An Untold Story

"In phenomenological-hermeneutic terms, this may be referred to as the "existential reality". 

Psychoanalyst Daniel Stern (2000) called the background feelings associated with how a person relates to his existential reality "vitality affects". 
More generally, one may call it "felt sense", as the term indicates exactly what is meant; sensing something we feel in our guts as it were and precedes the cognitive reflection. 
The felt sense, therefore, need not be something that one is rationally aware of." 
- Sitvasi, J. (2021). The Felt Sense and how it can therapeutically be meditated in photographs. 

Is the world - Inviting, Vibrant and Warm? 
Through photography, music therapy, poetry-writing - to infuse the "felt sense" with new sensations in which in their turn can be reflected on and which can lead to more openness in an otherwise "framed" mind. 

Does photography - an image or images - have the ability to impact and change something in how you relate to your existential world? 

"People must first learn to see and perceive the world around them. Perception occurs within the senses and openness for impressions from outside is necessary. It becomes more focused when guided by a reflection or a question as for instance: what things in your environment make you happy and can you photograph them? To make such an observation one needs to be present in the here-and-now, which is not always easy for people who are harassed by problems in many domains of their life: health, financial situation (debts), poor living accommodation, and loneliness / social isolation. They need to worry and literally have too much on their mind to stay in the here-and-now. Their stories are sometimes "closed narratives" and they may "frame" the perception of the world around them in the same narrative, so that it becomes repetitive and self-confirming, as expressed in lamentations as for instance: "I am always the dupe; I have no luck." 
-quoted from Sitvast, 2017 and Academia Letters, April 2021, Sitvast, J. (2021), The felt sense and how it can be therapeutically meditated by photographs. 

So, the basic underlying theme for the above paper submitted by the author is that one can express their inner feelings through photographs of things that appear beautiful to them. Of things which give them a feeling of thrill or adventure and may contribute to a growing "awareness" of the photographer of what is valuable, beautiful and worthwhile to cherish. 
Sitvast says, "the assignments help the photographer to see the world as it were from a fresh perspective that may resonate with deep intuitions, memories and values in a person than those associated with the overwhelming experience of mental illness and framing oneself/being framed as a patient." 

The process of making photographs helps the individual go out into the world to see and learn what is worthy. Then the photographs become "icons" of a new awareness.

Hence, come these pictures, which were, mind you, taken days before I even came across this article by Sitvast on academia.edu - not a simple coincidence I would like to believe though. 

One of the most beautiful sunsets I have seen in a long time. 

Reminds me of all the superb experiences that have come and gone.
And a hope that there are more splendid occassions yet to come.

Clean roads, gorgeous houses, expensive cars. This is my locality.
Love the balmy weather and the swaying palm trees. 
Someone put a lot of thought into making this space look appealing in all the grandeur of the sunset colors - peach, purple with shades of pink. 
Just the colors to make any girl smile. 

I can't wait in anticipation of what the days ahead will still bring to me. 
Hoping I can hold my head up high like the tall palm tree in these pictures and persevere on regardless of rain or shine. 

(Been a good number of years since I have last written anything, that's why had to use a published article to start me off...)