Take in the little things.

We packed the bikes into the Jeep, already sweating from the August humidity. Somehow, they fit, we slammed the hatch with a sense of conquest and jumped in the front seats, with the top already open. The sun was shining with that awesomely-blinding glare and airless heat. We were headed out for one of our first bike rides of the summer.

Entering the trail was one of the greatest feelings I've felt all summer. It was like the culmination of a season full of feelings. I felt challenged and peaceful and at last felt relief. Relief from the constraints of my office walls, relief from the stresses of a schedule. We both felt free.

The first rock and manmade ramp should have clued me in, that this wouldn't be much of a freedom ride. How did we miss the 'mountain bike trail' sign? We're more the easy-going road riders, not mountain bikers. But, we took each turn, each jump and each tiny wooden bridge with nothing less than a childlike playfulness.

I fell off my bike at least four times. We laughed until we were red in the face. I said "if it weren't for the tears in my eyes from laughing so hard, I might be able to properly peddle this thing" And we roared with laughter again.

Even though the terrain was tough, we didn't miss a single opportunity to stop to take in the little things. Once, after a near-face-plant into a meadow of muddy, chin-high weeds, I pulled my camera off my back and snapped a few frames of the towering cattails.

After the ride, we were drained. Drained from laughing, from riding and from completely living the moment. We lay in the grass next to the gardens and ate peanut butter sandwiches and talked about making life more simple.

Within a week from that day, we reorganized our life, and created a simpler, more fulfilling routine, and it would have never happened had we not stopped to take in the little things.

So, apparently today is not only Friday, but is World Photo Day. So, I captured this, and it's my favorite. Ever.