Beauty is everywhere, Warner, NH, June 2006, HP Photosmart R817, Exposure 1/125 sec @ f2.8, ISO 84, no flash © Steven CrispI have a secret to share with you. Beauty is everywhere. It is all in your mind. If you see something and think "beautiful" or "serene" -- that is what it becomes to you. If you see something and think "ugly" or "gross" -- it becomes that instead. The problem is that is your mind thinking. You need to get beyond your mind. You need to be present -- fully present, aware, and mindful -- and once you are in that state of "being" -- just being -- as the witness, you will see beauty everywhere. If you haven't experienced this yet, you need to trust me on this one. Well, actually, you don't need to trust me; you need to go experience it for yourself. You can find some tips here if you are curious.
So how can I illustrate this point? Well, take a look again at the beautiful picture above. What do you see -- incredible, vibrant, clusters of orange-yellow flowers? How about fungus on my boat after a week of rain, trapped under an orange life vest. I have no idea how it took on this color, or what kind of fungus it is. But one member of the family saw what it was and felt it was disgusting. All I could see was its beauty. Like Ricky Fitts (what a great character in American Beauty). Can you see it too? It is available to you anytime, anyplace. Take advantage of it. It is a great secret, and now you know. Don't feel like you need to keep the secret to yourself -- please share it with your best friend.
2 comments:
I agree with you! Thinking negatively breeds negativity just as viewing things as bad makes them bad to you. I love the fungus picture! Besides, fungus has been useful to us. Take cheese for instance, or rising bread...beauty in everything if we just look. 8)
And of course, when we really understand this concept of presence and mindfulness, even those "ugly" things become beautiful.
Yes, even the murderers (who have the same potential as you and I). Yes, even the car crashes (that point out the precariousness of life, and the danger in clinging to it). And yes, even the wars and when we are really out of our mind, man's inhumanity to man. How could this possibly be? Because in the wonderful words of Neale Donald Walsch (from the book Conversations with God):
"In the moment that I strike you and smite you," said the friendly soul, "in the moment that I do the worst to you that you could ever imagine - in that self same moment...remember Who I Really Am."
"Oh, I wont forget!" promised the little soul. "I will see you in the perfection with which I hold you now, and I will remember Who You Are, always."
I struggle daily trying to remind myself of these truths. Sometimes it seems it is easier just to try and save the world (ha!)
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