ENTRY DESCRIPTION
Mornings at the beach are magical. There’s a certain calmness and serenity that’s palpable…a feeling that all is right in the world. Occasionally, the clouds and fog combine with the sun’s rays to create a stunningly beautiful soft light that reflects off the sand and surf. On this particular morning, the beach was nearly empty sans this lone surfer. As he made his way into the water, I could only imagine the freedom he must have felt. My position on the pier gave me the perfect vantage point to capture this very special moment in time. I hope that by sharing this photo, you too will feel inspired to seek your own escape.

AUTHOR
As though by a magnet, I've always felt the world pulling me, luring me to explore its mysteries and wonder. For a long time, I put my dreams on hold. Then one day in my practice as a radiologist, I met a patient whose journey would forever change my outlook.

In the Fall of 2006, a man came to me with a nagging discomfort in his chest. At 38 years old, he was so young that I thought surely it must be something benign or otherwise inconsequential. In a matter of a few short hours, his Cat-Scan revealed that he was suffering from terminal lung cancer. His story is a reminder to us all that each day must be viewed as a very special gift.

I've witnessed hundreds of patients whose lives have been abruptly changed by a life-altering or life-ending diagnosis. At times we may convince ourselves that we are immortal and that cancer or some other catastrophe only affects others, but in reality, we have no guarantees in this life. Time is too short to get lost in a blur of days, weeks and months.

And so I began to think more seriously about all those overseas adventures waiting for me, and soon enough, I grabbed my Leica and Nikon gear and voyaged to all seven continents. I've observed Tibetan monks in prayer, hiked up the Virunga mountains of Rwanda to marvel at the Silverback gorillas in their natural habitat and watched Bengal tigers cool off in a shallow lake to escape India's searing heat.

I've met people, young and old, who have lived amazing yet ordinary lives. Sunsets over Rio de Janeiro's Ipanema Beach have stolen my breath, and the floating ice sculptures of Antarctica drew me into their icy majesty. I can still smell the fragrance

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