Ahh, so the patience and gentleness and breathing and leaning-into-the-discomfort-of -feeling-blocked worked wonders.
The pause.
The space.
The letting go.
I woke up this morning groggy, but way more grounded. Behind my heavy eyes, the old excitement hid. I could feel it.
I left for my walk to work and everything was illuminated with wonder and possibility again. I walked past the gardens, noticing that one of the trees that I walked past most days was growing blackberries and raspberries – many having fallen on the sidewalk and crushed by passerbys. I could hear the steady babbling of the creek – wooshing, rushing, hissing alongside the street.
The world seemed open again. It all felt connected again.
The parking lot of the apartment building where I support one of my clients is an aesthetic wasteland – the cement broken and cracked in places, the dump bins overflowing, littered with garbage and discarded old furniture. I walked through it after my shift and noticed a small snail shell resting on the concrete. I took my camera out to document it. Near it, rested a white feather and a strip of bark covered in green moss.
The previously unappealing environment began to take on a whole new light. It became an exploration for random objects and hidden beauty.
I kept snapping photos, keeping my eyes to the ground. A half dozen steps over sat another shell. And then another – a secret trail. I continued to map out the surroundings, transforming it as I went. (I probably looked suspicious and strange crouching in the empty parking lot, camera pinned to the ground. But I didn’t care!)
Overlooking the lot is a lush green space, towering with trees, bushes, and flowers. I began looking around, searching out the small details.
another raspberry bush!
Anywhere can become a space of beauty and wonder. You just have to really look for it. Be mindful. Use your senses. Look up. Look down. Look all around you. What do you see?
I took a slightly different route home. I stopped by the creek to sit on the rocks and listen. I walked past the gardens again, stopping to sit on one of the benches. The rain was gentle and cool on my skin. Ahh, bliss.
How can you transform a familiar space into something new & wonderous?
Happy exploring! xo.
Totally agree. A nice post! I always aim to photograph the everyday things that we usually pass by.
Thanks so much for reading and leaving a thoughtful comment! That’s fantastic – I love photographing the ‘ordinary’. We take so much for granted and fail to notice all the beauty around us. I’m going to check out your blog now!
Definitely. Even the most mundane and utilitarian things have beauty in them, things that we might not normally see.
Well put – that’s my whole philosophy and outlook (wonder, curiosity, exploration, transformation) – life doesn’t have to be dull! 😀
Beautiful post – loving your photos – thanks for sharing:)