Intrusions of Beauty
“Unexpected intrusions of beauty. That is what life is.”
A week of fighting illness, living illness, and getting over illness, and everything starts to feel a little less possible. It's easier to see what isn't working, and to let the unfinished projects, the wayward artistic attempts, and the botched schedules to take over. As much as I like to keep the positives in the forefront of my mind, sometimes the burned fingers, ruined papers, lost keepsakes, inedible recipes, and future worries are louder - so much easier to see and hear.
An old friend used to remind me not to borrow trouble, and it's still one of the best pieces of advice I've ever received. The trouble will come, of course, but there's no need to give it today as well as tomorrow. Instead, a shift to refocus on the good, beautiful intrustions:
coffee and a crossword
extra fine point black gel pens
vintage linens repurposed for travel
a good and absorbing book
letters to dear friends far away
old postage stamps that once belonged to my father
kind words from strangers
an extra episode of Murder, She Wrote, just because
walks down the block to the library
the paintings of Edward Hopper, always
Moroccan Mint tea with honey
a jar of soup and a note scrawled on a napkin
a second (or third, or fourth cup) of coffee
