Applauding Sunsets
A moment that always makes my heart feel lighter is when people gather on a beach to applaud a sunset. There is no need to do this. The earth continues its rotation regardless of our appreciation and yet it is a moment when we, as humans, share gratitude for beauty.
This is what I strive for in my work, that moment of beauty that captures our hearts and makes us forget about division. Beauty brings us together and we give thanks for its presence.
Beauty is not always in the spectacular. Beauty exists on cloudy days in the tapestry of muted color. It is in fleeting moments where a dead tree is spotlit and becomes majestic. Beauty can be a moon rise over a newly frozen lake with the landscape softening into the darkness. Beauty is whatever captures your heart and makes you forget the noise of everyday strife.
Enjoy that moment, capture it in your memory and if you can, share it. Writers write, singers sing, gardeners nurture plants so cooks can transform the bounty. Beauty can be shared in many different ways. I choose paint to tell the tales of what moves me. As I work, I walk around in my mind remembering what sparked deep appreciation for that moment.
This act brings me peace and gratitude. That is what I wish for all of us in the coming New Year: moments of beauty that we can applaud.
Below are a few moments of beauty that I would like to share with you.
