Sometimes it's the little things that we feel the most grateful for: Like a cup of coffee, a glimpse of sunshine on a cloudy day, an unexpected smile. And when we remember that we can actually create these small moments for others, our power to do good is unleashed and the world is literally changed in an instant.
Paul Boynton - Begin with Yes
I'm a big fan of Paul's Facebook page. His messages are pertinent and timely. And this one, particularly struck a chord.
When my father was dying in Trinidad, I would stand outside in my brother's back yard and smoke like a train. As I stood there desperately trying to keep focused in the present, trying not to despair, keeping it together, I looked around and found beauty.
It was sometimes subtle: a butterfly, a small lizard darting amongst the plants or fire flies blinking in the darkness. It was sometimes spectacular: a flock of parrots raucously chatting to each other as they flew around the neighbourhood. Let me tell you, 1 parrot makes a whole heap of noise, a flock of 15-20...well, they are deafening.
Beauty was there. It reminded me that we are all part of this Life together, held by something more wonderful than we can imagine.
Back home in the real world. I carried on my 'normal' life.
Sometimes, I need reminders that the beauty and wonder is still there. I have to make time to look. But they are still there: a furry caterpillar undulating up a sprig of lavender, the bright waning moon.
What moments of beauty can you find today? This is my challenge to you. Especially, if you're feeling tired, low and fed-up. What's there waiting for you to see? I'd really appreciate it if you'd share.
One of the [few] advantages of smoking is that I spend time outside admiring the view and watching all sorts of wildlife. It makes me feel good.
ReplyDeleteSx
As a coping strategy for not running around the garden screaming, I've never found better.
DeleteIt might ruin lungs...but damn, it works really well.
xxx
I watched a lady blackbird devouring a worm in my front garden this afternoon. This may sound perverse, but it was the worm's last wriggles before it got swallowed that I found oddly beautiful.
ReplyDelete(Enjoy your meal, everyone...)
Thanks Tim.
DeleteI'm constantly fascinated by nature's cycles.
I'm enjoying some cooler and wetter weather in Berlin now.
ReplyDeleteExcellent. Have lots of fun.
DeleteI can't wait to see all the great pictures!
xx
This carried me though a very bad time recently.
ReplyDeleteAt the very worst of it I went and stood out on my front porch. Across the street, and across the field on the other side, the Cascade Range begins quite abruptly. I happened to be at the right place at the right moment. As I stood there, a small, localized rain shower moved across the face of the hill, gradually sweeping into the light cast by the sunset, and the sun shone through the water and lit it up like a veil made of yellow silk. It took me out of myself.
And that instant of perspective, seeing my place in the Grand Scheme, was exactly what needed to happen.
I'm so sorry you've had such a hard time of it. Your comments over the Intweb...they never showed it.
DeleteYou've described, exactly what it was like for me.
In the grand scheme, we are consciousness wrapped in star stuff. The star stuff fails and fades and then we go back to the Universe. Whatever waits for us, who knows.
It's what we do in the here and now in the midst of the patterns, that's what shows who we really are.
...man, thak kind of sentimentality doesn't come comfortably. But dammit, it happened. *dons comedy glasses and moustache*
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, and I try not to bring out my spirituality in public either...so it's okay to be sentimental.
DeleteI'm not a very visual person and deeply unobservant so, whilst I will enjoy a lovely sight, it doesn't particularly make me feel better. But when I'm down I've learned to extract maximum enjoyment from any good thing that happens.
ReplyDeleteBeauty I've noticed recently include a wonderful sunset in pink and purple and, waking early one morning, delightful birdsong.
I love birdsong in the early mornings. I've found myself keeping an ear out for it recently, knowing the quiet of winter will soon be settling in.
DeleteAnd yes, when things are tough, gaining maximum pleasure from an enjoyable experience becomes so important.
Until you pointed out, I didn't realise how visually focused this is. I'm going to have a little re-think of this. By looking at other sensual experiences, I wonder how much more I can enjoy?