Saturday, July 12, 2008

Viewing Life From a Different Distance

Watching fireworks from a distance provides the observer with bursts of brilliant color, beautiful shapes and perfectly choreographed fire dances.  A show put on by individuals who have spent a lot of time studying Pyrotechnics. Everything appears to be perfectly orchestrated and seems to go off without any glitches.  A vision of near perfection when observed from the proper distance.

Move in a bit closer and the dance takes on a whole different look.  Random explosions that seem to occur without any rhyme or reason.  Black and green smoke fill the skies and float upon the surface of the water creating a confusing scene.  The dark skies light up, yet the explosions seem to be just that...Explosions.  Sudden and not easily observable while watching from a distance. Haphazard and chaotic, yet still strangely beautiful.

This was my experience with fireworks, this year.  We were able to observe one show at a distance and it was perfect and lovely.  Something that has become fairly familiar after spending forty-six summers of my life observing Fourth of July displays.  However, less than a fourth of a mile from my front yard on the ocean, a very different scene took place.  Fire seemed to settle on the water as ringlets of smoke cascaded down from the heavens.  The "oooh's and ahh's" which usually rise from the crowds of observers were replaced with an almost eery quiet.  A different kind of awe was taking place.  The awe of viewing the same exact scene from a very different perspective.

Life is like that.  Perception can be variant depending upon where something is being viewed from.  From one perspective, things may seem to be easy and charmed, yet when looked at from another viewpoint, the ordinary is suddenly extraordinary.  The things we expect are replaced with things we have never seen.  We are suddenly struck with the realization that there is never really only one way in which to view our lives.  There are many, many ways, once we open ourselves up to different distances...Different perspectives.

This year has been a lot like that for me.  In many ways, I feel as if I have been observing my life from a different distance.  Sometimes, chaotic and uglier than anything I have ever experienced before.  Sometimes, just as I had expected.  And sometimes, strangely beautiful from distances I never imagined standing at.

May we all remain mindful of the many, many different perspectives from which our lives can be viewed.  May we keep our spirits open to looking at life from where ever we might end up at any given moment.  May we remain open to the views from a different distance for in some ways, those are the places from which we can learn the most.

17 comments:

Laura ~Peach~ said...

oh so very true!!!!!!!!
HUgs laura
thanks for another fantastic post!

Ness said...

Very thought provoking post, Deb. Perspective is nearly everything. Perspective is to choose. Perspective is the right/necessity/opportunity to looking from every angle and sometimes finding only one right angle and sometimes finding many that are equally right. Sometimes you can only choose one, sometimes you make your peace with all. Take care, dear friend. Love, Ness

Anonymous said...

I love the way you take a seemingly simple observation and turn it into a wise lesson all the while not letting on "too" much of the personal details! Brilliant! Fabulous post and oh so true!

Anonymous said...

P.S. Did you have a good Birthday???

Anonymous said...

May you continue to see things with new eyes...
And wishes for this next year of your birth to allow you to come closer to the realization of your dreams...
Artfully Yours,

rivergardenstudio said...

What an intriguing post. I think it is good for a change, to view things from a different distance. You have given us all some good advise. Thank you! roxanne

couragetocreatewriteandlove said...

Thank YOU very much!
It is tomorrow, and i am going to be ok, oh yes!!!
Thank you very much again!
I really really appreciate you for your great support and attention, OMG! It makes me feel so hopeful and loved, thank you!
God bless you!
I will visit you again when i am healthier and my head can think more and read.
Thank YOU! keep thinking of my speedy recovery after tomorrow, please?

Blue said...

that's an amazing picture Deb! and your natural ability to see things from a new and fresh perspective is wonderful. i love how you do that in so many of your posts.

Wonderful World of Weiners said...

Great entry, one that made me stop and smell the roses for a moment.

A pleasant break amongst an otherwise very chaotic existence.

Hallie

Bogart said...

Thanks for sharing...

Anonymous said...

amen to this! wonderful post!

joanne said...

Thanks for sharing that wonderful picture and post...you have a way of making me think or re-think everything. Thanks ;)

Anonymous said...

I love your posts.

Irene Latham said...

Your post applies to art as well... I am a big fan of using a jeweler's loupe to look at things in nature, then come up with analogies to describe the leaf, flower, whatever... it's amazing how a change of perspective can open your mind and get those creative wheels turning. In life, I am constantly humbled when I am able to see something differently after a change of perspective. It really makes you see the endlessness of possibility. Thanks for the post. xxoo

tj said...

...You're amazing! This post not only left me with another life lesson but the simple thought of "you are amazing"...you are a blessing Angel Debra!

...The fireworks are beautiful too!

...Hugs & blessings dear friend...:o)

Grammie Hoffman in WA said...

Dear Deb Dub,
Love this post. Had to smile 'cause I drove Old Pa to the hightest hill on the farm to watch fireworks 25 miles away. We used binoculars and when the display went on for an unusual long time we realized we were looking at the red and white lights on the cell towers on I-90!
Guess age can stretch perspective even father...silly thing is, we had a great time! Love and hugs, Grammie

Lynn said...

Deep thoughts! I am (apparently) one of the only people who doesn't really ejoy fireworks, but you did give me a reason to think about them more deeply! I have the hardest time choosing "sides" on anything because I actually think of things from too many perspectives sometimes. Thanks for sharing.
-Lynn

Related Posts with Thumbnails