Musings

Contrasts

~ Grandpa
Field of Flowers
Flowers growing in a garden

Bright summer sunshine
Reflected in the flowers
Enhanced by the leaves

Contrasts come in all shapes, sizes, and colours, as well as other attributes like texture, smell, and so on.

There are also contrasts between humans. And sometimes these contrasts can cause conflicts due to the thought that one version is better or worse than the other.

But take these orange flowers. Would they be as bright without the green background? Would we notice the green if it wasn’t for the flowers? No. We need both to make the image worth looking at.

It may not be a great image. But it has contrasts that enhance each other rather than criticise each other. This contrast is interesting because the colours don’t come from directly opposite sides of the colour wheel, as we often try to achieve in art. No. They are both shades of the same colour – yellow. One has blue added, the other has red added. But they both use a common colour.

And when we see the commonality, the contrast becomes beautiful, rather than clashing.

It’s the same for people. We may have areas of contrast. But we are not from the opposite sides of the spectrum. Deep down inside, we all have something in common.

Just as the flowers need the leaves, and the leaves need the flowers to make each other beautiful, we all need each other to make each other beautiful.

. . . and relax

~ Grandpa

Is there anything better than a cup of tea with a beautiful view in quiet, peaceful surroundings? Possibly. It depends on your point of view. But we all need to find somewhere, sometime, where we can just stop, let time stand still, and relax.

Contemplation

~ Grandpa
Contemplation
What are you watching?
Do you long for the meadow
And sweet summer grass?

To me, this horse seemed to be meditating. Maybe there’s a lesson for us all, here. Maybe we could all do with a few minutes of quiet contemplation, every day. Maybe, then, we would be better able to deal with what life throws at us.

Vulnerability

~ Grandpa

We stand tall, erect and proud. We can cope. We are capable. We are in control. We don’t need help, thank you.

At least, that’s the image we try to portray. That’s the image we are taught to portray, especially in the Western world. The stiff upper lip that refuses to cry, publicly; or even privately, for that matter. After all, we are in control. What is there to cry about? We don’t need help, thank you.

Pain sneaks up on us, unexpectely. Pain hides in the shadows of our existence, lurking, waiting for the right opportunity to rear its ugly head; waiting until the perfect moment to cause us embarrassment.

The truth is that we have to acknowledge our pain. We have to confront it. We have to savour the challenge of accepting, and beating our pain into submission. And we can only do that by admitting that it is there, that we are in pain, that we are suffering; that we need help.

For only then can we be truly free. Only then can we stand tall, erect, and proud; not because we are pain-free; not because we have conquered pain; but because we are not afraid to show our vulnerabilities.

Lighthouse

~ Grandpa
Lighthouse
Shine, like a lighthouse

To shine, like a beacon of light over a dark, murky sea, illuminating the path of weary travellers, and bringing them safely home.

Such is the task that we all face.

For though we all may be travelling our own path, we still have a duty to illuminate the paths of others.

Shine.

Like a lighthouse.

Welcome

~ Grandpa

Welcome to this website of personal observations about life.

I have no intention of trying to change your thinking on anything. I have no intention of solving your problems. Only you can do that. All I ask is that you think about my observations, and the observations of others. If it changes your life for the better, then I’m happy for you.