The Elephant Rock In China

Magical British Landscapes

The colourful kingdom: Marvel at the splendid hues of our green (and pink, purple and golden) pleasant land
Britain has been called the magical land and these pictures are a true testimony to that.
Its' spellbinding beauty has inspired writers, poets and many others who have graced this colourful land.
William Shakespeare even famously described Britain as ‘this sceptred isle’, a ‘precious stone set in the silver sea’.
But no words can possibly describe the awe inspiring beauty of this enchanted countryside.
From the soft rolling hills of the South Downs to the forbidding mountains of the Scottish highlands, Britain is blessed with some of the most varied and magical landscapes in the world.
And its utterly amazing beauty could hardly be better revealed than in the stunning snaps shown below.
Taken as part of the 2020 Vision project, these landscapes reveal Britain's breathtaking scenery in all its impressive splendour.
Each of the powerful images was taken as part of an initiative that saw 20 photographers spend 20 months in the field documenting 20 key habitats in Britain.
So scroll down through the pictures and be prepared to have your breath taken away.

Dawn Break: Sunrise over chalk downland viewed from Wilmington Hill, South Downs National Park, East Sussex

Misty scenes: View over New Forest heathland Ling and Bell Heather with bracken at Fritham Cross, New Forest National Park, Hampshire

A new dawn: View over New Forest lowland in mist at dawn. Vereley Hill, Burley, New Forest National Park, Hampshire

Stunning vista: The sun sets on Forsinard Flows RSPB reserve in Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands

Mists and mellow fruitfulness: The hazy hills around Glastonbury Tor in Somerset

The Assynt mountains from the summit of Cul mor in the Scottish Highlands

Crowning sunlight: The clouds open at Ballynahone bog in County Derry, Northern Ireland

Gentle countryside: Halnaker Windmill amid a wheat field on the South Downs National Park near Chichester, West Sussex

Waves crashing over rocks at the coast the Point of Stoer in the Assynt Mountains

A moorland pool in the Assynt Mountains and the Scottish Highlands

Mystical: The view over Butermere in the Lake District at dusk

Eye-catching: A flower-filled meadow and pool near Stac Colgach in Sutherland

Dawn awakening: The start of the day at Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth

Rugged beauty: The Old Man of Storr at dawn on the Isle of Skye

Top of the world: The impressive view from the summit of Sgorr Tuath in the Assynt mountains

Wild and wonderful: The view from Blackbeck Tarn towards Buttermere in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria

Stark: The Suilven mountain viewed from near Lochinver in Sutherland

A Scots pine tree stands proudly by Loch Maree in the northwest of Scotland

Colourful: A rainbow lights up the sky surrounding Glen Affric in the Scottish Highlands

Foreboding: Dark clouds surround the hills of the Lake District

And Then It Is Winter

This is one of the nicest e-mails I've seen in a very long time. Its very inspiring. Save it and read from time to time. I wonder who composed this. So philosophical.

And then it is Winter.

You know.. . . time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years.

It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went.
I know that I lived them all...

And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams... But, here it is... the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise... How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go?
I remember well... seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like...

But, here it is... my friends are retired and getting grey... they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me... but, I see the great change...Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant... but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore.... it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!
And so...now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!!
But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last... this I know, that when it's over.... its over... Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done... things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in a lifetime...
So, if you're not in your winter yet... let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!!
Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not!

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life... so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember.... and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!
"Life is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one."

LIVE IT WELL!
ENJOY TODAY!
DO SOMETHING FUN!
BE HAPPY! BE THANKFUL!

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Remember "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold or silver."

The Crescent Lake In Dunhuang, China

Crescent lake also called Yueyaquan in Chinese is a beautiful crescent-shaped lake located 6 km south of the Dunhuang city in the arms of the Echoing-Sand Dune. The Crescent Lake's water is so pure and clear that it looks like an emerald jewel in the sand. Along the side of the Crescent Lake is a pagoda in traditional Han Chinese architecture. A street lined with souvenir stalls leads up from the entrance to the complex. Many tourists ride camels here, organized by the complex operators, to get to the summit of the sand dunes.
The lake has been in existence for at least two thousands, but for the last few decades it has been gradually disappearing. According to measurement made in 1960, the average depth of the lake was 4 to 5 meters, with maximum depth 7.5 meters. In the early 1990s, the area of the lake had shrunken to only 1.37-acre (5,500 m2) with average depth of 0.9 meter (maximum 1.3 meter). Crescent Lake has dropped more than 25 feet in the last three decades while the underground water table elsewhere in the area has fallen by as much as 35 feet.
In 2006, the local government with help of the central government started to fill the lake and restore its depth; its depth and size have been growing yearly since then.

The Stone On The Road

One day a farmer, walking down the street in a small town came across a large stone in the middle of his path.

The farmer complained: "Who could be so careless as to leave such a big stone on the road?

Why does someone not remove it?" He went away complaining.

The next day, the same thing happened with a milkman. He too went away grumbling but left the stone as it was.

Then one day, a student came across the stone. Worried that some¬one may fall over it and hurt himself, he decided to push it aside.

He pushed long and hard all by himself and eventually managed to remove the stone from the path.

He came back and noticed a piece of paper where the stone was kept.

He picked the paper and opened it. Inside was written, "You are the true wealth of this nation.

The Power Of Saying No

We've all had times when we say yes to someone but really want to say no.

It's often difficult to say no because of the desire to be loved: we want to be helpful, we want to show we care, but we may have little to give, are tired, overworked, or need alone time. Do you feel that if you aren't there for someone, they may reject you? Or that you're somehow obliged to help as it makes you a ˜good person, parent or friend? Do you ever feel validated by being needed ? It's easy to believe that any time you take to relax or meditate is time that could be used elsewhere. But taking time out doesn't mean it is selfish or even wasted time. Think about what happens when your day is spent constantly caring for others. Do you get resentful, irritated, or even angry? Do you find stress building up? Does the quality of care that you offer become affected by that inner tension? Or are you so used to being this way that it seems impossible to imagine being any other way? You may even think you're not the relaxing type, or that if you do relax you won't be able to cope with all the things you have to do.

However, by taking time for yourself, by lowering your blood pressure and releasing stress, you are immediately creating a more harmonious environment that can only benefit all those around you. When you take time out to be quiet it means you don't get so angry, resentful, or frustrated; instead, you connect with who you really are. Then what you share with others is coming from that peaceful space. When you are energized and feeling good you will be able to do far more than if you are dragging yourself through your day with little energy or in a bad mood.

So, rather than being selfish, such activity is actually the least selfish thing you could do! This is when saying no to others means you are affirming yourself. The power of saying no is that you are empowered!