Painted turtles crowd together on a log in a placid pond, with their heads turned toward the sun. © Randy Runtsch.

Nature, Photography, and Self-reflection

Reflecting on Life in Times of Peace and Calm

April Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Reflect”

Randy Runtsch
Six Word Photo Story Challenge
2 min readApr 4, 2024

--

Reflecting on how life could be.

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”

Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855), Danish theologian, philosopher, and poet

On calm and sunny days, painted turtles perch on logs and rocks to bask in the sun’s warmth. They present a picture of peace and tranquility reflected in the waters that serve as their homes.

However, stormy weather will come along. Then, the turtles will descend to the depths to seek shelter until the storm blows over.

Our lives can become busy and turbulent, with little time to reflect on how we might improve ourselves and attend to others’ needs.

But admiring the stillness of the turtles and their reflections calms me. The moment presents an opportunity to reflect.

In the quiet of my room, I ponder these questions:

  • What have I accomplished, and what have I left unfinished?

--

--

Randy Runtsch
Six Word Photo Story Challenge

Writer | Photographer | Outdoor Lover | Adventure Cyclist | Business Owner | Data Analyst | Software Developer