Reflection

An hourglass reminds me how fleeting time truly is. Each grain represents a moment passing — quiet, irreversible, and precious. It’s a simple but powerful symbol that urges me to slow down, live intentionally, and value the present before it slips away.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about time. How fast it moves. How quietly it slips by while we’re busy—distracted, scrolling, rushing, chasing the next thing.

I’ve been missing people I can’t call anymore. Pets that used to greet me at the door. Moments I didn’t realize were “the last” until they were already gone. And I think we all carry that—those little pieces of love and loss, tucked somewhere behind our day-to-day thoughts.

But out in nature—on a trail, rod in hand, camera slung over my shoulder—it gets quiet. Not just around me, but in me. The noise fades. The expectations, the stress, the screens… all of it disappears behind the sound of wind through trees or water over rock.

And in those moments, I feel peace. I feel connected to everything I’ve lost, and even more thankful for what I still have.

Like quiet mornings with my wife—just the two of us, sharing coffee before the world wakes up. No rush, no plans, just simple presence. Those little moments mean everything. They’re grounding. They’re real.

It reminds me to be more intentional with my time—to show up fully for my family, to listen deeper, to appreciate the now. Because we only get so many mornings, so many trails, so many shared cups of coffee.

So I hike. I fish. I breathe it all in. I hold on to what matters. Because one day, these moments will be the memories we reach for—and I want mine to be full of peace, love, and presence.

-David