Indescribable beauty? Unutterable cruelty? Yup, that’s the world we live in.
I don’t have any wise words about the cruelty, but I do have some photos of the beauty. That’s what I’m hanging onto this week. That, and the people I love.
Photo Memory of the Week
Posted: 2024 Nov 16
Such a contrast, Isabel. Destruction and peace. Insanity and beauty.
Tom
Tom – Yes. And both are real–and everywhere, as we saw this week.
Ghastly world; gorgeous world. We live in paradox. Reminds me of an old story. Two men (of course, men) were having a bitter argument, so they went to a wise old rabbi (of course) to settle things. The first man stated his case. “You’re right,” said the rabbi. The second man stated his case. “You’re right too,” said the rabbi. They both exploded, “We can’t both be right!” And the rabbi replied, “You know, you’re right.”
Jim T
Jim T – 🙂 Yes, that sounds like a rabbi joke.
You are so right. I’ve been feeling sad this week, but my strategy for improving my mental health these days is to get outside. Nature truly has a healing quality. The vastness and sameness of the seasons seems to help. I love your photos, your leaves are looking amazing. Ours are pretty much on the ground.
Alison – Getting outside: That sounds like a sound strategy. I think I read (in a Pinker book?) that our brains are tuned for the fractal complexity of nature. Being inside (with all its all straight and curved lines) leaves our brains with too much energy – it’s like we “over-rev” in that simplicity.
When our brains are doing the “zoomies” there is always Nature, which abides, ready for us join her and calm down.
Barbara – Where’s that “thumbs up” emoji?
I am writing to a woman in Israel these days. The pressure upon ordinary citizens who have no desire to fight is enormous, crushing, debilitating, heart-breaking. Perhaps the only thing I can do, which is pray, is aided by the beauty in my environment.
Laurna – It’s a mess all around: regular citizens of Gaza are also much put upon. Prayer seems like as reasonable a response as anything else I can do.
Isabel – I don’t know about everybody else, but I always feel better when I am out walking in the Greenbelt as opposed to being in my condo sitting in front of a computer screen.
John – And long may you continue to be able to do so.
Lovely photos. I agree with all of the other comments. There is a lot in the world that needs fixing, but much of this is no longer my job. I help where I can, even if this means cleaning cat and dog kennels at the local ISPCA.
Mary – Thanks. And if we each did our own something, the world would be better – not perfect, never that, but better.