Can you see the face of a turtle in this rock? I can but I’m also the type to see faces in clouds and wood grain. Maybe I go looking for these things but suspect I just have an open mind when it comes to seeing things in the world around me. And I’m delighted by the idea that simply being willing to see something unusual makes it possible to see something that others miss.
And now for a slightly less neurotic photo. It’s just a pretty scene from here in the Hocking Hills but I think it’s lovely as well.
If there’s one thing I should have learned by now it’s that I shouldn’t complain. It does no good and sometimes I think it’s just a form of asking for trouble. Last Sunday was a lazy day and one that felt wasteful. So I complained about feeling like I had squandered the day.
Fast forward to this weekend and something akin to allergies or a sinus infection, has taken me down, dashing any hopes I had for fun or productivity. As I write this, I’m a mouth breather with one watery eye and an achy body. However, I refuse to complain. Sometimes the body just needs a few days to unapologetically be unwell and to rest, recover and reset.
Instead, I will be grateful for medicine, a full box of tissues and a comfy spot for napping. I am also grateful knowing that I’ll feel better soon and that brighter days are ahead.
Scout’s favorite vantage point is upside down. I’m not sure why but I like to think it gives him a unique perspective on the world.
Isn’t that what we all need sometimes?
If you’re stuck in a rut or too sure of your own thinking, it’s important to look at things from a fresh perspective. That rut could be cured by an impromptu excursion or by a small change in your life.
If you’re too confident in your thinking, it’s wise to consider the world from someone else’s vantage point. This seems all the more important in light of how contentious American society has become.
So, get up out of your chair and go enjoy this beautiful Saturday doing something you don’t ordinarily do. Try a new recipe, buy a new outfit for work, take a road trip, go to the movies, visit a museum, chat with a neighbor about something other than politics.
There’s more to life than what you’re doing.
Try looking at things a little differently! Trust me – or more importantly, trust Scout. He won’t lead you astray.
Looking back over pictures and stories I have written here, it seems that I write about a lot of things that impress me like places, artwork, scenery and sounds. These are often things that I describe as extraordinary and unique.
Despite my tendency to view the world through a lens that makes everything seem interesting, I am surrounded by people who are permanently unimpressed by basically everything. Their worldview is drastically different than my own.
That’s an observation, not a judgment. Everyone has a right to do their own thing.
I feel fortunate because my worldview gives me a special way of looking at small details that matter little to others. It occurs to me that the amount of extraordinary things you see depends entirely on what you choose to focus on, what you look at.
The above picture is a perfect example of how worldview can change everything. It’s a common dandelion, a little yellow flower that resembles a small ball of sunshine and that brightens lawns across America.
They are an early source of nectar for pollinators in the spring. When allowed to die and turn brown, they return to the earth and add nutrients to the soil.
They are packed with vitamins and minerals, delivering a nutritional wallop that can aid with digestive health, blood sugar and blood pressure. They can be eaten raw in salads, cooked up or even made into a syrup.
In short, the dandelion is a valuable part of our ecosystem.
Yet, Americans wage war on this pretty little flower with a vengeance that seems unnecessary and unprovoked. They mow them, dig them up and treat them with chemicals that not only kill the dandelions but also everything around them and any little creatures that eat or touch the poison.
I will never understand why but I do know that everyone else’s disdain for the dandelion won’t discourage me from liking them. I’ll keep focusing on the tremendous good done but this tiny flower and be grateful that it exists.
How you choose to view the world will change your attitude and the experience you have each day. Seeing flowers where others see weeds is a good start toward finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.
There’s a book you may have heard of in recent years. It’s called A Man Called Ove and it was a worldwide bestseller.
The main character is a fellow named Ove who has known heartbreaking tragedy and who is getting on in age. He recognizes, as many of us do at a certain time in life, that the world has left him behind.
The book was written by Swedish author Frederik Backman. Published in 2012, it has been on my reading list for nearly a decade. A Swedish movie was made a few years ago. Last year, every time I went to the movies, there was a preview for a new American version that looked really good.
It opened nationwide earlier this month so I had to hustle to read the book first.
The book was one of the best I have read in the last two years. It was actually exactly what I needed. Ove’s character and his motives are layered and complex. His actions, while foreign and misunderstood by many around him, made perfect sense to me.
The story is told from his perspective so you get tremendous insight into the man. I laughed out loud in many places and found others quite sobering.
You get less of that with the new movie. Tom Hanks does a nice job translating Ove to the big screen as he stars in A Man Called Otto. Don’t ask. I have no clue why they changed the name. Regardless of what you call the character, the film shows some of the complexities of the man. It mixes the bad with the terrible, the funny with the cranky and the good that is this man. It’s not as funny as the previews might suggest. I did laugh. It is amusing but I felt like whoever made that trailer didn’t see the entire movie or understand the point.
Two days later, I was able to see the original film, the Swedish made A Man Called Ove which requires subtitles since I don’t understand the language.
I thoroughly enjoyed this rendition as well. It could be the subtitles throwing me off but this Ove doesn’t come off as complex as he is simply angry. All the same, actor Rolf Lassgård gives a great performance and I enjoyed this one too. You should see it as well.
It got me thinking about life and temperament and how we manage the things life sends our way. It’s rarely all good or all bad. If you take someone else’s interpretation of a story as fact, you’ll get the things they want you to know or consider.
If you get the whole story, in this case the book version, you’ll find much more detail and opportunities to judge for yourself. As much as I enjoyed both movies, I’ll take the book any day. In fact, read it first and I promise you’ll better appreciate both movies.
This bridge in Central Park is pretty from a distance and looks especially nice in this setting. Get a little closer and you’ll notice some interesting details. Here’s a better look.
And another.
From a distance it just looks like a pretty white bridge. Come a little closer and you’ll see it’s intricacies. The patina is nice too. It is weathered and a little flawed. It’s the wear and all those small bits of detail that make the bridge truly interesting and beautiful.
That’s the thing about judging from afar. You don’t know what you don’t know and the most impressive qualities are often only found up close. The most interesting parts of character are often the worn and flawed parts.
That’s true of pretty white bridges and of people too. Distance can be deceiving. The next time you decide to judge, you might get in for a closer look. You might like the subject matter less or you may find it has a certain je ne sais quoi!
