invite you to take one small action forward in possibly a new direction. To do this, what might you have to give up?

Keep in mind, the action may be something as simple, or perhaps for you not so simple, as saying "Hi" to, or smiling at, a stranger.

I also invite all of you to take a few moments to acknowledge yourselves for strides you've taken in your life where none of the above fits for you, or where once some of it did and you've moved past those strangleholds.

For what accomplishments can you, or will you choose to, acknowledge yourself today?

As always, when you're finished, I invite you to share your experience with today's photos and writing on the blog. See the instructions below if you need help.

And do have fun with this today.