As I was contemplating the Beauty in my life, this morning, I noticed the synchronisity of the Universe … my internet connection was ‘dis-connected’ so I went off to plan my next card project. I have been Highly Inspired by the colour combo of green and purple ~ Old Olive and Elegant Eggplant, to be precise ~ since wearing those colours last week. Today is the day to create a card with that colour scheme.
And, I realised how much “Beauty” I find in working with colour. I LOVE combining colours of cardstock and images into a card; I LOVE seeing the Blue Cornflowers mingling with my Pastel Poppies; I LOVE the Bright Orange Poppy leaning into the Hot Pink Pig Face, on my deck; I LOVE the colour combos which occur when I peg out the washing.
I also Love the “beauty” which occurs in line and texture, in the country and urban landscapes.
Then, I had another, little, profound awareness: “beauty” occurs in how I see my life.
Over the weekend, one of the lessons which was presented to me in 3 different ways was how perception can be so different depending on your outlook on life. A family member insisted that attending a Family Event for Christmas is sacrosanct and that each and every family member must be there, because Family is Everything. A neighbour commented about the inappropriateness of our choices concerning education. A friend caused more emotional distress than support during a crisis.
During the day, yesterday, I contemplated these occurrences and wondered at the wisdom of them. Is a date on the calendar really so important that all family must gather together, irrespective of whether they may have other places to be, or may not have any real realationship with extended family? Is it appropriate to judge the way other people choose to approach education, if the system was letting you down to the extent of Extreme Distress and who knows what fallout? Do people who are dealing with a health issue really want to be reminded about how this was inevitable and how poorly they had managed their lives to this point?
My realisation? Well, apart from my horror that other folks could be so incredibly judgemental and arrogant, and my distress that my family was on the receiving end of this extremely narrow point of view, I actually had a Wonderful Awareness!
I LOVE my family! My Life is Filled with Beauty because my Family is in it.
Wow!
I realised that Christmas occurs everyday … every time the kids are all up with me having breakfast; every time the family is together for dinner and sharing news and hilarity about life; every time someone tells me how amazing/talented/polite my kids are; and every time my kids share a profound Moment in Time with me.
I realised that Beauty occurs in every little moment, even if at the time, it’s not quite visible … I am so GLAD that my family is intelligent, discerning, aware, mindful … David and I have done an amazing job as Parents, and as Children. We have travelled a sometimes difficult and rocky path, with success. All the experiences of the weekend have shown that we truly do have Beauty all around us, and I am grateful to those others who have allowed me to see that, through their actions.
It is in the details of life that beauty is revealed, sustained, and nurtured.
~ Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort & Joy ~
What an inspiring way to start my day – Thanks Michelle.