Beauty Is...

 "Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."

-Anonymous 

I went outside tonight and found the waning moon in a glow surrounded by jet streams. Nature and technology combined to form an unexpected eerily beautiful scene. Beauty can be anywhere if we just take time to see it.

John Legend and Ariana Grande, Beauty and the Beast;

In the Seat of Contentment

 

"To be content doesn't mean you don't desire more, it means you are thankful for what you have and patient for what's to come."

-Tony Gaskins

Like many this year I have set some intentions. One of them is to live more frugally and sustainably. This is not new, it is a journey I began last year, but it was a bit sidetracked by my major move and how that had had to happen. As I purused videos on practicing these qualities one person gave insight that was so obvious, but carried the depth of in your face wisdom. To be content with what you have already. When I stopped looked around and measured,  I realized that I already have the material things I need for the most part. If something new is needed then I will be patient and see what the best approach for bringing it into my world is. 

And I also realized I can be content with who I am basically and thankful for the wisdom I already possess, the changes and growth that I need will come to me in it's own time and in it's own way. Let's hope I can continue to live out this insight for the duration of the year....

U2, 'Beautiful Day':

 

Choosing To Be Here Now

"Just be here now".

-Ram Dass

During the past year I was so busy looking at the past or future I was rarely in the present. To be sure there were times when I needed to be, but found that when there were moments to relax, to experience the moment, my anxiety was pushing me into other places. I got away from my creativity and the effects have shown. I was determined to get back to it.

One of the things that I have noticed in living in Arizona is light. It has more of a dominate presence than any other state in which I have lived. As a result I had started watching it especially in the early morning and evening. It transforms some of the most mundane moments. I caught my neighbors roof tiles and was entranced by how beautiful they became in the golden hour. And so it is at times when we choose to just be here now. This is one of the things I intend to return to in this year. We'll see how it goes.

Yo Yo Ma, Nature at Play (Bach):