Ever since I can remember
I have been imagining
how the world around me would look
if I had never seen it before.
In my idle hours
I choose something–
anything . . .
a teapot,
a squirrel,
a house or a kite,
a stone,
a car,
a painting on the wall . . .
a book with words written in it
or a sheaf of paper with music composed in it.
I imagine
that I am from another planet
or have lived my whole life
deep within a jungle
or high upon an undiscovered mountaintop,
and I am always amazed,
sometimes puzzled,
and often amused,
wondering how I would interpret these strange objects.
Would I recognize any kinship at all
with any of them?
Well,
maybe the squirrel.
We humans,
have created meaning
around the ‘things’ in our lives . . .
we need or want something
and create what fills that desire.
Our creativity
is a marvelous thing
and yet it has led us astray
as well.
I enjoy
looking at it all from the outside,
turning that teapot over in my hands,
trying to imagine
how this contraption came to be
and what purpose it could possibly serve.
And what about a mouse trap?
Whatever would I use
it for
if I had no knowledge of mice
or the thoughts that went into the trap’s invention?
I would love to look at things as if for the first time.
But I find this to be basically impossible.
It would be great if I could, but once I’ve seen something, I can’t unsee it. It’s now etched into my memory. Part of the sedimentary layers that make up who I am. Maybe there is a technique I’m not aware of. A trick of the mind. It’s like looking at your own face, you have no idea what you look like any more. My mother, who was a trained artist, would look at a painting she was working on, in a mirror, to see it backwards and help her see things that she couldn’t see anymore, after looking at it for so long.
She could kind of see it new again. I know that when I’m editing videos, I will see things the next day that I couldn’t see at the end of the day before. And even then, when I send it off to my partner, he will see things that I missed. Because, of course, he’s seeing it for the first time. Now, having said all of this, I was just in Hawaii with my wife. It was her first time being there, and I got to see it through her eyes. That was a nice experience.
Seeing the world
through someone else’s eyes,
dear Charlie,
is such an enriching thing,
as I think you discovered
on your vacation in Hawaii with your wife.
Her presence
gave you the gift
of looking at the world a different way . . .
I am happy for you. ♥
My poinsettia bush…I’ve been observing it for 7 years and this year the blossoms seem brighter and fuller. It takes my breath away. I wish my Mom could see it. She loved poinsettias.
I am going to an art class today for the first time – new craft, new people, new adventure. I’m looking forward to it as it’s been a long time since I’ve done something for the first time. I realize this doesn’t really answer the question, but I was really stumped about trying to see something for the first time. Right now, everything is carrying so much baggage for me…I’m just having to actually do something new.
I have a really cute pink roly-poly on my desk. I love how it looks and the message of resiliency it brings to me. For this kind of doll that doesn’t fall no matter how much I push it.
Your description
reminds me of a toy that was made some years ago
called a ‘weeble’,
dear Ngoc . . .
the jingle that was used in their advertising campaign was,
“Weebles wobble,
but they don’t fall down.” 🙂
My own willingness to tolerate certain behaviors from others, and what leads me to do so. That’s the benefit of a relationship shock, you get to see things as though for the first time. I had been brushing off a few of my friend’s behaviors without acknowledging them as destructive. Our conflict caught me by surprise in the moment … but he’d behaved similarly with other people. I thought I was immune. The tide of conflict pulled back, I can see my own patterns in a new and visceral way.
Today is my Midwest Special Services performing for people with disabilities from 10am-noon and 2pm-5pm Menards piano shift respectively. This new Menards piano schedule brings me closer to how I saw piano when I first started at 7 years old. Even if I may not like the enthusiasm that comes with it, I at least enjoy what I do.
Drea, it’s the enthusiasm of the people I find overwhelming. The more talented we are, it’s expected that we attract more of it. I naturally respond better to calmer energy as a calm person.
An asana.
I just purchased a book, The Stories Behind the Poses by Dr. Raj Balkaran, and it has the Indian mythology that inspired 50 yoga asanas. I look forward to reading about all of them, but will choose one today and share the story with my students this week.
I’ve been working in the Tissue and Organ field for over 5.5 yrs now. I came across the following article in goodnewsnetwork and had no idea that hand transplants were possible. Learn something new everyday 🙂
The realization that I haven’t made anything of the inherent, multifaceted creative potential. As if that potential were already the same as its realization. Quite a presumption, I would say today. Creativity and out of this quite some support and to the benefit of others was able to flourish to some extent in my profession, but everything else lies fallow. A rather sad and also shattering realization today.
It doesn’t have to be sad,
dear Ose . . .
each day is a new beginning,
but I think you know that.
Now that you’ve realized,
you can open the door
to that new beginning. ♥
It’s never too late to start, dear Ose. That fallow soil will grow things. I got into music again after not touching it since childhood, and it’s messy, but I’m loving it. I’m sure that is true for all creative pursuits.
This very moment is new and fresh. Aeschylus moment is an opportunity to open up and let go. The more I meditate using the method the more I’m able to let go and embrace the here and now freely with no minds about past of future. This is a True blessing. I’m by no means a finished product- I keep seeing the minds or thought bubbles 🫧 and use the method to let them go. Five years have passed already since I was introduced to this method and I have never once regretted a second that I chose to take action! Thank you so much for giving me the key . 🔑 I’m so humbled and grateful to the universe magic.
Not a what, a who. I can look at my lovely wife Cheryl as I did many moons ago. I feel I still do, at times. This question is a reminder to see her, as the first time, more often. Peace, Love & Light.
I can choose to see my drive to work in the morning with new eyes. Noticing the intricacies of how the Light Rail Tracks (LRT) are laid side by side with human care, like lattice woven on a garden gate. Seeing with care and concern the many homeless dotting the bikeway along Hiawatha Ave as I drive downtown. Their colorful tents and tarps popping up like spring tulips; knowing it could easily be me living on that edge. Continuing my drive I see the montage of buildings standing with sequoia pride, some over a hundred years old, others mere novices pretending to be sentinels. . More importantly seeing all of us humans along the way with compassion. We’re wonderfully made creatures by the Divine, each doing the best that we can as we mimic scurrying ants, locusts, crickets, and spiders to our respective hives of habitation for our day’s activities. Blessings to all this Monday, as many begin a new work week. May we all be led to be peacemakers in our communities. Namaste. ☮️
What a wonderful vignette you have created,
dear Carla!
I feel
that I am looking at a painting,
and can see along with you
everything you look upon
on your drive to work . . .
you are an artist. ♥
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Ever since I can remember
I have been imagining
how the world around me would look
if I had never seen it before.
In my idle hours
I choose something–
anything . . .
a teapot,
a squirrel,
a house or a kite,
a stone,
a car,
a painting on the wall . . .
a book with words written in it
or a sheaf of paper with music composed in it.
I imagine
that I am from another planet
or have lived my whole life
deep within a jungle
or high upon an undiscovered mountaintop,
and I am always amazed,
sometimes puzzled,
and often amused,
wondering how I would interpret these strange objects.
Would I recognize any kinship at all
with any of them?
Well,
maybe the squirrel.
We humans,
have created meaning
around the ‘things’ in our lives . . .
we need or want something
and create what fills that desire.
Our creativity
is a marvelous thing
and yet it has led us astray
as well.
I enjoy
looking at it all from the outside,
turning that teapot over in my hands,
trying to imagine
how this contraption came to be
and what purpose it could possibly serve.
And what about a mouse trap?
Whatever would I use
it for
if I had no knowledge of mice
or the thoughts that went into the trap’s invention?
It’s fun.
It’s enlightening.
It makes me think.
Possibility is endless. ♥
What a delightful practice, Sparrow. I’m inspired to try it myself.
I don’t know what got me started,
dear Drea,
but I’ve been doing it all my life . . .
it is like
sort of a game with myself. 🙂
“Well,
maybe the squirrel.”
Love this dear Sparrow. Thanks
🙂
I would love to look at things as if for the first time.
But I find this to be basically impossible.
It would be great if I could, but once I’ve seen something, I can’t unsee it. It’s now etched into my memory. Part of the sedimentary layers that make up who I am. Maybe there is a technique I’m not aware of. A trick of the mind. It’s like looking at your own face, you have no idea what you look like any more. My mother, who was a trained artist, would look at a painting she was working on, in a mirror, to see it backwards and help her see things that she couldn’t see anymore, after looking at it for so long.
She could kind of see it new again. I know that when I’m editing videos, I will see things the next day that I couldn’t see at the end of the day before. And even then, when I send it off to my partner, he will see things that I missed. Because, of course, he’s seeing it for the first time. Now, having said all of this, I was just in Hawaii with my wife. It was her first time being there, and I got to see it through her eyes. That was a nice experience.
Seeing the world
through someone else’s eyes,
dear Charlie,
is such an enriching thing,
as I think you discovered
on your vacation in Hawaii with your wife.
Her presence
gave you the gift
of looking at the world a different way . . .
I am happy for you. ♥
My poinsettia bush…I’ve been observing it for 7 years and this year the blossoms seem brighter and fuller. It takes my breath away. I wish my Mom could see it. She loved poinsettias.
I’ve never had a poinsettia last that long,
dear Carol Ann . . .
you must have and amazing thumb. ♥
I am going to an art class today for the first time – new craft, new people, new adventure. I’m looking forward to it as it’s been a long time since I’ve done something for the first time. I realize this doesn’t really answer the question, but I was really stumped about trying to see something for the first time. Right now, everything is carrying so much baggage for me…I’m just having to actually do something new.
Katrina, Good for you! Have fun…no need to perform.
I have a really cute pink roly-poly on my desk. I love how it looks and the message of resiliency it brings to me. For this kind of doll that doesn’t fall no matter how much I push it.
Your description
reminds me of a toy that was made some years ago
called a ‘weeble’,
dear Ngoc . . .
the jingle that was used in their advertising campaign was,
“Weebles wobble,
but they don’t fall down.” 🙂
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instructables.com%2FMake-your-own-Egg-Weeble-Wobble-Toys%2F&ved=0CBYQjRxqFwoTCPDv1-fIs5QDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAG&opi=89978449
Yes!
Weeble Wobbler’s . . . . memory jog!
My Ngoc, I remember pushing that roly poley before. It just gets back up.
My own willingness to tolerate certain behaviors from others, and what leads me to do so. That’s the benefit of a relationship shock, you get to see things as though for the first time. I had been brushing off a few of my friend’s behaviors without acknowledging them as destructive. Our conflict caught me by surprise in the moment … but he’d behaved similarly with other people. I thought I was immune. The tide of conflict pulled back, I can see my own patterns in a new and visceral way.
That’s wonderful,
dear Drea . . .
you are finding the diamond
and looking at the conflict
in new ways. ♥
Today is my Midwest Special Services performing for people with disabilities from 10am-noon and 2pm-5pm Menards piano shift respectively. This new Menards piano schedule brings me closer to how I saw piano when I first started at 7 years old. Even if I may not like the enthusiasm that comes with it, I at least enjoy what I do.
Loc, is it the enthusiasm of the audience, or of the music that you don’t like?
Drea, it’s the enthusiasm of the people I find overwhelming. The more talented we are, it’s expected that we attract more of it. I naturally respond better to calmer energy as a calm person.
Got it, Loc. I hope you found joy in the performances regardless.
An asana.
I just purchased a book, The Stories Behind the Poses by Dr. Raj Balkaran, and it has the Indian mythology that inspired 50 yoga asanas. I look forward to reading about all of them, but will choose one today and share the story with my students this week.
That’s a wonderful idea,
of bringing stories about the poses,
dear SunnyPatti,
to your classes. ♥
My teen daughter. She and I had a challenging 24 hours. I’m trying to connect. It can be a practice.
Adolescence. Enough said. 🙏
🙂
My thoughts are with you,
dear Avril . . .
these are tough years
for both parents and teens. ♥
I like your idea that “It can be a practice.” So many creative and helpful ways to interpret that.
Wishing you luck and endurance, Avril.
I’ve been working in the Tissue and Organ field for over 5.5 yrs now. I came across the following article in goodnewsnetwork and had no idea that hand transplants were possible. Learn something new everyday 🙂
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/mom-has-emotional-meeting-with-transplant-recipient-who-received-her-daughters-hand/
Happy Monday ya’ll 🙂
Likewise Michele!
Wow, I’m impressed. Hands are so intricate, detailed, and frankly finicky–amazing that people figured out how to transplant one.
The realization that I haven’t made anything of the inherent, multifaceted creative potential. As if that potential were already the same as its realization. Quite a presumption, I would say today. Creativity and out of this quite some support and to the benefit of others was able to flourish to some extent in my profession, but everything else lies fallow. A rather sad and also shattering realization today.
It doesn’t have to be sad,
dear Ose . . .
each day is a new beginning,
but I think you know that.
Now that you’ve realized,
you can open the door
to that new beginning. ♥
It’s never too late to start, dear Ose. That fallow soil will grow things. I got into music again after not touching it since childhood, and it’s messy, but I’m loving it. I’m sure that is true for all creative pursuits.
This very moment is new and fresh. Aeschylus moment is an opportunity to open up and let go. The more I meditate using the method the more I’m able to let go and embrace the here and now freely with no minds about past of future. This is a True blessing. I’m by no means a finished product- I keep seeing the minds or thought bubbles 🫧 and use the method to let them go. Five years have passed already since I was introduced to this method and I have never once regretted a second that I chose to take action! Thank you so much for giving me the key . 🔑 I’m so humbled and grateful to the universe magic.
Not a what, a who. I can look at my lovely wife Cheryl as I did many moons ago. I feel I still do, at times. This question is a reminder to see her, as the first time, more often. Peace, Love & Light.
How beautiful and loving
is this,
dear Joseph.
Your lovely wife Cheryl
is indeed very fortunate,
as are you. ♥
I can choose to see my drive to work in the morning with new eyes. Noticing the intricacies of how the Light Rail Tracks (LRT) are laid side by side with human care, like lattice woven on a garden gate. Seeing with care and concern the many homeless dotting the bikeway along Hiawatha Ave as I drive downtown. Their colorful tents and tarps popping up like spring tulips; knowing it could easily be me living on that edge. Continuing my drive I see the montage of buildings standing with sequoia pride, some over a hundred years old, others mere novices pretending to be sentinels. . More importantly seeing all of us humans along the way with compassion. We’re wonderfully made creatures by the Divine, each doing the best that we can as we mimic scurrying ants, locusts, crickets, and spiders to our respective hives of habitation for our day’s activities. Blessings to all this Monday, as many begin a new work week. May we all be led to be peacemakers in our communities. Namaste. ☮️
Thank you for driving with care and attention, Carla, and for sharing all you see.
What a wonderful vignette you have created,
dear Carla!
I feel
that I am looking at a painting,
and can see along with you
everything you look upon
on your drive to work . . .
you are an artist. ♥
Thank you Carla. A beautiful reflection.
🙏 dear Carla.