I was told to write about my preoccupation. For once, I don’t want to resist, edit my emotions, or ruminate endlessly about the state of the world. ‘Cause there’s untamed freedom outside, defying constraints of a poetic form.
It’s not the starlings with their soft, murmuring calls that fill this April morning. A chorus of urgent needs and affections swells around me. Birds soar, hover, and glide in an aerial ballet. I’m awestruck by the power of the collective. Yet each bird is an independent flier guided by stars and winds across oceans. The air itself vibrates with energy. Each wingbeat pulls me into a peaceful vortex, a calm amidst chaos.
Image of a Common Goldeneye
note: Bird-spotting is an activity that feels me with a sense of awe and joy. Nature, though, is not only delightful but also a brilliant teacher.
Today’s post draws inspiration from this year’s bird migration. The complete piece appears on da-AL’s blog, HappinessBetweenTails. Head over to read and join the conversation!
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 dailymoments 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.
Finnish spring: frozen lake and sunshine
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.
March, the month of expectations is upon here. While the world feels faster, louder, and more fragile than ever, nature’s rhythms remain constant. As I appreciate the subtle shifts in seasons, I also search for the unchanging.
Of course, spring follows winter. Each day, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. A smile remains a universal language. And so is unchanging art’s role in times of rapid change.
Mallards gather on the icy lake
Across history, art has served a purpose greater than expression during periods of upheaval. It becomes a source of resistance, hope and healing. It fosters understanding and empathy, bridging divides and turning pain into insight.
The world has always needed love. But how can we love one another in these uncertain times, when we can’t even connect on a deeper level or put ourselves in someone else’s shoes to understand their perspective.
A pair of shoes tied to a tree…
This got me thinking, and as we celebrate international women’s day, that perhaps this spring demands we sow not only seeds of hope but also empathy for a compassion and resilient world.
Think about how your artwork, whatever the form, enriches people’s lives! While art may not cultivate empathy, it prompts us to pause, notice and see things differently. This is what I find beautiful and powerful about art’s enduring role.
AI-generated image of world globe map
It’s also the reason I urge you to keep making your art, if you’re an artist. To borrow words from a fellow poet, Rosemary Nissen-Wade, maybe the only person your art will save is yourself.
Happy Women’s Day to all who identify! And of course, every day is women’s day. ♥
As you might have guessed, I’d love to hear from you. 🙂 What are some things that remain unchanged or have stood the test of time? Please do share!
PS. The photo featuring women artists working is AI-generated.
