Each fortnight, I do try to come up with a topic for the Friendly Friday Photo Challenge that is fairly original, given that there are many challenges and word prompts published on WordPress. Therefore, checking the reader for similar entries is a must, before I hit that publish button.
I had a post almost ready to go on Photo Edits, but found similar topics in the reader in recent months, so that topic will have to keep for a later time. If you have photos in mind for that topic, set them aside for later!
Yesterday was “R U Okay?“ day in Australia.
Yesterday marked an important time to think about and check in with your colleagues, family or friends, who may be feeling a little ‘blue‘ and to let them know you are there for them, if they wish to talk about something that is bothering them.
Strangely enough, Blue is also a favourite colour of mine. So today’s prompt is:
Friendly Friday Photo Theme – ‘Blue‘
You are invited to join the Friendly Friday Photo Challenge. Full Instructions below.
Interpret the word, ‘Blue,’ however you like and make a Friendly Friday post.
You are limited only by your imagination. What shade of blue do you prefer?
Here is a few different hues of ‘Blue’:
The topic this week highlights the colour that signifies that feeling of loneliness, depression or anxiety and I hope everyone feels that they can ask their friend, neighbour or colleague, ” How have you been?” “Everything going okay?”
Let’s share that support and start conversations around the world on Friendly Friday. In some cultures, asking how someone is going, is considered intrusive, so awareness of this is important too. The person’s body language will be a clear signal and an important clue, as to how they are feeling about your question.
How to join the Friendly Friday Photo Challenge
Post a comment below and include a ‘Friendly Friday- Blue’ ping-back in your post, so others can find your entry.
The ‘Friendly Friday Photo Challenge’ is launched every second Friday here at:
Something to Ponder About, and every other Friday at: The Snow Melts Somewhere.
Scroll down to more instructions on pingbacks/joining in with Friendly Friday .
- Publish a new ‘Friendly Friday – ‘Blue,’ post including a URL link to this post, tagging the post, ‘Friendly Friday.’ Add the Photo Challenge logo, if you wish.
- Copy the published url into the comments below, so other readers can visit your blog.
- Visit other Friendly Friday entries by following the links. It’s fun!
- Follow the host blogs to see future prompts.
Please note there is no deadlines for any Friendly Friday challenge.
Something serious to Ponder About
Amanda
Beautiful pictures!
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Thank you Popsiclesociety. What is your favourite colour?
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The green of the nature and the blue of the sky and sea 🙂
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Ah. Natural hues appeal to you the most, it seems?
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🙂
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The background colour on your profile pic is especially appropriate for blue. 🙂
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Yes! It is, Peggy. I was thinking about that too, when I wrote this post. I am also wearing blue in the other photo on the post.
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So I noticed.
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I just love blue, Amanda!
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We are on the same page there, Aletta! Any particular shade? I like Royal blue and a light Scandinavian sky blue.
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I love navy blue, light blue, actually all blues😀💙
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I hear you! Me too!
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Wonderful blue waves from you, Amanda! Here’s mine https://wp.me/p1hCI2-b9f
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What a fantastic photo. I am unsure how to secured that one. Was it yaken from a drone/cruise ship?
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I was walking the path on the cliffs and they soared right below us!
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Lucky, lucky!!
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Those beach waves are really wonderful, Amanda 🙂
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Thank you, Hammad. I am glad you like the beach. We have quite a few of them here! Lol! Do you like to visit the beach?
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Yes, I love to but despite living in a city situated right on the sea, I seldom get the chance, thanks to hectic work routine.
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That is a shame.
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Blue is my favourite colour too! https://cathscamera.wordpress.com/2019/09/13/friendly-friday-photo-challenge-blue/
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Thank you, Cath. That is such an iconic bridge and a great choice for the challenge. I had another blogger post a photo of that same bridge for an older challenge of a mystery photo I used to host here.
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An important theme, sometimes small acts of kindness can make a big impact. ❤️ My favourite colour is blue too, all shades, but especially ultramarine. I also love all shades of turquoise and most shades of green.
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Ultramarineb blue! So evocative of the sea and a popular paint hue. I use Prussian blue to a large extent, in my paintings.
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💕 I’m actually wearing it right now! 🤗
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Ooh. Lovely. On trend!! Forgot to add that I appreciate the mention of the message in your comment. Do Finnish authorities promote a similar day to R U Ok?
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Nope! But there are helplines and non-profits dealing with similar issues. Awareness has lately been raised for example towards lonely senior citizens
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That is a problem, too. Especially with an aging population and fewer children being born. I imagine the elderly are quite isolated in winter?
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Oh yes, slipping on icy pavements is a problem for all ages but especially perilous for the frail
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I see. They would tend to stay indoors, then. The frail would only need to tumble over and break a hip. Scary for them. Do they offer them community visitations from Nurses?
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Yes they do
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I can totally understand their apprehension after slipping on black ice in Drammen Norway.
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Ouch, did you have to see a doctor for that?
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Nah. Just walked gingerly for the rest of my holiday
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… But the loneliness I think comes from cultural isolation. Your partner dies, your kids are too busy or have moved further away… it’s not easy for everyone to make new friends in an introverted society.
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Would you say Finland in an introverted society, generally speaking?
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Definitely!
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So that must have been evem more difficult to adjust when you returned there?
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Well, yes. I still don’t know how to interact socially, my approach always seems different and people misunderstand me. Different wavelength. Which is largely why I never felt at home here! 😊
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Oh that is such a shame. That must be why you remember Oz so fondly? It is interesting that one can say this about a whole country but we do. Is it any different in the areas close to Sweden? Given that the Swedes are considered more extroverted?
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I actually wrote a blog post about this topic a while ago: https://thesnowmeltssomewhere.wordpress.com/2018/04/05/little-culture-shocks/ Sorry for self-promoting! But yes, people here are not as friendly as Aussies. I’m a bit of an introvert myself so I don’t think being an introvert means it’s ok to be impolite. But these are cultural issues, oftentimes people here don’t realise they are being rude because it’s considered normal (e.g. leaving someone out of a group). As for Swedes, yes, they are much more extroverted, positive, and they have healthy self-esteem. Of course I’m talking in stereotypes! 😊 Norwegians are apparently more like Finns. The blogger Isabelle from Isabelle’s Thoughts once wrote an interesting post about this from a Norwegian point of view.
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No need to apologise, Snow. I don’t consider it self-promoting to share a link. More like Information sharing! I do remember Finns that I have met as being a little aloof or reserved, but Danes can also be this way, so it never bothered me much. A Brisvegas friend had a sister that played baseball in a team of Finns! I wonder how she got on? Many bloggers are a little bit introverted anyways, so it has never been obvious to me that you were introverted. You certainly make everyone welcome who visits your blog.
Then there is the point that if one does not know their are being rude, can it even be called being rude? Or even ignorance? Isn’t it just different? I will be interested to read what Isabelle says about this.
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Excellent point, Amanda, your last paragraph. Maybe politeness is subjective on both a cultural and individual level? Interesting topic!
As for me, I’m towards the more extroverted end of the introvert scale! I love silence, being alone sometimes, and would rather chill at home in my pj’s than go to a party. But then again I love chatting with strangers!
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In that at least we would be very similar! Life has taught me to be more extroverted and one can always learn something from chatting with others. But it has taken practice as it didn’t come naturally to me. Parties can be challenging – whilst I am comfortable with pauses in conversation, others aren’t! I can also relate to the looking for solitude. Too much continuous conversation with anyone other than family drains my energy reserves after a while.
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A link to Isabelle’s blog, though I can’t remember the post’s title: https://isabellepan.wordpress.com
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Great topic choice Amanda. Yesterday was a day we could reach out to others, when in fact it should really be every day that we should be there for someone else who may need a friend to talk to. My take for the topic is the beauty of sea and sky, the first thing i associate with the colour blue!
https://amindfultraveler.com/2019/09/13/friendly-friday-photo-challenge-blue/
Have a lovely weekend 🙂
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All so beautiful!
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Thank you Maggie for stopping by and taking the time to comment!
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I love the message of your post and the lovely photos.
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Thanks for reading, Cindy! You and I have been bloggging for many years and it is always lovely to have you stop by!
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I especially like your first photo of Utne fjord. Here’s my contribution: https://gwhphotos.wordpress.com/2019/09/13/friendly-friday-photo-challenge-blue/
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Great pics…sounds like a fun challenge
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Are you going to join in Yonnie?
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Yes, I will
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Awesome
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😊
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Hi Amanda, Blue is such a fun color to capture. Great topic.
Here is my entry for this week.
https://ceenphotography.com/2019/09/14/friendly-friday-photo-challenge-blue/
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Really fantastic shots Cee. The contrast of the white snow and the blue sky is amazing! I couldn’t stop looking.
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My favorite is your first photo with the window and drapes, very blue.
Although, I’d love to be on your beaches enjoying the ocean and sun.
I’m not sure why, but my pingback doesn’t seem to work so here is my entry: ;0)
https://mythrider.wordpress.com/2019/09/14/friendly-friday-photos-blue/
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Thanks, Phyllis.
Yes, great idea to add your comment with the url link! The pingbacks can be unpredictable, to say the least. Thanks for commenting about my first photo. It is one of me “starred” photos!
Your photo is an excellent submission for the wide ‘blue’ yonder!! Where did you snap that one?
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Where did I snap it? I think next to the Mississippi River, which isn’t saying much since it is 2,348 miles long.
I was on a bridge over some railroad tracks taking pictures of passing train when I looked up.
I remember thinking about design and purposely placed the plane at an angle.
And there you have it. ;0)
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Well planned and executed.
Btw, that is a long river! Now wonder they is so much in literature about it.
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Here’s my Blue contribution:
https://davidmsphotoblog.com/2019/09/14/friendly-friday-blue/
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What a precious thought, Amanda. Thank you. It is something close to my heart and I cannot stress the importance of that ‘how are you feeling’. Here’s my contribution -https://wordpress.com/post/acacophonouslife.com/1146
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Thank you for jumping onboard again, Moon. I will pop over and check out your post, asap. Do you have a version of RuOK day, in your area?
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That first photo is so perfect!
My take on, also my favourite colour, blue
https://photographias.wordpress.com/2019/09/15/friendly-friday-challenge-blue/
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Wow! 26 !! Is that a record?
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Hihi, on this blog for sure.
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Well that doesn’t count, yet!
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Thank you for spurring me on to do this compilation. Feels good on the eyes. I’m alone again after a week of visitors and will have more time to look at other posts.
https://mexcessive.photo.blog/2019/09/15/friendly-blue-friday/
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I can’t wait to see it
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Great pictures and well thought of theme Amanda 🙂
Here is my entry: https://f28iso100.wordpress.com/2019/08/04/it-is-as-much-about-the-company-as-it-is-about-the-journey/
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Stunning pics. A vista that needs no words and just perfect for this challenge.
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Beautiful blues…especially the one with the soaring waves! Here’s mine – https://myheart2heart.blog/2019/09/16/seems-impossible-to-fathom-the-blue/
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Love those coastal scenes, Amanda! So blue, so calming… I might be missing the sea after seeing these photos!
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But you have glorious mountains with icing sugar toppings, instead!! But are equally mesmerizing.
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I like your blues, it’s a favorite color of mine as well.
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Thank you! It definitely feels like a calming colour, not depressing at all.
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I think its really cool how you do a cool challenge every week, it really gives you a good topic to talk about. In the last ocean photo I think its really cool that you where able to get a photo of the tide mid air. In your first photo its really cool how you where able to get that high to get the a photo of all the tides crashing in at once.
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