A Shower of Colour
Banner Photo thanks to Autumn Mott Rodeheaver on Unsplash
Thirty Seconds of Awe
Yesterday, I stepped outside close to 7:00 AM and was gently showered with beautiful leaves swirling down. I looked up; it was like a translucent cloud, filled with leaves and was now spilling them from the sky. It was an extraordinary and indescribable 20-30 seconds of a leaf-fall, and then it was over. I had never experienced this before, and I was awestruck, and, furthurmore, I was immediately filled with delight. All smiles as I climbed into my cold car.
Before I went outside, I was not feeling much joy; on the contrary, I talked to myself about what I could do to brighten November. And just like that, an unexpected gift changed my day. Another reason to step outside.
One can’t plan for these experiences. After all, I have lived here for almost 14 years, and this really was a once-in-a-lifetime event for me. However, we increase our chances of witnessing nature’s beauty when we take our bodies outdoors. And something about the morning seems filled with a particular kind of wonderfulness – light, air quality, fewer cars.
“For most of us, knowledge of our world comes largely through sight, yet we look about with such unseeing eyes that we are partially blind. One way to open your eyes to unnoticed beauty is to ask yourself, “What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again?”
― The Sense of Wonder
Awesomeness of Our Fellow Humans
Since I seem to be writing about awe, I have to say that even beyond nature’s magnificence is the unequivocal awesomeness of our fellow humans. I know it is easy to miss when the news is filled with the horror and corruption of our fellow humans, but we must remind ourselves that kindness is rampant in the world. When I look at my direct experience, I am repeatedly awestruck by the consistent kindness of people in my/our lives.
Notes
1:) The red mittens arrived yesterday; they’re a gift from my sister. I immediately wore them inside to warm up my cold hands; it was another unexpected gift at exactly the right moment. They are made from recycled wool clothing and are as cozy as they look. Thank you Gabriole.
2:) I confess to using lots of light in November – electrical and especially candlelight. Warm, colourful mittens and wool sweaters. All things bright and cozy.
3:) When we are living in difficult times, personally and worldly, it can be a challenge to find moments of joy. I love these words from Barbara Kingsolver –
“Every one of us is called upon, probably many times, to start a new life. A frightening diagnosis, a marriage, a move, loss of a job or a limb or a loved one, a graduation, bringing a new baby home: it’s impossible to think at first how this all will be possible. Eventually, what moves it all forward is the subterranean ebb and flow of being alive among the living.
In my own worst seasons I’ve come back from the colorless world of despair by forcing myself to look hard, for a long time, at a single glorious thing: a flame of red geranium outside my bedroom window. And then another: my daughter in a yellow dress. And another: the perfect outline of a full, dark sphere behind the crescent moon. Until I learned to be in love with my life again. Like a stroke victim retraining new parts of the brain to grasp lost skills, I have taught myself joy, over and over again.”
4:) Thank you for stopping by to read these musings. May those waiting for answers receive them, and may all of you spot those moments that bring you joy. Warmest wishes, Trudy
PS Problems with AWeber tonight, so if you didn’t receive this on Wed night, that is the reason. Hopefully, all will be back in order shortly after they open in the morning.
Thank you Trudy for the reminder that we have to continually teach ourselves.JoY in particular.happ8ness for no particular reason. Perfect timing as usual
Ah Jean: You spoil me with your attentiveness and encouraging words. First snow, here in Ottawa. I’m not complaining. 😊(yet) Best wishes, Trudy
Thank you for your lovely reminders Trudy. They have an impact.
Hello Ellen. Thanks so much for your kind words. You brightened up my day and it’s only 7:30. Warm wishes, Trudy
An awesome post about awe! I am reminded of the metaphor of using a torch (I think you call them flashlights!) when we go out into darkness. We then see things in the torchlight. Those things we see were always there, but we didn’t see them until we shone the light. We all have a torch – we just don’t remember to turn it on!
I love your “torch”metaphor Kevin. It is exactly what I wanted to say and you said it better. I now have that image. Thank you for reading my blog and for your generous words. Warmly, Trudy
Trudy, oh how I loved this: “kindness is rampant in the world.” It’s a struggle sometimes for me to remember that for every bit of awfulness the news tries to force-feed us (for profit) there are a billion small acts of kindness going on in the world that aren’t considered newsworthy. xx
Good morning Margaret. Thank you for your note, and for your kindness to me and so many others. I write about the things that I don’t want to forget and you are one of those reminders. Thanks for keeping my website secure for my readers.Warmly, Trudy
Awesome words
Thanks Judy! With appreciation, Trudy
I love this one Trudy 🙂 “… open your eyes to unnoticed beauty” – there is so much of it in my day to day with my sweet family. A wonderful reminder to see the world from their young eyes, and notice all of the beautiful things around us.
Thank you dear Kimmie. We are lucky to have little ones in our lives as they notice every tiny thing with their fresh eyes. And noticing their noticing is a gift to us. Hugs all around to those dear munchkins. Warmly, Trudy
Ah Trudy, a leaf shower, red mittens, candlelight, these are ways we can teach ourselves joy over and over again. I am watching my dear gingko tree slowly turning yellow, waiting for that shower of gold before the bare branches. much love to you, Jan