August 11, 2019: Meandering & Making An Artful Life
“I’m a believer in the power of knowledge and the ferocity of beauty, so from my point of view, your life is already artful—waiting, just waiting, for you to make it art,”Toni Morrison*
I collect quotes, to both inspire and remind me of what’s important to consider on a daily basis. Sometimes our world gets so fraught with “to-do’s” and distractions that we can forget to stop, look around, take a deep breath and as the author Toni Morrison advised, recognize the artful beauty that surrounds us.
When I head outdoors with my camera, it sets an intention of awareness; to actively seek out and pay attention to the beauty and wonder that surrounds me. This year, after what seemed like a particularly long, dark winter in New Hampshire, I decided at the beginning of April, to record each day a “sign of Spring”. It would be an antidote to the overriding gloom of seemingly endless gray, rainy weather. It was a challenge at first, and I had to really look for changes, but they were there. A tiny bud, a glimpse of green, the return of a snowbird, each one a beacon of hope that Spring was on its way. I shared these with friends and on social media, and as time went by, the signs of Spring blossomed daily.
Catkins-an early sign of Spring The Bluebirds came back!
Setting the intention to be aware of what was changing, growing, or interesting in the natural world, has become a practice that I continue to find joy in. Even on days, where my plate’s been frustratingly over-full, I find this to be both calming and restorative. When I encounter a bird or flower I don’t know, my curiosity is piqued. It sends me searching through guide books, opening my mind up to tidbits of new knowledge and once the mystery is solved, yields a sweet sense of satisfaction. These observations often become the basis for a nature blog I write for the local Library’s newsletter. It seems that the teacher in me, still wants to build in others an awareness and appreciation of the natural world.
Weather permitting, a simple walk outdoors, even without my camera, is now a gift I try to receive every day. It reminds me again to pay attention to the miracles that bloom all around us, and of the artful life that is waiting to be awakened in our souls.
Rhodera in Early Spring Dandelion Gone to Seed
*I sadly learned this week that author Toni Morrison passed away on August 5th ;at the age of 88. She left behind her a legacy of novels, children’s books, essays and stories that will enlighten the world for years to come. She was the first African-American woman to win a Nobel Prize in Literature and also won both a Pulitzer Prize and American Book Award. If you have never had the opportunity to read some of her books, essays, or quotes, seek them out, you will find a treasure trove of inspiration.