This is a picture I took from the back porch of my house, overlooking the mountains. I've taken many photos like this, but I love this one because it had just rained, leaving the trees and grass greener than usual. For me, it's more than just a beautiful landscape; it's one of the few things that keep me grounded. Today, we're told to move faster, be more productive, and treat life like a race where you either win or lose. Almost nothing in our lives feels constant; everything is constantly changing or becoming something else. The mountains are an exception. The Rockies have stood for millions of years and will likely remain long after we're gone. That permanence is comforting. Time seems to move more slowly in the mountains, and with how quickly the world is shifting, sometimes slowing down isn't just restful, it's the only way to move forward.
This picture is the complete opposite of the one I took of the mountains. It shows the Seattle Seahawks walking off the field after losing Super Bowl 49 by a single yard. For any Seahawks fan, even hearing about that game feels like a gut punch; seeing it is worse. The team stood at the one-yard line, perfectly positioned to score the game-winning touchdown and secure back-to-back championships. At the time, Seattle had Marshawn Lynch, one of the most dominant running backs in NFL history. For most fans, myself included, giving him the ball meant a nearly guaranteed touchdown. But the handoff never came. Instead, the Seahawks chose to throw, and Russell Wilson's pass was intercepted. In a matter of seconds, victory slipped away, replaced by one of the most infamous decisions in football history. Even a decade later, photos of that moment bring back an almost indescribable feeling.
