About four years ago, the world was grappling with a pandemic. Some were breathing a sigh of relief from the end of a [fill in your favourite word] presidency. And others were oblivious to an impending invasion. Many other significant events happened worldwide that same year.
Then there was the personal… Exhausted and despondent, I poured my energy into a demanding poetry collection that ultimately kept me sane. During that liminal space, between the global and the personal, I also started project finding beauty. This act of finding beauty in simple things inspired a personal newsletter, I enjoy writing for my small readership.
What of it?
This year feels strangely similar to that time. The only difference it’s like we’re preparing for an unknown unknown, metaphorically speaking, though scientists call this Disease X.
Everything happening right now feels incredibly overwhelming. Given the ongoing suffering in the world, feeling and expressing joy can feel inappropriate and induce guilty. However, self-awareness, compassion, and perspective help me manage these feelings.
Beauty leads us all, finally, to the greatest questions of all, to the most significant quest of our lives.” – Ben Okri
Why do I insist on finding beauty?
Why then do I insist on finding beauty, such a frivolous pursuit? My short response: what’s the alternative? Simply put, appreciating small things helps me focus on daily moments and grounds me in the present, rather than straining to see what the future holds. This is not to escape reality, but to build the strength to face it.
Finding beauty in the mundane, helps me stay grateful. But the mundane is boring, right? That’s called life. Some people believe the secret to happiness is the ability to embrace the boring.
This practice helps me be satisfiable. You know that feeling of pure satisfaction, where you wouldn’t change a thing? The wonder of a starlit night or the comforting warmth of sunshine.
When I’m satisfiable and grateful, my heart opens to share the depth and breadth of the human experience with others.
How to notice such beauty?
Though everyday beauty is everywhere, it’s difficult to notice. Because we often take it for granted. Appreciating life’s simple gifts, acknowledging the surrounding abundance, and unexpected moments of joy and playful turns requires a focused mindset.
I start from the inside and challenge the incessant yearning for ideal conditions, a better life, a more just world, and all other things I have little or no control over. For me, poetry’s purpose and effect are one with beauty. It allows me to pause, notice and appreciate the ordinary things, and live a saner life amidst the chaos.
In all, I believe in having at least one thing we do for ourselves first. Something that grounds us in the present and helps us see the abundant beauty around, especially in these uncertain times.
What about you? Do you have a ground practice? I’d love to hear how you’re taking care of yourself, at present.
Happy Spring or enjoy the season you’re in!
