"Nothing makes me so happy as to observe nature and to paint what I see."
~ Henri Rousseau
Walking through the curious twists of an old English garden, freed for a moment from my usual stream of mind-filling opinions and plans, I felt a surge of joy at the site of one small flower reaching into the path - blue-purple petals made more beautiful over a backdrop of moss-covered stone and brick.
On one knee, camera pointed towards this delicate treasure, I heard myself say, "If I could do this every day for the rest of my life, I'd be completely happy!" This wasn't just any opportunity to snap a photo, but a feeling of connection to the original 'home' - nature - brimming with the promise of possibility and knowing - everything as it should be.
Five years have passed. How could this be? Five years of ten minutes here, 15 there, many photographs taken - but, if I'm honest, this joyful pursuit I profess to 'love' afforded only small bites of hurried attention, stolen and squeezed in between responsibilities and the busyness of life - crowded out by some imaginary framework of things more important. Life moves swiftly by as the demands and rewards of order and control are replaced one-by-one by the realities of impermanence and the unpredictable.
We're trained to accomplish. We engage in measurable, reportable acts
worthy of high marks and recognition. Collecting and holding, counting and comparing, we ward off fears, seeking comfort in the 'what we do' that tells us 'where we stand' - above or below, threatened or safe.
Without question, work matters. Accomplishments soothe. Goals, big and small, created and met set our feet firmly on the ground. But, what awakens you? When are you most fully alive with breath and energy and spirit?
As we come to the close of this year, will you go beyond thought and take action...will you make something of whatever it is that brings you delight? Will you honor this thing you say you want to do? We wait for the day when we have more time, when we're more sure, when pressing tasks are complete, the children are grown, the bills are paid and life is finally in order. It takes years to learn it never really is. Please don't wait.
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Finding Joy In What Is
Thank you for visiting The Simple
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The Book
"What To Do When You Don't Know What To Do;
Finding You in the Simple"
To be read with morning coffee or just before sleep;
the power and simplicity of common sense